ESL Podcast 300 - Arriving for an Appointment
office manager - a person who is responsible for the administration and daily operations of an office
The office manager will help you write a job description and hire a new employee.
receptionist - a person who answers the phones and speaks to people when they first enter an office building
Our receptionist always knows who is in the office, who has left for lunch, and who is on vacation.
to send (someone) up - to give someone permission to go upstairs to a specific office; to tell someone to go to a particular office
When the electrician gets here, please send him up to the 14th floor to fix those lights.
to run a little late - to be a little bit behind schedule; to be doing things later than one had planned; to not be on time
I called the company to let them know that I was running a little late this morning, but that I would be at the office by 8:45.
to be tied up - to be busy doing something; to be unable to do something because one has to finish something else first
Chandy wanted to have lunch with Kevin, but she was tied up with her work and wasn't able to meet him at the restaurant.
to wrap things up - to finish something so that one is available to do something else; to end something
Let's hurry up and wrap things up so that we can go home for the evening.
free - available; not busy with something else; unoccupied
Are you free to go with me to the movies on Saturday night?
precisely - exactly; very accurately
The earthquake happened at precisely 3:48 p.m. yesterday.
to expand - to grow; to get bigger
The use of cell phones is expanding to many people over the age of 65.
to pump (someone) for information - to try to get a lot of information from someone; to use someone as a source of information
The reporter was pumping the politician's assistant for information about their plans for the next election.
to get the inside scoop - to get information that isn't available to most people; to get information that only a few people have
Many people read People magazine to get the inside scoop about the lives of famous actors and actresses.
if you'll excuse me... - a polite phrase used to ask for permission to end a conversation so that one can do something else or to leave a place
I've really enjoyed talking with you, but if you'll excuse me, I need to get home.
in no time - very soon; in a very short period of time
Jake types very quickly so he was able to finish the report in no time.
to keep (someone) - to not let someone do what he or she wants or needs to do; to prevent someone from doing what he or she wants or needs to do; to use too much of someone else's time; to delay someone
Thank you for waiting for me! I didn't mean to keep you so long.