go back /ɡəʊ ˈbæk/ phrasal verb [transitive] if two people go back a particular period of time, they have known each other for that period of time: Ricardo and I go back a long way.. bu
Trang 1long time no see /lɒŋ ˈtaɪm nəʊ ˌsiː/ (phrase) used when you meet someone who you have not seen for a long time:
A: Hi Mike, long time no see! B: Sandy! Wow, the last time
I saw you must have been about six years ago.
maintain /meɪnˈteɪn/ (verb [transitive]) to continue to communicate with someone and not allow a relationship
to end: Corporate entertainment is a good way to build and
maintain relationships with key clients.
make an impression /meɪk ən ɪmˈpreʃ(ə)n/ (phrase)
to make other people notice and admire you: A: Have we
met before? B: We have indeed, but I obviously failed to make much of an impression.
make /meɪk/ (verb [transitive]) to be able to be present at
a particular event: Clive said to tell you he won’t be able to
make Thursday’s meeting He said he’d call you.
no problem /ˌnəʊ ˈprɒbləm/ (phrase) used as a polite way of answering someone who has thanked you for something, or said they are sorry for something:
A: Thanks very much for all your help B: No problem
You would have done the same for me.
people-oriented /ˈpiːp(ə)l ˌɔːrientɪd/ (adjective) mainly
concerned with, or directed towards, other people: This is
about making sure we show them a good time Russians are very people-oriented, and this is an opportunity for us to build
a good working relationship with them.
pity /ˈpɪti/ (noun [uncountable]) used for saying that you
are disappointed about something: A: I missed last night’s
soccer match B: Pity It was a great game.
setting /ˈsetɪŋ/ (noun [countable]) the place where someone or something is, and all the things, people
or emotions that are part of that place: We don’t want
to drag the group somewhere, only for them to be bored out
of their minds We just need a pleasant setting to be able
to socialize.
strained /streɪnd/ (adjective) not relaxed or friendly: After
Johann got the job that Steve wanted, relations between them have been a bit strained to say the least.
that reminds me /ðæt rɪˈmaɪndz mi/ (phrase) used when someone has just said or done something that helps you
to remember something: It was a very interesting speech
That reminds me, there’s another conference next month
Do you think you can come?
too much of a good thing /tuː ˈmʌtʃ əv ə ɡʊd ˌθɪŋ/
(phrase) so easily available, or used so often, that you
do not enjoy it any more: A: If I hear that song once more,
I think I’ll scream B: I thought you liked it A: Yeah, well, you can have too much of a good thing.
understand /ˌʌndə(r)ˈstænd/ (verb [transitive]) to believe that something is true because you have heard or read
it somewhere: I understand the Japanese are world table
tennis champions, or is it the Chinese?
wonder /ˈwʌndə(r)/ (verb [intransitive/transitive]) to think about something because you want to know more facts
or details about it: We were just wondering what this pile of
dirty laundry was doing in an art gallery.
Unit 1 – Business or pleasure?
amicable /ˈæmɪkəb(ə)l/ (adjective) friendly and without
arguments: The relations between our two companies are
amicable; everyone seems to like each other and there haven’t
been any problems so far.
are you kidding? /ə(r) jʊ ˈkɪdɪŋ/ (phrase) used for saying
that you do not believe what someone is saying: A: I’ve
got two tickets for the final if you’re interested B: Are you
kidding? Of course I’m interested!
break off /breɪk ˈɒf/ (phrasal verb [intransitive/transitive])
to stop doing something, especially speaking: I must
have said the wrong thing One minute we were standing
there having a chat, and the next minute she broke off the
conversation and walked away.
by the way /baɪ ðə ˈweɪ/ (phrase) used for saying that
a remark is not relevant to the main subject of your
conversation: So that’s the last I heard about it By the way,
did you remember to send that estimate to Clive?
catch you later /kætʃ jə ˈleɪtə(r)/ (phrase) used for saying
goodbye to someone when you expect to see them soon,
or later the same day: A: I’ll be back in the afternoon
B: Okay, catch you later.
constraint /kənˈstreɪnt/ (noun [countable]) something
that limits your freedom to do what you want: A lot of
business people find that it’s easier to build relationships with
clients away from the constraints of the office environment.
contradict /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt/ (verb [transitive]) to say that the
opposite of what someone has said is true: He didn’t agree
with anything I said Every time I spoke, he contradicted me.
converse /kənˈvɜː(r)s/ (verb [intransitive]) to have a
conversation: The ability to converse with others through
small talk can lead to big things.
cordial /ˈkɔː(r)diəl/ (adjective) friendly: I hope that after
this disagreement we can sort things out and get back to the
cordial relations we used to have.
enthusiasm /ɪnˈθjuːziˌæzəm/ (noun [uncountable])
the feeling of being very interested in something or
excited by it: When making small talk, it’s a good idea to
show enthusiasm Ask lots of questions and make sure you
listen carefully to the answers.
go back /ɡəʊ ˈbæk/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) if two
people go back a particular period of time, they have
known each other for that period of time: Ricardo and
I go back a long way We first worked together over twenty
years ago.
I hear /aɪ ˈhɪə(r)/ (phrase) used for introducing a subject
that you want to discuss with someone that someone else
has told you about: I hear you’re quite a tennis fan Do you
prefer doubles or singles?
incidentally /ˌɪnsɪˈdent(ə)li/ (adverb) used for adding
related but less important information to what has just
been said, or for suddenly introducing a new subject:
Oh, right Thanks for telling me Incidentally, have you still
got that CD I lent you?
Upper Intermediate glossary
Trang 2by what and how much people want to buy: This is truly
a market-driven product We asked our customers what they wanted, and this what they told us.
mindset /ˈmaɪn(d)ˌset/ (noun [countable]) a way of thinking
about things: A change of mindset means completely
rethinking your attitude and approach to something.
offload /ˌɒfˈləʊd/ (verb [transitive]) to get rid of something that you do not want by giving or selling it to someone
else: She’s the kind of boss who always tries to offload the
nasty jobs onto her staff.
on the right track /ɒn ðə ˌraɪt ˈtræk/ (phrase) doing or
thinking the right things: We haven’t finalized the deal yet,
but I think we’re on the right track.
paradigm shift /ˈpærədaɪm ˌʃɪft/ (noun [countable])
a basic change in ideas or methods: There has been a
paradigm shift in the way we operate, and a lot of the staff are not happy with the new changes.
postpone /pəʊsˈpəʊn/ (verb [transitive]) to decide that something will not be done at the time when it was
planned for, but at a later time: We need to make up our
minds about this today We can’t keep postponing decisions like this, it’s just a waste of time.
profit margin /ˈprɒfɪt ˌmɑː(r)dʒɪn/ (noun [countable]) the difference between how much money you get when you sell something and how much it costs you to buy or
make it: If we examine the profit margins, we can see that
we’re not actually making as much money from these products
as we would hope to be Although they are selling well, they are too expensive to make.
reckon /ˈrekən/ (verb [intransitive/transitive]) to have
a particular opinion about someone or something:
Well, I think it’ll work What do you reckon?
sidetrack /ˈsaɪdˌtræk/ (verb [transitive]) to delay the progress of something by causing people to waste time on
something else that is unimportant: We were making good
progress until we got sidetracked by this new development last week, and nothing has happened since then.
stand /stænd/ (verb [intransitive]) to have a particular
attitude or view about a person or subject: I think we’ll
have to find out where the marketing department stands on this particular issue, before we make any more decisions.
supply chain /səˈplaɪ ˌtʃeɪn/ (noun [countable]) a series
of processes involved in supplying a product to someone:
The supply chain for something like coffee is actually very complicated There are a lot of different stages involved.
the bottom line /ðə ˈbɒtəm ˌlaɪn/ (noun [countable])
the most basic fact or issue in a situation: The bottom
line is this: unless profits increase soon, we’re going to go out
of business.
think outside the box /ˌθɪŋk ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðə ˌbɒks/ (phrase)
to find new ways of doing things, especially of solving
problems: Okay, we need a completely new way of looking at
this, so let’s think outside the box and see what we can come
up with.
volatile /ˈvɒlətaɪl/ (adjective) a volatile situation can
suddenly change or become more dangerous: Due to the
volatile nature of the marketplace at the moment, I don’t think
we should make any large investments for the time being.
Unit 2 – Information exchange
benchmark /ˈbentʃˌmɑː(r)k/ (verb [transitive]) to provide
a standard that something can be judged by: They
improved their performance by benchmarking themselves
against their main competitors’ standards.
buoyant /ˈbɔɪənt/ (adjective) if the economy or an aspect of
the economy is buoyant, it is successful and seems likely
to remain successful: With the market as buoyant as this,
I think we can be optimistic about next year’s sales figures.
buzzword /ˈbʌzˌwɜː(r)d/ (noun [countable]) a word that
has become very popular, especially a word relating
to a particular activity or subject: To be honest, I didn’t
understand everything that was said in the meeting They
used a lot of buzzwords I hadn’t heard before.
come off it /ˌkʌm ˈɒf ɪt/ (phrase) used for telling someone
that you do not believe them or that what they are saying
is stupid: Oh, come off it! There’s no way that plan will work!
consolidate /kənˈsɒlɪdeɪt/ (verb [transitive]) to make
the power, position or achievements you already have
stronger or more effective so that they are likely to
continue: With the economy the way it is, I think that now is
the time to consolidate rather than expand our operations.
consumer confidence /kənˈsjuːmə(r) ˌkɒnfɪd(ə)ns/
(noun [uncountable]) people’s confidence in the economy,
making them willing to spend money: I’m not sure that this
is a good time to start thinking about launching a new range
of products, there isn’t a lot of consumer confidence at the
moment.
core competence /ˌkɔː(r) ˈkɒmpɪtəns/ (noun [countable])
a skill or type of knowledge that makes an organization
especially good at doing some things and gives it an
advantage over other organizations: We need to get the
message out about our core competencies, so that potential
clients can understand what it is that we do particularly well.
distribution channel /ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃ(ə)n ˌtʃæn(ə)l/ (noun
[countable]) the way that a company delivers a product or
service to its customers: We aim to deliver to our customers
as quickly as possible, and we have put a lot of thought into
the way our distribution channels operate.
drift /drɪft/ (verb [intransitive]) to move somewhere
slowly as though you do not know where you are going:
The conversation seems to have drifted a little while I was
away I can’t quite see where all this is heading.
empowerment /ɪmˈpaʊə(r)mənt/ (noun [uncountable])
having more control over your life or more power to do
something: Empowerment gives employees the confidence
and authority to take control of their jobs.
fall short of /ˌfɔːl ˈʃɔː(r)t əv/ (phrase) to not reach a
particular level or to fail to achieve something that you
were trying to do: I’m afraid to say that the project has fallen
short of our original expectations – sales have not been as
good as we hoped.
go round in circles /ɡəʊ ˌraʊnd ɪn ˈsɜː(r)k(ə)lz/ (phrase)
to do something for a long time without achieving any
results because you always return to the same problem
that you cannot solve: We don’t seem to be getting anywhere
with these negotiations We just keep going round in circles.
market-driven /ˈmɑː(r)kɪt ˌdrɪv(ə)n/ (adjective) controlled
Trang 3Scenario A – Culture clash
at our disposal /æt ˌaʊə(r) dɪˈspəʊz(ə)l/ (phrase) available
for our use at any time: As a result of this merger, I am sure
that together we will be even stronger; with more resources and more expertise at our disposal.
blend in /blend ˈɪn/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) if someone
or something blends in, they are similar to the other people, objects, buildings, etc around them, and so they
seem appropriate or you do not notice them: He’s really
mastered the art of travel, he seems to blend in wherever
he goes.
count on /ˈkaʊnt ɒn/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to depend
on someone to do what you want or expect them to do for
you: I know I can count on you to give our new colleagues a
warm welcome.
fit in /fɪt ˈɪn/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to have space for
someone or something: With so many new members of
staff, it has been difficult to fit everyone in.
get off on the wrong foot /ɡet ˌɒf ɒn ðə ˌrɒŋ ˈfʊt/ (phrase)
to immediately establish a bad relationship with someone when you first meet them or first start working with
them: I’m sorry, it seems we got off on the wrong foot Can we
start again, and I’ll try to be more sensitive this time.
lobby /ˈlɒbi/ (verb [intransitive/transitive]) to try to influence politicians or people in authority on a particular
subject: A lot of the work we do is lobbying local and national
government for tougher laws to control levels of pollution.
not stand on ceremony /nɒt ˌstænd ɒn ˈserəməni/
(phrase) to behave in an informal way in a situation
where people might expect you to be formal: There’s no
need to wear a suit and tie, we don’t stand on ceremony here.
suspend judgement /səˈspend ˌdʒʌdʒmənt/ (phrase) to delay making a decision about something until you know
more about it: In order to be culturally sensitive, you should
suspend judgement while observing and analyzing other cultures.
sustainable /ˈsteɪnəb(ə)l/ (adjective) using methods that
do not harm the environment: GWA have over forty years
of experience of developing sustainable solutions to water, sanitation and hygiene problems.
synergy /ˈsɪnə(r)dʒi/ (noun [countable/uncountable]) the extra energy or effectiveness that people or businesses
create when they combine their efforts: Now that our two
companies have merged, the first of many synergies we hope to achieve will begin on Monday when GWA’s headquarters staff will be moving into our London office.
take a leaf out of someone’s book /teɪk ə ˌliːf aʊt əv ˈsʌmwʌnz ˌbʊk/ (phrase) to copy what someone else
does because they are successful at doing it: You should
take a leaf out of Simon’s book He never makes the same mistake twice, and he always gets good results.
the more the merrier /ðə ˈmɔː(r) ðə ˌmeriə(r)/ (phrase) used for saying that you will be happy if more people
come or take part in what you are doing: Why don’t you
bring along the rest of your team as well? The more the merrier, I say.
up and running /ˌʌp ən ˈrʌnɪŋ/ (phrase) starting to work
correctly: Now that the testing phase is complete, we hope
the project will be up and running by the beginning of next week.
Unit 3 – Rapport
accentuate /ækˈsentʃueɪt/ (verb [transitive]) to emphasize
something or to make it more noticeable: Developing an
awareness of how emotions can influence behaviour will allow
you to accentuate similarities between yourself and other
people.
body language /ˈbɒdi ˌlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ (noun [uncountable])
the movements or positions of your body that show other
people what you are thinking or feeling: It’s a good idea to
adapt your body language to synchronize with the person you
are dealing with.
common ground /ˌkɒmən ˈɡraʊnd/ (noun [uncountable])
something that people can agree about, especially when
they disagree about other things: We found some common
ground; we both come from large families.
compromise /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/ (noun [countable/
uncountable]) a way of solving a problem or ending an
argument in which both people or groups accept that they
cannot have everything they want: The negotiations were
tough, but in the end we reached a compromise that everyone
was reasonably happy with.
dress down /dres ˈdaʊn/ (phrasal verb [intransitive])
to wear clothes that are more informal than the clothes
that you usually wear: In order not to look out of place,
it might be a good idea to dress down when you are in a
technical or creative workplace.
empathy /ˈempəθi/ (noun [uncountable]) the ability to
understand how someone feels because you can imagine
what it is like to be them: If you can have empathy for
someone else, you will be able to understand what makes
them do the things they do.
eye-contact /ˈaɪ ˌkɒntækt/ (noun [uncountable])
a situation in which two people look at each other’s
eyes: I found it quite difficult to talk to him, he didn’t make
eye-contact once during the whole conversation.
husky /ˈhʌski/ (adjective) a husky voice is deep and sounds
hoarse (as if you have a sore throat), often in an attractive
way: I like listening to him speak, he has a deep husky voice
that is very pleasant to listen to.
mirror /ˈmɪrə(r)/ (verb [transitive]) to match or express the
qualities, features, or feelings of someone or something:
Matching and mirroring the other person’s speech and
behaviour is something that comes naturally to good
communicators.
set aside /ˌset əˈsaɪd/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to keep or
save something from a larger amount or supply in order
to use it later for a particular purpose: I know you have
your differences, but for now you need to set those aside and
focus on completing this task.
sincere /sɪnˈsɪə(r)/ talking and acting in a way that shows
you really mean what you say and do: If you want to build
rapport with someone, it’s important to be sincere People like
to know that you mean what you say.
values /ˈvæljuːz/ (noun [plural]) the principles and beliefs
that influence the behaviour and way of life of a particular
group or community: Your clothes, hair, make-up, nails,
jewellery, beard or tattoos all send messages about you and
your values.
Trang 4phenomenal /fəˈnɒmɪn(ə)l/ (adjective) extremely
impressive or surprising: He’s a phenomenal public speaker
Every time he gives a talk, the place is packed out.
pick up /pɪk ˈʌp/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to improve:
We’re hoping that things will pick up in the next quarter
This quarter has been terrible.
plateau /ˈplætəʊ/ (verb [intransitive]) to stop increasing
or improving after a period of development: It sold well at
first, but recently sales have plateau’d.
plunge /plʌndʒ/ (verb [intransitive]) to fall quickly from
a high position: The share price suddenly plunged and the
value of the company was almost wiped out.
reasonable /ˈriːz(ə)nəb(ə)l/ (adjective) fairly good,
although not extremely good: There was a reasonable
increase in sales after the advertising campaign was launched, but nothing spectacular.
reinforce /ˌriːɪnˈfɔː(r)s/ (verb [transitive]) to make an idea,
belief or feeling stronger: Good visual aids can powerfully
reinforce your message.
show business /ˈʃəʊ ˌbɪznəs/ (noun [uncountable]) the entertainment industry, including films, television,
radio, theatre and music: According to some, ‘All business
is show business,’ and a number of companies have started to put their staff through drama courses in an attempt to turn them into better public speakers.
significant /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/ (adjective) very large or
noticeable: Head office is very worried; there was a
significant decrease in the number of orders taken in the last quarter.
skyrocket /ˈskaɪˌrɒkɪt/ (verb [intransitive]) if an amount, value, or cost skyrockets, it rises quickly to a very high
level: After the first TV advertising campaign that we did,
sales skyrocketed.
slight /slaɪt/ (adjective) small in size, amount or degree:
Although there was a slight increase in sales last year,
it wasn’t enough for us to continue selling this particular line.
stationary /ˈsteɪʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/ (adjective) not moving: By close
of trade the software market was almost stationary.
tenfold /ˈtenˌfəʊld/ (adverb) in a way that increases by ten:
It seems incredible, I know, but sales have actually increased tenfold since we started selling the new range.
unimpressive /ˌʌnɪmˈpresɪv/ (adjective) not very good:
A 25% success rate is unimpressive, to say the least.
Unit 5 – Problems on the phone
abrupt /əˈbrʌpt/ (adjective) behaving or speaking in a way that seems rude to other people because you do not
take the time to be friendly: When ending a telephone
conversation, the trick is not to seem too abrupt.
break up /breɪk ˈʌp/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) if the sound on a radio or mobile phone breaks up, you can
no longer hear the person who is speaking on it: Geoff?
You’re breaking up Are you on your mobile? I can’t hear you!
compensation /ˌkɒmpənˈseɪʃ(ə)n/ (noun [uncountable]) money that someone receives because something bad
has happened to them: I’ll be expecting a total refund and
compensation if this can’t be fixed!
Unit 4 – Voice and visuals
all-time /ˈɔːl taɪm/ (adjective) used for comparing someone
or something with all the other people or things of the
same type that have ever existed: The share price reached
an all-time high yesterday, I’ve never seen anything like it.
attention span /əˈtenʃ(ə)n spæn/ (noun [countable]) the
length of time that you can pay attention to one thing
without becoming bored or thinking about something
else: Try not to speak for too long The attention span of the
average audience member is only 15 minutes.
bounce back /ˌbaʊns ˈbæk/ (phrasal verb [intransitive])
if a market or price bounces back, it rises again after
falling: After a nervous start, the stock market bounced back
and was up by the end of the day.
charismatic /ˌkærɪzˈmætɪk/ (adjective) a charismatic
person has a strong personal quality that makes other
people like them and be attracted to them: I think the
reason why he’s such a popular speaker at these events is that
he’s so charismatic People love watching him talk.
considerable /kənˈsɪd(ə)rəb(ə)l/ (adjective) large in size,
amount, or degree: The media has shown a considerable
amount of interest in the proposed merger.
disastrous /dɪˈzɑːstrəs/ (adjective) very unsuccessful:
Last week’s meeting was disastrous, we didn’t manage to
agree on a single thing.
draw attention to /ˌdrɔː əˈtenʃ(ə)n tə/ (phrase) to make
someone notice something: I’d particularly like to draw
your attention to last year’s sales figures As you can see from
the graph, sales remained steady throughout the year.
dry up /draɪ ˈʌp/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to stop being
available: The market for this kind of equipment dried up
years ago All it’s good for now is the scrapheap.
encouraging /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒɪŋ/ (adjective) giving you
confidence or hope: There have been some encouraging
signs recently that the market might be improving There’s a
good feeling out there, which is very different from this time
last year.
for the taking /fə(r) ðə ˈteɪkɪŋ/ (phrase) available if you
want it: I really think we should expand our operations
There’s a whole market in Eastern Europe just there for
the taking.
halve /hɑːv/ (verb [intransitive]) to be reduced to half the
original size, number, or amount: The number of people
who work in this department has almost halved over the last
three years It’s so much quieter in the office than it used to be.
hit rock bottom /hɪt ˌrɒk ˈbɒtəm/ (phrase) to reach the
lowest possible level: The company’s shares hit rock bottom
at the end of last year, but since then we have got a new CEO
and things have improved a great deal.
outnumber /ˌaʊtˈnʌmbə(r)/ (verb [transitive]) if one group
outnumbers another, there are more in the first group
than in the second: It was a difficult meeting I tried to state
our case but I was outnumbered by people who disagreed with
our new proposals.
paradoxically /ˌpærəˈdɒksɪkli/ (adverb) used for saying
that something is strange because it is the opposite of
what you expect: Much of leadership is acting Not faking it,
but taking on a role Paradoxically, the acting makes it real.
Trang 5rushed off your feet /ˌrʌʃt ɒf jə(r) ˈfiːt/ (phrase)
very busy: I’d love to help, honestly, but I’m rushed off my
feet Why don’t you ask someone else to do it for you?
short-staffed /ˌʃɔː(r)t ˈstɑːft/ (adjective) without enough
workers: We’re really short-staffed at the moment, but as it’s
an important project I’ll see if I can find someone to work with you on this.
slip your mind /ˌslɪp jə(r) ˈmaɪnd/ (phrase) if something
slips your mind/memory, you forget to do it: I’m sorry,
I meant to do it but it completely slipped my mind.
snowed under /ˌsnəʊd ˈʌndə(r)/ (phrase) with too much
work to deal with: Could some else handle this, please? We’re
snowed under at the moment.
tactful /ˈtæk(t)f(ə)l/ (adjective) someone who is tactful is very careful in the way that they speak and behave so that
they do not upset other people: It’s important to try and
find a tactful way of bringing the conversation round to the subject of business.
time flies /ˌtaɪm ˈflaɪz/ (phrase) used for saying that time
seems to be passing very quickly: I haven’t seen you for
years – how time flies!
up to your neck /ˌʌp tə jə(r) ˈnek/ (phrase) involved in a difficult situation, or with more work to do than you can
deal with: I’m up to my neck in it here I’ve got a deadline
coming up, and I’ve just been given a lot more work to do.
what’s up? /ˌwɒts ˈʌp/ (phrase) used for asking what is
wrong: A: Could someone help me, please B: Sure What’s up?
Unit 6 – Leading meetings
acquire /əˈkwaɪə(r)/ (verb [transitive]) to get something,
for example by buying it or being given it: We acquired this
company so that we could have a subsidiary with an existing client base in the Middle East.
base rate /ˈbeɪs reɪt/ (noun [countable]) the rate of interest that banks use to calculate how much interest to
charge on money they lend to their customers: There are
fears that another rise in base rates will badly affect the housing market.
buy into /baɪ ˈɪntə/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to buy part
of a business, especially in order to get control of it: If we
keep expanding like this, we’ll be able to start buying into other companies soon.
consensus /kənˈsensəs/ (noun [uncountable]) agreement
among all the people involved: We didn’t reach a final
decision today, but I’m hopeful that further talks will help us
to reach a consensus.
crackdown /ˈkrækˌdaʊn/ (noun [countable]) strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular
activity: After a lot of negative attention on the issue in
the media, the government implemented a crackdown on corporate tax evasion.
deliberate /dɪˈlɪbəreɪt/ (verb [intransitive/transitive])
to think about or discuss something very carefully, especially before you make an important decision:
We presented the facts as we knew them and left it to the heads of department to deliberate over the final decision.
consequently /ˈkɒnsɪkwəntli/ (adverb) as a result: This is
not the first time you have let me down Consequently, we
shall have to discuss this matter when your probationary
period ends.
customer services /ˌkʌstəmə(r) ˈsɜː(r)vɪsɪz/ (noun
[uncountable]) the department of a company that
provides customers with information and deals with any
problems or complaints that they have: You have reached
the customer services department All our customer service
advisors are busy right now Please hold and your enquiry will
be dealt with shortly.
defective /dɪˈfektɪv/ (adjective) not made correctly, or not
working correctly: I’ve just tried out three of the promotional
DVDs and two were defective – they wouldn’t play at all.
determination /dɪˌtɜː(r)mɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ (noun [uncountable])
the refusal to let anything prevent you from doing
what you have decided to do: Up to two hours every day
are wasted in small talk on the phone And great skill and
determination are needed to escape the deadly game of social
chit-chat.
dispatch rider /dɪˈspætʃ ˌraɪdə(r)/ (noun [countable])
someone whose job is to deliver documents or parcels by
motorcycle: If a fax is no good, I think we should send the
documents by dispatch rider.
flat out /ˈflæt ˌaʊt/ (phrase) as quickly or with as much
effort as possible: I’ve been working flat out for weeks, and
now I’m exhausted.
hurry up /hʌri ˈʌp/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) used for
telling someone to do something more quickly: Hurry up!
If we don’t leave soon, we’ll miss the flight.
in one piece /ɪn ˌwʌn ˈpiːs/ (phrase) not badly damaged
or injured: Most of the equipment was damaged in transit
I’m just about the only thing that arrived here in one piece!
mess /mes/ (noun [singular]) a difficult situation with a
lot of problems, especially because people have made
mistakes: I’m in a bit of mess here and I need your help I left
the file with all the documents for this afternoon’s meeting on
the train.
preoccupied /priˈɒkjʊpaɪd/ (adjective) thinking about
something so much or spending so much time doing
something that you do not notice other things or cannot
think about other things: I understand that you have been
preoccupied with other matters and may not even have made
a start yet, although I hope that this is not the case.
put in a good word /pʊt ˌɪn ə ˌɡʊd ˈwɜː(r)d/ (phrase)
to tell someone about the good qualities that a particular
person has, usually in order to get an advantage for that
person: I’m good friends with the managing director actually
Would you like me to put in a good word for you?
retrieve /rɪˈtriːv/ (verb [transitive]) to find information
that is stored in a computer in order to use it again: Now,
I don’t think we can deal with this on the phone, so I’m going
to send a service engineer to see if they can retrieve your data.
ring off /rɪŋ ˈɒf/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to finish a
phone call: Okay, well my meeting’s about to start so I’ll have
to ring off But it was good to speak to you.
running low /ˌrʌnɪŋ ˈləʊ/ (phrase) if something is running
low or if you are running low on something, there is not
much of it left: I forgot to charge my phone last night, and
now it’s running low on batteries.
Trang 6outsource /ˈaʊtˌsɔː(r)s/ (verb [intransitive/transitive])
to give work to people from outside your company, usually by a freelancer or a company that is expert in that
type of work: We don’t have anyone in-house who can do this
kind of thing, so we’ll have to outsource it.
rationalize /ˈræʃ(ə)nəlaɪz/ (verb [intransitive/transitive])
to make an organization more effective, for example by
getting rid of some staff: The consultant’s main suggestion
was that we rationalize the departments by making a quarter
of the workforce redundant.
stakeholder /ˈsteɪkˌhəʊldə(r)/ (noun [countable]) someone who has an interest in the success of a plan, system or organization, for example a worker in a
company or the parent of a child at a school: A company’s
chief responsibility used to be to its shareholders, but these days we prefer to talk about stakeholders – not just the people with a financial stake in the company, but everyone who has
an interest in the way it’s run.
steamline /ˈstriːmˌlaɪn/ (verb [transitive]) to improve
a business, organization, process, etc by making it
more modern or simple: I think we should streamline
the company, so that we can be more flexible and adapt to changes in the market more quickly.
tip /tɪp/ (verb [transitive]) to say who you think will get
a particular job or be successful at something: The CEO
is due to step down at next month’s AGM, and everyone is tipping the COO to replace her.
top /tɒp/ (verb [transitive]) to be larger than a particular
amount: There are rumours that the company will announce
record fourth-quarter earnings that are expected to top £90m.
troublemaker /ˈtrʌb(ə)lˌmeɪkə(r)/ (noun [countable]) someone who causes problems, often by being violent or
by making others argue or not obey people in authority:
When it comes to troublemakers, it’s important to identify them quickly and make sure they know what the rules are.
upswing /ˈʌpˌswɪŋ/ (noun [countable]) an increase or
improvement in something: Thanks to the positive publicity
we have been getting, there has been an upswing in interest in all of our products.
windfall /ˈwɪn(d)ˌfɔːl/ (noun [countable]) an amount
of money that you get when you are not expecting it,
especially a large amount: I am delighted to announce that
this year has been a great success, with continued expansion and windfall profits.
Unit 7 – Coaching
burn-out /ˈbɜː(r)naʊt/ (noun [uncountable]) if you have burn-out, you are ill or unable to continue working because
you have worked too hard: Problems such as stress and
burn-out may be something that a coach can help you with.
career-wise /kəˈrɪə(r)waɪz/ (adverb) speaking of, or referring to a job or a profession that you spend a lot of
your working life in: Having a wide range of professional
and personal skills is what makes the difference career-wise.
facilitate /fəˈsɪləteɪt/ (verb [transitive]) to make it possible
or easier for something to happen: One of the things that
coaches do is facilitate a commitment to goals, helping you to understand exactly what your objectives are.
diplomacy /dɪˈpləʊməsi/ (noun [uncountable]) the ability
to deal with people in a sensitive way that does not upset
or offend them: Jack has a lot of experience, but he isn’t very
good when it comes to diplomacy He has a habit of offending
clients.
empower /ɪmˈpaʊə(r)/ (verb [transitive]) to give someone
more control over their life or more power to do
something: We want to empower the workforce That means
we give training and development top priority.
establish /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ (verb [transitive]) to start an
organization or company: The company was established
in 1868, and has grown from a small family business to a
multinational corporation with thousands of employees.
fill in /fɪl ˈɪn/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to give someone
details about something: Dietmar is going to fill us in on
what’s been happening in the German office.
flotation /fləʊˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ (noun [countable/uncountable])
the sale of shares in a company for the first time:
The company is planning a $60 million flotation on the New
York stock exchange.
hidden agenda /ˌhɪd(ə)n əˈdʒendə/ (noun [countable])
a secret reason for doing something, because you will
get an advantage from it: To be honest, I would rather Tom
doesn’t attend tomorrow’s meeting I think he has a hidden
agenda, and I don’t trust him.
hierarchy /ˈhaɪəˌrɑː(r)ki/ (noun [countable]) the group of
people who control an organization: A big change in the
organization of this company is that we now have a much
flatter structure, instead of the old hierarchy.
hit /hɪt/ (verb) to have a bad effect on someone or
something: It’s true that we were badly hit by the economic
downturn, but things are now starting to pick up and business
is looking good.
in-house /ɪn ˈhaʊs/ (adjective) done, working or happening
inside a company or organization: Rather than relying on
freelancers, I think we should do as much of this project as
possible in-house We’ve got the skills, so let’s use them.
inadequate /ɪnˈædɪkwət/ (adjective) not enough, or not
good enough for a particular purpose: Basically, I think
the presentation was a failure because there was inadequate
preparation We weren’t ready, and it showed.
liquidate /ˈlɪkwɪdeɪt/ (verb [intransitive/transitive])
to close a business and sell everything that it owns,
usually in order to pay money that is owed: I’m afraid to
say that we can no longer continue to run the business in the
current economic climate The company will be liquidated and
everyone will be made redundant.
mingle /ˈmɪŋɡ(ə)l/ (verb [intransitive]) to move around
and talk to a lot of people, especially at a social event:
Some companies have weekly ‘stand-up meetings’ Everyone
stands, mingles and chats about the latest developments
within the company.
offshore /ˌɒfˈʃɔː(r)/ (adjective) an offshore bank or
company is not in your own country, but in a country
where you pay less tax: The company got in trouble for
having too many offshore interests.
Trang 7hard /hɑː(r)d/ (adjective) unkind, or cruel: She’s very upset
Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on her?
iron out /ˌaɪə(r)n ˈaʊt/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to deal successfully with a disagreement or problem, especially
by removing the last remaining difficulties: I really
think we should iron out these problems before tomorrow’s presentation.
look through /lʊk ˈθruː/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to read something quickly, especially to find the information you
need: Here are the notes, you might want to look through
them before the presentation begins.
secure /sɪˈkjʊə(r)/ (verb [transitive]) to get or achieve
something important: Obviously a successful presentation
could be really influential in securing funding for the future of the project.
short notice /ˌʃɔː(r)t ˈnəʊtɪs/ (phrase) without being
given much warning before something happens: I’m sorry
it’s short notice, but I’d like you to make a presentation at tomorrow’s meeting.
slide /slaɪd/ (noun [countable]) a part of a visual aid to a
presentation with supporting information on it: I just
wonder whether we have too many slides?
Unit 8 – Promoting your ideas
break down /breɪk ˈdaʊn/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) if a
machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working: In the
last presentation I did, the projector broke down, and then the mic went funny as well It was a disaster!
come across /kʌm əˈkrɒs/ (phrasal verb [intransitive])
if someone or something comes across in a particular way, you have a particular opinion of them when you meet
them or see them: As a public speaker, what matters is how
you come across as a person.
common denominator /ˌkɒmən dɪˈnɒmɪˌneɪtə(r)/ (noun [countable]) a feature that everyone or everything in a
particular group has: The common denominator of their
failures was that every one of them lacked a champion, someone who could turn the idea into a reality.
do without /ˌduː wɪðˈaʊt/ (phrasal verb [intransitive/
transitive]) to succeed in living or working without
someone or something: The one thing you can’t do without
is a sense of humour It’s absolutely essential.
dry up /draɪ ˈʌp/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to stop
talking because you do not know what to say: There’s a
part of me that’s scared that I might just dry up completely, like when your mind goes completely blank.
enthusiastic /ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk/ (adjective) very interested in
something or excited by it: By the end of this presentation,
we’re sure that you will be as enthusiastic about this idea as
we are.
fire away /ˌfaɪə(r) əˈweɪ/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) used for giving someone permission to ask a question:
We’ll take your questions now So fire away!
go down /ɡəʊ ˈdaʊn/ (phrasal verb [intransitive])
to produce a particular reaction: Anecdotes and amusing
stories seem to go down well.
go for /ˈɡəʊ fə(r)/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to choose to
do something in a particular way: A lot of people go for
humour in their presentations.
guru /ˈɡʊruː/ (noun [countable]) someone who other
people respect and go to for advice about a particular
subject: According to emotional intelligence guru Daniel
Goleman, expertise in a professional field is no longer
sufficient to guarantee success in your career.
hang-up /ˈhæŋʌp/ (noun [countable]) something that you
are worried or embarrassed about, especially something
that is not very important: Personal hang-ups, difficulties
at home and negative past experiences are not the business
of coaching, which tends to focus on professional
self-development.
hold-up /ˈhəʊldʌp/ (noun [countable]) a short delay: We
need to get this prototype completed on schedule; there’s no
more room for hold-ups.
impart /ɪmˈpɑː(r)t/ (verb [transitive]) to give something
such as information, knowledge or beliefs to someone: I’m
here to impart some of my knowledge onto you.
intuition /ˌɪntjuˈɪʃ(ə)n/ (noun [uncountable]) an ability to
know or understand something through your feelings,
rather than by considering facts or evidence: I’m not
going to tell you what to do Instead, I want you to use your
intuition.
obstacle /ˈɒbstək(ə)l/ (noun [countable]) a difficulty or
problem that prevents you from achieving something:
In today’s session, we’re going to look at how to meet future
goals and overcome present obstacles at work.
paramount /ˈpærəmaʊnt/ (adjective) more important
than all other things: It goes without saying that building
a good relationship with the other members in your team is
paramount.
soft skill /ˌsɒft ˈskɪl/ (noun [countable]) a personality
trait that characterizes your relationships with other
people: It’s not just professional expertise that’s important
these days, you also need to develop your soft skills, such as
intercultural awareness and problem solving.
transition /trænˈzɪʃ(ə)n/ (verb [intransitive]) to change
from one situation to another: If you are transitioning to
a new role in your company, you might find that you need to
develop new skills.
wisdom /ˈwɪzdəm/ (noun [uncountable]) the ability to
make good decisions based on knowledge and experience:
A mentor is there to offer advice and pass on some of their
own hard-earned wisdom.
Scenario B – Coach crash
constructive /kənˈstrʌktɪv/ (adjective) intended to be
useful or helpful: I really like my boss He’s a good listener,
and he always makes constructive comments about my work.
diplomatic /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/ (adjective) able to deal with
people in a sensitive way that does not upset or offend
them: He’s quite sensitive, so I think you should try to be
diplomatic when giving him feedback.
dry run /ˈdraɪ rʌn/ (noun [countable]) something that you
do as a practice for an important event: I know you’re a bit
nervous, so let’s do a dry run the day before the presentation
expenditure /ɪkˈspendɪtʃə(r)/ (noun [countable/
uncountable]) money spent by a government,
organization or person: In this presentation I will be
comparing our budgets and expenditure in the past, present
and future.
Trang 8turn to jelly /ˌtɜː(r)n tə ˈdʒeli/ (phrase) if your legs or another part of your body turn to jelly, they suddenly feel
very weak because you are nervous or frightened: Fear
is an absolute killer in a presentation Your mouth goes dry Your legs turn to jelly.
universal /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜː(r)s(ə)l/ (adjective) involving all the
members of a group or society: We believe that this product
is so innovative that it is the perfect solution to a universal problem.
Unit 9 – Relationship-building
alliance /əˈlaɪəns/ (noun [countable/uncountable])
an arrangement between two or more people, groups
or countries by which they agree to work together to
achieve something: If all goes to plan, by the end of the boat
trip, alliances will have been forged and bonds strengthened.
background /ˈbækˌɡraʊnd/ (noun [uncountable]) a place
or situation in which people do not notice you: At parties,
he always stays in the background and waits to be introduced.
break the ice /ˌbreɪk ði ˈaɪs/ (phrase) to do or say something that makes people feel less shy or nervous in a
social situation: Telling a joke is a good way to break the ice
at social occasions.
bump into /bʌmp ˈɪntə/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to meet
someone unexpectedly: I bumped into Mike the other day
I hadn’t seen him in years.
catch up /kætʃ ˈʌp/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to talk to someone you have not seen for some time and find out
what they have been doing: I spent the evening catching up
with old friends It was great to see them after so many years.
charter /ˈtʃɑː(r)tə(r)/ (verb [transitive]) to hire a boat, plane or bus, especially for use by a group of people:
Picture the scene: open water, no land in sight, the sound of water gently lapping against the side of the executive yacht your company has chartered for the day.
chit-chat /ˈtʃɪt ˌtʃæt/ (noun [uncountable]) friendly conversation about things that are not very important:
He speaks very good English, and he’s happy to talk about work, but he’s not very keen on social chit-chat.
cliché /ˈkliːʃeɪ/ (noun [countable]) a phrase or idea that
is boring because people use it a lot and it is no longer
original: It’s a cliché, but it’s true: ‘You never get a second
chance to make a first impression’.
competitiveness /kəmˈpetətɪvnəs/ (noun [uncountable]) the quality of trying to be more successful than other
people: Competing with the boss outside the workplace is an
ancient ritual designed to test your thinking, competitiveness and ability to fit in.
enlightenment /ɪnˈlaɪt(ə)nmənt/ (noun [uncountable]) the process of explaining or understanding something
clearly: In an age of health and enlightenment, golf has
replaced the business lunch as the preferred vehicle for sealing deals.
humility /hjuːˈmɪləti/ (noun [uncountable]) a way of behaving that shows that you do not think that you are
better or more important than other people: Often, in
negotiation, humility is a valuable trait to display.
green light /ɡriːn laɪt/ (noun [countable]) official approval
for something to be done: All we need now is the green light
from you so we can take things further.
interdepartmental /ˌɪntə(r)ˌdiːpɑː(r)tˈment(ə)l/ (adjective)
involving people from different departments within an
organization or institution: It has been decided that an
interdepartmental meeting will be held every month so that
heads of department can be brought up to date on recent
developments.
keep up /kiːp ˈʌp/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to continue
to do something: You have to keep up a certain level of
formality when you are giving a presentation.
maturity /məˈtʃʊərəti/ (noun [uncountable]) full growth,
or completed development: Ideas are like insects – many are
born, but few live to maturity.
obvious /ˈɒbviəs/ (adjective) clear to almost anyone:
The main selling points of the product are obvious: it’s cheap
and long-lasting.
pace /peɪs/ (verb [intransitive/transitive]) to walk with
regular steps around a small area, because you are
worried, nervous or impatient: People have told me that
I move around too much when I speak in public – that I pace
up and down and move my arms about.
penetrate /ˈpenəˌtreɪt/ (verb [transitive]) to reach or affect
something such as a part of society: It represents a great
opportunity for us to extend our brand and penetrate a new
market
player /ˈpleɪə(r)/ (noun [countable]) a person or
organization that influences a situation, especially in
business or politics: As one of the major players in this
industry, we are constantly looking for ways to stay ahead
of the competition.
resemble /rɪˈzemb(ə)l/ (verb [transitive]) to be similar to
someone or something, especially in appearance: Because
they closely resemble entrepreneurs, we call the people who
turn ideas into realities ‘intrapreneurs’.
run out of /rʌn ˈaʊt əv/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to use
all of something and not have any left: I always seem to
run out of time and then have to rush the end of the talk.
run over /rʌn ˈəʊvə(r)/ (phrasal verb [intransitive])
to continue for longer than planned: I find that audiences
hate it when speakers go on for too long and the presentation
runs over.
show off /ʃəʊ ˈɒf/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to behave
in a way that is intended to attract people’s attention and
make them admire you: Don’t be too techie, or the audience
will think you’re showing off.
speed up /spiːd ˈʌp/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to move
or happen faster: Every time I have to speak in public, I get
so nervous that my heart speeds up.
staggering /ˈstæɡərɪŋ/ (adjective) extremely surprising:
Let me show you some figures that will surprise you
I’m sure you’ll agree that these are staggering statistics.
switch off /swɪtʃ ˈɒf/ (phrasal verb [intransitive]) to
stop listening to someone, or to stop thinking about
something: If you don’t speak clearly, the audience may
switch off altogether.
Trang 9social butterfly /ˌsəʊʃ(ə)l ˈbʌtə(r)ˌflaɪ/ (noun [countable])
an outgoing person who likes to attend parties and
other social gatherings: If you’re meeting a lot of people at
the same event, it’s easy just to drift around from group to group and never really make contact, like some kind of social butterfly.
talk shop /tɔːk ˈʃɒp/ (phrase) to talk about your work, especially in a way that is boring for other people:
Whenever I meet up with colleagues after work, we usually just talk shop.
Unit 10 – Making decisions
a smart move /ə ˌsmɑː(r)t ˈmuːv/ (phrase) an action or change of job that helps you to be successful in your
career: Leaving the company when you did was a smart move
It seems as though your new job has given you a lot more opportunities.
best bet /ˈbest ˌbet/ (phrase) the thing or action that gives
the best chance of a successful result: If you are faced with
a lion, your best bet is to shout and flap your coat to make yourself look bigger and fiercer than you really are.
boom /buːm/ (verb [intransitive]) if a country, region
or industry is booming, it is experiencing a period
of economic success, with a lot of trade and business
activity: The market is experiencing a boom at the moment,
which has been great for business.
boycott /ˈbɔɪˌkɒt/ (noun [countable]) the act of not taking part in an event, or not buying or using something as a
protest: After the news story broke about working conditions
in some of the factories, there was a consumer boycott of all their products.
brand awareness /ˌbrænd əˈweə(r)nəs/ (noun [uncountable]) knowledge or understanding of a product
or group of products that has its own name and is made
by one particular company: A logo that is easily recognizable
and a catchy slogan will help us to build brand awareness.
depressed /dɪˈprest/ (adjective) a depressed area, industry
or economy does not have enough business, employment
or money: It’s been a depressed market for a while now, there
are still far more sellers than buyers.
distribution channel /ˌdɪstrɪˌbjuːʃ(ə)n ˈtʃæn(ə)l/ (noun [countable]) the way that a company delivers a product or
service to its customers: Our wholesalers, retailers and sales
reps are all crucial aspects of our distribution channels.
dominate /ˈdɒmɪneɪt/ (verb [intransitive/transitive])
to control something or someone, often in a negative way,
because you have more power or influence: Our aim is to
be in a position where we dominate the market within the next five years.
fifty-fifty /ˈfɪfti ˌfɪfti/ (adjective) equal, or into two equal
parts: If you look like more trouble than you’re worth, there’s
a fifty-fifty chance the lion will back away.
gut instinct /ˌɡʌt ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ (phrase) a feeling that you are certain is right, although you can give no good reason
why: Well, in the absence of any more reliable data, I think
I’m going to have to go with my gut instinct on this one.
ignore /ɪɡˈnɔː(r)/ (verb [transitive]) to pretend that you
have not noticed someone or something: He just spoke to
the new boss all night He completely ignored everyone else at
the party.
keep your distance /ˌkiːp jə(r) ˈdɪstəns/ (phrase) to avoid
going near someone or something: Whenever the CEO
comes down to our department, I prefer to just give her a
polite nod and keep my distance.
let your hair down /ˌlet jə(r) ˈheə(r) ˌdaʊn/ (phrase)
to relax and enjoy yourself because you are in a
comfortable environment: I can never really let my hair
down when I’m socializing with colleagues.
limp /lɪmp/ (adjective) not firm, stiff or strong: Bitten
fingernails are a no-no for me Or a limp handshake The wet
fish! Absolute turn off.
lounge around /ˌlaʊndʒ əˈraʊnd/ (phrasal verb
[intransitive]) to spend time relaxing or doing nothing
when you should be doing something: In Finland, they’ll
lounge around with you in the sauna, no problem! But they
don’t give much away personally.
make a move /ˌmeɪk ə ˈmuːv/ (phrase) to begin to leave a
place: Well, I really ought to be making a move, but it was nice
talking to you.
make the effort /ˌmeɪk ði ˈefə(r)t/ (phrase) to do
something even though you do not want to or you find it
difficult: Jane and I don’t really get on, but I feel I should go
over there and make the effort to talk to her.
oblige /əˈblaɪdʒ/ (verb [transitive]) to force someone to do
something because it is the law, a rule or a duty: I always
feel obliged to introduce everyone to each other at these sorts
of occasions.
preliminary /priˈlɪmɪn(ə)ri/ (noun [countable]) coming
before the main or most important part of something:
Let’s cut the preliminaries and get straight to the point,
shall we?
pretend /prɪˈtend/ (verb [intransitive/transitive])
to behave in a particular way because you want someone
to believe that something is true when it is not: Oh no,
there’s Jeremy! Quick, look the other way and pretend you
haven’t seen him.
scale back /skeɪl ˈbæk/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) to make
something smaller in size, amount, etc than it used to
be: When playing tennis with your boss, you might consider
scaling back your 160 kph serve, if only because you want
everyone to have a good time.
schmooze /ʃmuːz/ (verb [intransitive]) to talk with
someone in a friendly and informal way, often with
the intention of gaining an advantage or of persuading
them to do something that you want: In my experience,
Americans are more into the schmoozing thing They’re always
very easy to talk to
seal the deal /ˌsiːl ðə ˈdiːl/ (phrase) to make a victory, deal
or agreement certain or complete: Whether you are trying
to attract potential clients or keep existing ones, a trip on a
luxury yacht may help to seal the deal!
Trang 10succumb /səˈkʌm/ (verb [intransitive]) to lose your ability
to fight against someone or something, and to allow them
to control or persuade you: We kept the business going for
as long as we could, but eventually we had to succumb to the inevitable We closed our last shop last month.
thrive /θraɪv/ (verb [intransitive]) to become very
successful, happy or healthy: When the economy is
thriving, there are a lot more opportunities for small start-up businesses to do well.
unanimously /juːˈnænɪməsli/ (adverb) something that you
do unanimously is done with everyone’s agreement and
support: I need everyone’s support on this, the board will
only listen to me if we unanimously agree.
unpredictable /ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəb(ə)l/ (adjective) changing
often, in a way that is impossible to prepare for: With the
economy being so unpredictable, it’s difficult for us to make any large orders.
Unit 11 – Stress
contagious /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ (adjective) a contagious feeling
or idea spreads quickly from one person or place to
another: Stress is contagious; it can easily spread from one
person to another.
distress /dɪˈstres/ (noun [uncountable]) a feeling that you have when you are very unhappy, worried or upset:
A colleague’s distress can quickly ruin your own day.
elicit /ɪˈlɪsɪt/ (verb [transitive]) to manage to get
information from someone: Ask neutral, open questions to
elicit the cause of their distress.
empathize /ˈempəθaɪz/ (verb [intransitive]) to understand how someone feels because you can imagine what it is like
to be them: Don’t be tempted to force your advice on them
Instead, simply empathize.
hypothetical /ˌhaɪpəˈθetɪk(ə)l/ (adjective) based on situations or events that seem possible rather than
on actual ones: Use counselling techniques like echoing,
summarizing and asking hypothetical questions to help your colleague find their own solutions.
judgemental /ˌdʒʌdʒˈment(ə)l/ (adjective) too willing to criticize other people’s actions and behaviour and say that
they are wrong: Don’t be judgemental You should help them
not to feel guilty about the way they feel.
on track /ɒn ˈtræk/ (phrase) doing or saying things that are
likely to have a positive result: Working to lessen the effects
of stress will help to keep the whole office on track.
out of control /ˌaʊt əv kənˈtrəʊl/ (phrase) if something is out of control, people are not able to limit it or make it
do what they want it to do: A quiet word with other people
who are a source of pressure can help overcome that ‘out of control’ feeling.
perspective /pə(r)ˈspektɪv/ (noun [uncountable])
a sensible way of judging how good, bad or important
something is in comparison with other things: Don’t
minimize the problem, but try to help your colleague keep things in perspective.
hover /ˈhɒvə(r)/ (verb [intransitive]) if something hovers,
it keeps itself in the same position in the air: He’s really
worried He’s got the threat of redundancy hovering over
his head.
insider trading /ˌɪnˌsaɪdə(r) ˈtreɪdɪŋ/ (noun [uncountable])
the crime of buying or selling shares in a company using
information that is available only to people working
within that company: Three brokers were arrested for insider
trading last week
lurk /lɜː(r)k/ (verb [intransitive]) if something lurks, it is
likely to threaten, harm, or upset you: You have to be
careful in this business You never know what’s lurking around
the corner.
market forces /ˌmɑː(r)kɪt ˈfɔː(r)sɪz/ (noun [plural])
the economic influences that affect prices, salaries, and
the number of jobs available and are not controlled by the
government: The unemployment rate is just one thing that
can be affected by market forces.
niche market /ˈniːʃ ˌmɑː(r)kɪt/ (noun [countable]) the part
of an industry that sells a particular type of product or
service to the small number of customers who want it:
It’s true that our products are for a niche market But as long
as we can keep the quality high, I think we’ll see a lot of
repeat customers, and that should help us to stay ahead.
outclass /ˌaʊtˈklɑːs/ (verb [transitive]) to be much better
than someone or something else: I thought I was a pretty
good golfer until I played Tomoko She won easily, and I was
completely outclassed.
pool /puːl/ (verb [transitive]) to share something such as
money, ideas, equipment, etc with a group of people,
especially so that they can work more effectively together:
Time is short, so let’s pool our ideas and see what we can come
up with.
recall /ˈriːkɔːl/ (noun [singular]) an occasion when a
company asks people to return a product because there is
something wrong with it: We are hard at work trying to find
the cause of the problems, and we are also implementing a
total recall of our products.
resist /rɪˈzɪst/ (verb [intransitive/transitive]) to stop
yourself from doing something that you would very much
like to do: You should resist the temptation to run from a
mountain lion.
sluggish /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/ (adjective) not performing or reacting
as well as usual: Although the market has been sluggish
in recent weeks, analysts are predicting an upturn in the
near future.
squeeze out /skwiːz ˈaʊt/ (phrasal verb [transitive]) if one
business or part of a system squeezes out another, the
first one becomes so important or successful or takes up
so much time, that the other cannot succeed or continue
to exist: We were doing well until a larger competitor cut
their prices In the end we were completely squeezed out of the
market.
subliminal /sʌbˈlɪmɪn(ə)l/ (adjective) a subliminal
influence is one that may affect you even though you do
not notice or think about it: A lot of scientists believe that
flashed messages and other kinds of subliminal advertising
really can work