English with an American Corporate Accent - 040

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.

* They are squatting in our device name space. [They are simply sitting in our device name space.]
* Peter said not to hold our breath for that decision. [Peter said not to expect that decision to come anytime soon.]
* Pre-allocating them will give us some head room to operate. [Allocating them beforehand will give us some leeway to operate.]
* Let's sort them out in chronological order so that we can formulate a punch list for execution. [Let's sort them out in chronological order so that we can formulate a to-do list for execution.]

* There are bigger fish to fry. [There are more important things to worry about.]
* We should hold their feet to the fire, otherwise, nothing gets done. [We should keep the pressure on, otherwise, nothing gets done.]
* They made a valiant effort to deliver that project before the gate closes. [They tried their best to deliver that project before the gate closes.]
* I am going to write an email to them for a waiver. This requirement at the 11th hour is impossible to meet. [I am going to write an email to them for a waiver.  This late requirement is impossible to meet.]

* We are in the weeds for the last forty-five minutes. [We are overwhelmed with details for the last forty-five minutes.]
* It will be an unbounded path if you enable that feature by hand. [It will be an uncontrolled path if you enable that feature manually.]
* Is there a chance that the rug gets pulled out from underneath when you are traversing that linked list? [Is there a chance that the linked list gets modified when you are traversing that linked list?]
* That stock is certainly on the up and up, although we don't know why. [That stock is certainly reliable and honest, although we don't know why.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 039

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.

* In the data security context, we have to make sure that the storage component is not the weakest link. [In the data security context, we have to make sure that the storage component is not the most vulnerable link.]
* We can repurpose the drive, when they are done with it. [We can reuse the drive for other purposes, when they are done with it.]
* We'll have another side-bar to discuss that tomorrow morning. [We'll have a separate meeting to discuss that tomorrow morning.]
* I understand that it is in your long list of things to do. What is your elevator pitch then? [I understand that it is in your long list of things to do.  What is your short summary then?]
* My summary from the brainstorm session was vetted a couple of times internally, before outside consumption. [My summary from the brainstorm session was reviewed a couple of times internally, before we distributed it outside of the group.]
* Nothing is a slam dunk unless we know more about the future priorities. [Nothing is going to happen easily unless we know more about the future priorities.]
* There you go, you did not hear from me about this. [There you go, you did not learn this from me.]
* We are thrashing on that issue as far as zero-administration goes. [We are going back and forth on that issue as far as zero-administration goes.]
* Let me clue you guys in.  What Ron is talking about is the regression found by that integration a week ago. [Let me give you guys a hint. What Ron is talking about is the regression found by that integration a week ago.]
* It takes four months for them to act on it. I am sure that is not their barn burner issue. [It takes four months for them to act on it.  I am sure that is not their first priority item.]
* My question could possibly be seen as somewhat of a tangential topic. [My question could possibly be seen as somewhat of a peripheral topic.]
* Item number two is really just throwing the switch, once item number three is completed. [Item number two is really just simply enabling that, once item number three is completed.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 038

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.

* If we get to the nuts and bolts of this, it would be quite overwhelming to the management team. [If we get to the details of this, it would be quite overwhelming to the management team.]
* We should identify the signature for the core dump to see if we can match something in the repository. [We should identify the particulars of the core dump to see if we can match something in the repository.]
* The new requirement is not easy to satisfy.  The current feature set simply cannot cut it. [The new requirement is not easy to satisfy.  The current feature set simply cannot do the job.]
* If the problems show up, how do you assign the blame to other organizations? [If the problems show up, how do you assign faults to other organizations?]

* We have a bigger fish to fry. [We have more important things to do.]
* We need to be more discriminating on what we should do next quarter. [We need to be more selective on what we should do next quarter.]
* We would like to have your blessings on the code change before we file for integration. [We would like to have your approval on the code change before we file for integration.]
* That is a marketing presentation covering the top five customers.  It is about care and feeding in the nut shell. [That is a marketing presentation covering the top five customers.  It is about how to support them without a long explanation.]

* That piece of code needs to be beefed up to support this new feature. [That piece of code needs to be enhanced to support this new feature.]
* They try to add that feature to this release right now. That just does not compute really. [They try to add that feature to this release right now.  That just does not make sense really.]
* It is hard to do.  But, we might have to sign up for it anyway. [It is hard to do.  But, we might have to take it anyway.]
* That single issue is going to dictate the solution they'll come up with. [That single issue is going to determine the solution they'll come up with.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 037

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.

* In fullness of time, Linux will add this feature. [Over time, Linux will add this feature.]
* The new OS release has some birthing pains, we'll have to wait it out. [The new OS release has some initial difficulties, we'll have to be patient.]
* That is a big step function for us to get used to. [That is a big adjustment for us to get used to.]
* They are swearing for its performance potentials. [They are affirming its performance potentials.]

* What are the secret sauces for this performance?  It is in the chip we designed. [What are the secret recipes for this performance?  It is in the chip we designed.]
* Security attack can paralyze a company in a significant way. [Security attack can render a company non-functional in a significant way.]
* This can be a door opener for this customer to try our systems. [This can be a good excuse for this customer to try our systems.]
* That is a good cadence for product delivery. [That is a good pace for product delivery.]

* Customers like this "one throat to choke" model. [Customers like this simple one contact point model to get their voice heard.]
* It is a difficult dichotomy for the engineering team. [It is a difficult dilemma for the engineering team.]
* I apologize for using storage speak for this presentation. Stop me when you cannot figure out what I mean. [I apologize for using storage jargon for this presentation. Stop me when you cannot figure out what I mean.]
* That story is getting better over time. Please be patient. [That story is gradually improving. Please be patient.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 036

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.

* I took the liberty of logging on to your system to make sure my recommendations work. [Without your consent, I logged on to your system to make sure my recommendations work.]
* This is a great opportunity for Bob to get some air time with John. [This is a great opportunity for Bob to get some exposure with John.]
* When I looked at the actual signature of the problem, I suspected that this is a duplicate of a problem found by Mary last week. [When I looked at the actual evidence of the problem, I suspected that this is a duplicate of a problem found by Mary last week.]
* Using that syntax inside the kernel code is too heavy handed. [Using that syntax inside the kernel code is too complicated and unnecessary.]
* That would be out of the purview of most system administrators. [That would be beyond the scope of interest for most system administrators.]

* That type of analysis holds no water. [That type of analysis has no credibility.]
* Early adopters and visionaries will benefit from this. [Early users will benefit from this.]
* We have crossed the adoption chasm for this technology. [We have crossed the adoption threshold for this technology.]
* This chart is a bit of eye sore, I'll walk through it. [This chart is a bit of challenge to read. I'll go through it.]
* That is the holy grail if you can become a data-driven company. [That is the ultimate ideal if you can become a data-driven company.]

* It is a bit of a crap shoot since the client software has no idea how long it will have to wait for. [It is a bit of guess work since the client software has no idea how long it will have to wait for.]
* Once we get the system events defined, the rest of the implementation is a cookie cutter job. [Once we get the system events defined, the rest of the implementation is a straightforward job.]
* Don't mention those two use cases, they sound so icky. [Don't mention those two use cases, they sound so awful.]
* Why do we spend time horsing around this? [Why do we spend time playing with this?]
* We have to pick our poison, either to optimize one or the other, but not both. [We have to make a hard choice, either to optimize one or the other, but not both.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 035

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.

* You can view that as a fork-lift upgrade. [You can view that as a heavy duty jumbo upgrade.]
* That performance number 540 is our baseline.  Anything beyond that is gravy to us. [That  performance number 540 is our baseline.  Anything beyond that is an extra bonus for us.]
* Any new bug report on the bubble here? [Any new bug report on the horizon here?]
* Rob can help out in a pinch here. [Rob can help out at a moment's notice here.]
* His father passed away last week.  He is pretty wrapped up now. [His father passed away last week.  He is pretty much emotionally occupied now.]
* Johnson seems to poopoo our suggestion.  He is not answering my calls. [Johnson seems to dismiss our suggestion.  He is not answering my calls.]
* That's a big hammer to resolve this simple problem. [There should be an easy way to resolve this simple problem.]
* We have not much left to do here.  Let's power through it. [We don't have much left to do here. Let's work extra hard to get through it.]
* I suspect that it's fait accompli. [I suspect that is an established fact now.]
* What happened was that Joe got wind that this feature was coming soon, and he turned around and sold it to the customers. [What happened was that Joe overheard that this feature was coming soon, and he turned around and sold it to the customers.]
* That is not the way we used to do software integration, but we aren't in Kansas anymore. [That is not the way we used to do software integration, but we aren't in that old world anymore.]
* Jerry felt that we are floundering in this project.  We need to do something to move it forward. [Jerry felt that we are struggling in this project.  We need to do something to move it forward.]
* It is not a moonshot.  There is something meaningful we can try. [It still has hope.  There is something meaningful we can try.]
* If you want to resurrect that project,  we better get buy-in from John. [If you want to restart that project, we better get agreement from John.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 034

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.

*I am more interested in the high-order bits, not worrying about whether it is a 3-week or 4-week project. [I am more interested in the high-level issues, not worrying about whether it is a 3-week or 4-week project.]
*I am not going to breeze down their necks for schedules. [I am not going watch them that closely to get schedules.]
* He won't lose any sleep if he jettisons that project today. [He won't feel any guilt if he kills that project today.]
* Our organization is oozing into other areas, including sales support and technical marketing. [Our organization is taking on new roles, including sales support and technical marketing.]
* It could be a disincentive if you actually offer that feature for free. [It could have the opposite effect of creating suspicion if you actually offer that feature for free.]
* Customers don't want to feel hemmed in if our vendor locking strategy is too obvious. [Customers don't want to feel stuck in choices if our vendor locking strategy is too obvious.]
* They have really dumbed down that discussion for the execs. [They have really simplified that discussion for the executives.]
* We are in such a conundrum situation. [We are in such a dilemma.]
* That patch is very toxic, don't use it if you can help it. [That patch is very troublesome, don't use it if you can avoid it.]
* After that change, they have a real house of cards on their hands. [After that change, they have a real difficult problem on their hands.]
* The only advantage for them is that they have one throat to choke now. [The only advantage for them is that they only need to deal with one vendor to solve the problem.]
* I don't like to white list that particular model.  If we replace that later, it would be very difficult to do an upgrade in the field. [I don't like to create a special case for that particular model.  If we replace that later, it would be very difficult to do an upgrade in the field.]

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.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 032

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.

* If we have these common functions available, the drivers won't have to do the heavy lifting. [If we have these common functions available, the drivers won't have to do much work.]
* That would be in a single wad for the roll-out. [That would be in a single collection for the roll-out.]
* This is really a real estate issue.  Can we try to pare that down? [This is really a real estate issue.  Can we try minimize that size?]
* I hate to sound like a broken record on this issue. [I hate to repeat this again on this issue.]
* There are a lot of moving pieces in the test area. [There are a lot of changing components in the test area.]
* There's some wiggle room for this project, since it is using a subset of the upper level protocols. [There's some flexibility for this project, since it is using a subset of the upper level protocols.]
* There is already an entry in the plan. We just need to flesh it out or have a pointer for it. [There is already an entry in the plan.  We just need to fill in the details or have a reference pointer for it.]
* That performance enhancement is like to boil the ocean with a few burners. [That performance enhancement is doing very little to the whole thing.]
* John, let me pick your brains on that new idea. [John, let me ask your opinions on that new idea.]
* This will help us as a team to hone in on what configurations will be valid. [This will help us as a team to focus on what configurations will be valid.]
* You are blazing new trails for the team. [Your are trying out new processes for the team.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 031

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.

* Try to get some low hanging fruit in the first pass of testing. [Try to get some easy results in the first pas of testing.]
* Off the top, I would say eighty percent is in that first category. [Just a quick estimate, I would say eighty percent is in that first category.]
* In order to obfuscate the attackers, you need to follow this procedure. [In order to confuse the attackers, you need to follow this procedure.]
* It looks to me that is the short list we whittle down to. [It looks to me that is the short list we reduce down to.]
* That's off the table for sure; there are many unknowns. [That option will not be considered for sure; there are many unknowns.]
* That's a perfect segue for the next item in our list. [That's a perfect transition for the next item in our list.]
* I did not mean to crash your party. [I did not mean to attend your meeting uninvited.]
* Hi Paul, anything you need right off the bat? [Hi Paul, anything you need right now?]
* If you are going to up-level like that, we really need to see what reports come from the field. [If you are going to summarize like that, we really need to see what reports come from the field.]
* I don't really follow the driver/device dance there. [I don't really follow the intricate driver/device arguments there.]
* Going out on a limb a bit, I believe that this memory leak probably maps to the changes made by Ray. [Just a guess on my part, I believe that this memory leak probably maps to the changes made by Ray.]
* That time slot would be more palatable across the board. [That time slot would be more appropriate for all concerned.]
* Bridges will be crossed when we are there. [We'll do what we have to do when we are there.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 030

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.

* Everyone is welcome to weigh in on this issue. [Everyone is welcome to give his opinion on this issue.]
* Let's get a best guessmate or swag for these development tasks. [Let's get a best estimate for these development tasks.]
* To get that storage discovery code to work in a month is a nonstarter. [To get that storage discovery code to work in a month has little chance of success.]
* Please note that this is not fully vetted within Adam's org. [Please note that this is not fully examined within Adam's organization yet.]
* I will be on the road and/or in the sticks, so if you need to contact me, it may be hard. [I will be on the road and/or in the back country, so if you need to contact me, it may be hard.]
* The counter was also a diagnostic breadcrumb during development. [The counter was also a diagnostic left-over piece during development.]
* Yes, that project just got integrated was my day job :-). [Yes, that project just got integrated was my officially assigned regular day-time job :-)]
* I am currently maxed-out with support to customers. [I am currently completely swamped with supports to customers.]
* Feels like treading water now. [Feels like not making any progress now.]
* I'm feeling a little under the weather today. [I'm feeling ill today.]
* As part of on-boarding process, you'll learn this new tool. [As part of  the process to join this new team, you'll learn this new tool.]
* Once you sign up for it, you'll be on a very slippery slope. [Once you agree to join it, you'll be on a very treacherous path.]
* You need to give security visibility to the development process. [You need to raise the awareness of security in the development process.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 029

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.

* I only have anecdotal stories to tell you. [I can only tell you what I've heard.]

* This testing methodology is pretty brittle to me. [This testing methodology is pretty shaky to me.]

* We are closing the doors; but the cows are already out. [We are closing the doors; but it is too late since the cows are already out.]

* He was working with all the slicing and dicing of the hardware project. [He was working with all the details of the designs for the hardware project.]

* There are a whole plethora of things we can do. [There are many things we can do.]

* We'll hit that knee very soon in the arbitration overhead. [We'll hit that threshold very soon in the arbitration overhead.]

* This could be an implementation artifact in our prototype. [This could be due to the way we implemented it in our prototype.]

* Jason's measurement numbers bear this out. [Jason's measurement numbers prove this assertion.]

* I just want to be helpful somehow... so if either of you have a suggestion, I'm all ears. [I just want to be helpful somehow... so if either of you have a suggestion, I'm listening.]

* Yes, scratch that. Now I recall the reason for the so-called local functions. [Yes, forget about that.  Now I recall the reason for the so-called local functions.]

* But most of these new disk drives are spoken for. [But most of these new disk drives are already reserved for people.]

* We have to take this back to chew it a bit before we can get back to you. [We have to take this back to work on it a bit before we can get back to you.]

* We'll do this two-week cadence for our future meetings. [We'll do this every two weeks for our future meetings.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 028

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.

* We looked into those peculiar I/O response times. [We looked into those unusual I/O response times.]
* There is some funkiness in those numbers. [There is something hard to explain in those numbers.]
* The task fell below the line we have time for it. [We don't have time to do that task.]
* They got a truck load of compute power. [They got plenty compute power.]
* This new issue is a fly in the ointment for the project. [This new issue is unfortunately a small drawback for the perfect project.]
* There's no steady drumbeat for it from our field yet, but there are a trickle of requests starting to come in. [There is no steady request for it from our field yet, but there are a few requests starting to come in.]

* I would definitely take any IDC prediction with a grain (or a bucket) of salt, as they are always wrong. [I would definitely take any IDC prediction with some reservations, as they are always wrong.]

* This would have prevented the fire drill that we just had. [This would have prevented the incident that we just had.]

* It's close enough, and I don't want to muddy up the waters. [It is close enough, and I don't want to mess things up.]

* What we observed jives with the driver log messages. [What we observed is consistent with the driver log messages.]
* We need to come to ground on this pronto. [We need to converge and have action plans quickly.]

* Make sure that we can tread water in that situation. [Make sure that we can hang in there in that situation.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 027

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.

* Nothing about the device is a given.  We basically have to blackbox the device. [Nothing about the device is a given.  We basically have to treat the device as a black box.]
* The data is mind-boggling. [The data is difficult to analyze.]
* You'll never know where is the next kink of the hose. [You'll never know where is the next issue what would pop up.]
* There are many issues to use that, choose your poison. [There are many issues to use that, make your choice and be ready for a surprise.]
* Flash drive is not a stateless device.  It depends on what have run before. [Flash drive device remembers things.  It depends on what have run before.]
* They have no clues. I have to give the state of the union. [They have no clues.  I have to give an overview.]
* They are all resolved under the hood. [They are all resolved without our knowledge.]
* That is a staged approach. [That is an approach with several stages in the process.]
* You don't want to be penned in a corner. [They don't want to be stuck in a corner.]
* We have a litany of commands invented to help with this new design. [We have a collection of commands invented to help with this new design.]
* You can get a lot of mileage out of this. [You can get a lot of good use out of this.]
* It is the vagary of the firmware that puzzles us all. [It is that unpredictable behavior of the firmware that puzzles us all.]
* Let's do that now in case the problem goes awry. [Let's do that now in case the problem goes wrong.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 026

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.

* Some of these items in the diagram are scaffoldings for testing. [Some of these items in the diagram are temporary structures for testing.]
* We need something better, log file scrapping just doesn't cut it. [We need something better, searching for that kind of data in the log file just doesn't meet the need.]
* Do you have the necessary equipment? I might be able to scrounge up a card for you. [Do you have the necessary equipment? I might be able to beg and borrow a card for you.]
* If we do that, we throw out the baby with the bath water. [If we do that, we are overreacting by getting rid of everything.]
* Lack of visibility into that area prevents us from doing more diagnosis of the problem. [The lack of means to know what happened in that area prevents us from doing more diagnosis of the problem.]
* Something went wrong.  They bricked the disk drive. [Something went wrong. They completely killed the disk drive.]
* I am spacing out on that name right now. [I just cannot recall that name right now.]
* I am all for chunking things up.  We don't need to do it all this time. [I am all for breaking things up.  We don't need to do everything at this time.]
* Rob took that a lot further.  But I did not plug in to that effort. [Rob took that a lot further.  But I did not follow up to that effort.]
* The party line is that now we'll use Brand X drives. [The official line is that now we'll use Brand X drives.]
* I think that will be a ways away. Let's not worry about it. [I think that will be a long time later.  Let's not worry about it.]
* You should do a complete job first, then you can pick them out in pieces. [You should do a complete job first, then you can examine them carefully in pieces.]
* If you need to camp on it for a month, we may have a problem. [If you need to have exclusive access on it for a month, we may have a problem.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 025

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.

* The overall timing of these pieces is a bit tight on Platform A, but I'm really not sweating where this is falling for Platform B. [The overall timing of these pieces is a bit tight on Platform A, but I'm really not worried where we are for Platform B.]
* Let us help our customers get their arms around some of their questions and give them a direction forward. [Let us help our customers get a handle on their questions and give them a direction forward.]
* I got your email on that customer escalation. What's the scoop? [I got your email on that customer escalation. What's it about?]
* Oops! I forgot to include you in that email. [Gosh! I forgot to include you in that email.]
* If we could demo that, that would be a good show-and-tell. [If we could demonstrate that, that would be a good story to tell.]
* Let me up-level a bit on this subject. [Let me address this subject at a higher level.]
* They just want to kick the tires a little bit. [They just want to do a sanity test a little bit.]
* What he just said obliterated everything you have accomplished so far. [What he just said wiped out everything you have accomplished so far.]
* They did their own cherry picking on what's important to them. [They did their own choosing on what's important to them.]
* The political tension between these two organizations is very hard to deal with. [The political friction between these two organizations is very hard to deal with.]
* Are we on track for this project? [Are we meeting our interim objectives for this project?]
* How does that manifest itself in that configuration? [How does that show itself in that configuration?]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 024

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.

* These documents are managed with a tight leash. [These documents are managed and controlled very carefully.]
* Time is definitely not on our side. Let's see what we can do. [We are running out of time. Let's see what we can do.]
* My management wants me to identify any possible kinks for this release. [My management wants me to identify any possible problems for this release.]
* This way of thinking has to be ingrained in our DNA to prevent that sort of regression happening again. [This way of thinking has to be in our standard practices to prevent that sort of regression happening again.]
* I hope that this is an isolated instance. We certainly don't like to know that this is the tip of the iceberg. [I hope that this is an isolated case. We certainly don't like to know that there are many similar problems to come.]
* I've definitely seen a few emails, but Dan is the one driving it. [I have definitely seen a few emails about this, but Dan is the one leading the effort.]
* In theory, we should have gotten it on Thursday. In reality, we got it on Friday. We just started working with it. [We expected to get it on Thursday, but we got it on Friday. We just started working with it.]
* We'll cross the river when we get there. [We'll make the decision when we get to that point.]
* We talked a few times. He is fully on board with this. [We talked a few times. He is completely aware of this.]
* It is quite a challenge to have multiple things in-flight at the same time. [It is quite a challenge to have multiple things going on at the same time.]
* It's time to shake his tree to see what will fall out. [It's time to get his attention to see what will come out of it.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 023

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.

* I'll ask the questions first. Please feel free to chime in. [I''ll ask the questions first. Please feel free to add yours.]
* If we have to jump through hoops to get there, we have a bad design at the outset. [If we have to do through extraordinary steps to get there, we have a bad design to begin with.]
* It is a totally bogus question. Why do you have to ask what the system is like? [It is a totally nonsense question. Why do you have to ask what the system is like?]
* This one-stop shopping will be convenient for the customers. [This one single contract point will be convenient for the customers.]
* We got twenty minutes to the top of the hour. We should be able to complete this review. [we have twenty minutes to the end of the hour. We should be able to complete this review.]
* I like to get your usage model in order to talk to my engineers. [I like to know how you use this in order to talk to my engineers.]
* Let me call you right after this concall to get to the nitty-gritty of this requirement. [Let me call you right after this conference call to get the details of this requirement.]
* Another option is to tinker with the new hardware to get a feel of it. [Another option is to play with the new hardware to get a feel of it.]
* Enough doom and gloom for this difficult technical issue, let's move on to the next topic. [We have discussed enough on the down side of this difficult technical issue, let's move on to the next topic.]
* Going forward, the intention is to maintain this transparency so that customized code can be removed. [From now on, the intention is to maintain this compatibility so that customized code can be removed.]
* We will not comment on this news; this is the party line. [We will not comment on this news; this is the the official stance.]
* That is Ninja programming to me; you have to know what you are doing. [That is really some programming to me; you have to know what you are doing.]
* You have the pen, you have the control for the project. [You are the one writing the requirement document, you have the control for the project.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 022

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.

* I'll have something else at 3 pm Mountain. [I'll have something else at 3 pm Mountain time.]
* With this piece of information, we can be off and running. [With this piece of information, we can start now.]
* I think we have everything we need now; we should not have any more feature creeps now. [I think we have everything we need now; we should not have any more unexpected features getting added.]
* I'm all ears for alternatives. [I am willing to listen for alternatives.]
* I am in the thick of it. I might not see the upper level of things. [I am deeply in the middle of it. I might not see the larger picture.]
* My presentation has enough meat in it now. I need to fill in the value and gap sections. [My presentation has enough content and details in it now. I need to fill in sections on value propositions and perceived gaps.]
* If we don't watch this carefully, this is going to spin out of control. [If we don't watch this carefully, this is going to get out of control.]
* I am thinking out loud with everyone on the phone. [I am offering my thoughts on the spot with everyone on the phone.]
* The issues boil down to whether we should support that feature or not. [The issues can be summarized simply as to whether we should support that feature or not.]
* My apology for being dense about this specific issue here. I feel strongly about it. [My apology for being stubborn about this specific issue here. I feel strongly about it.]
* Chris' line of questioning is appropriate for the situation. [Chris' line of reasoning and questions is appropriate for the situation.]
* If you want good out-of-box experience for the customers, we need to address this issue carefully. [If you want good first impressions from the customers, we need to address this issue carefully.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 021

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.

* We are right up against the holidays. Are we going to meet next week? [The holidays are upon us very soon. Are we going to meet next week?]
* Let me do the prototype first. It's easy for me to get real about it. [Let me do the prototype first. It is easy for me to have a good feel about it.]
* What's important at the end of the day is what XYZ company will do for this problem. [What's important and relevant after all is what XYZ company will do for this problem.]
* Whatever I mutter here would likely be wrong. [Whatever I say here would likely be wrong.]
* Let's see whether we can come up with a straw man's schedule today. [Let's see whether we can come up with a proposal for the schedule today.]
* He is online as I just traded a few emails with him. [He is online as I just exchanged a few emails with him.]
* I don't want to get stuck, I just want to get oriented. [I don't want to get stuck, I just want to get my directions correct.]
* Let me back up the truck, and up-level a bit. [Let me back up and clarify things a bit.]
* Let us not call out that explicitly. I don't want to hang ourselves early. [Let us not call out that explicitly. I don't want to see us get stuck early.]
* How we dice that piece is not my concern. [How we divide up that piece is not my concern.]
* We have to shove up that piece before we can submit the proposal. [We have to have a plan for that piece before we can submit the proposal.]
* As we come in for a hard landing, we need to give heads-up to the stakeholders. [As we are going to disclose this bad news, we need to give warnings to the stakeholders.]
* We are 35 minutes into the meeting. Pat, what else do you want to cover before we jump into the demo. [We are 35 minutes into the meeting already. Pat, what else do you want to address before we jump into the demo.]