Tuesday, June 17, 2014

English with an American Corporate Accent - 033


This is another collection from recent meetings and trips. It works best if you can find a native English speaker with exposure to corporate America to elaborate on the finer points that I cannot cover well here.

* That's the buzzword for "no more service is available." [That's the trendy word for "no more service is available."]
* I have my right ear burning with something urgent now. [I am sure that there is something urgent that needs my attention now.]
* To save time, we can piggyback on your work to deliver that feature. [To save time, we can leverage on your work to deliver that feature.]
* While we do that, let's take the opportunity to iron out the hardware wrinkles if any. [While we do that, let's take the opportunity to fix the hardware problems if any.]
* Our security portfolio is an organic version. [Our security portfolio is a home-grown version.]

* We had serious performance difference two years ago, now we are bridging the gaps. [We had serious performance differences two years ago, now we are closing the gap.]
* That new feature really gives our competitor a run for their money. [That new feature really challenges our competitor.]
* The status of that project falls into a yellow for me. [The status of that project falls into a "caution" status for me.]
* I have 24 direct reports; wheels are starting to fall off the cart. [I have 24 direct reports; things are starting to fall apart.]
* I am drawing a blank on that name. [I simply cannot remember that name.]

* We cannot use that half-baked prototype. [We cannot use that incomplete prototype.]
* There is a wrinkle to this action plan. [There is a small problem to this action plan.]