ESL Podcast 329 - Being Persuasive

favor - something that one does for another person, because one has been asked to do it; something that one person asks another to do out of kindness

Please take this message to Antuka as a favor for me.

down in the dumps - feeling depressed; feeling sad and without energy, often for no reason

Anita was down in the dumps for weeks after she found out that she didn't get the scholarship.

shy - timid, quiet, and not comfortable speaking with other people

Damian is so shy that his face turns red whenever he has to talk to a stranger.

off the top of my head - a phrase used to show that one is saying something very quickly, without thinking about it very much and/or without additional information

Off the top of my head, I think we sold about 40,000 units last year, but if you can wait a few minutes I'll get you the exact sales figure.

no offense - a phrase used when one says something that another person probably won't like, but doesn't want the other person to become angry

No offense, but I think you should wear more professional clothes to work.

to miss - to not experience; to not be able to enjoy; to not have an opportunity to do something

We came late to the movie theater and missed the previews, but we were able to see the movie.

witty - clever, funny, and quick-thinking

Xena is very witty and can find something funny to say in any situation.

to persuade - to convince; to do or say something that makes another person believe that something is true

Paola persuaded us that her company was a great investment opportunity, but then it failed and we lost our money

convinced - persuaded; believing that something that another person has told oneself is true

The children in this neighborhood are convinced that Mrs. Urquizo is a witch.

to live up to - to fulfill or meet expectations; to be what one wants or expects

Bella has always struggled to live up to her family's expectations for her to become a doctor.

hype - advertising or other excited statements about how good something or someone is, often more than he/she or it really is

There was a lot of hype about this company's new cell phone.

to twist (one's) arm - to force someone to do something; to make someone do something; to insist strongly that one do something

Tracy kept twisting his arm until he agreed to help her with the project.

on the fence - undecided; not sure what to do; trying to decide between two options

Betty was on the fence regarding whether she should go to medical school or law school

to sweeten the pot - to do or offer something that makes a deal more interesting and attractive

The company has competitions to see which sales representative has the highest sales, and it sweetens the pot by giving the winner $2,500.

to tempt - to try to make someone do what one wants him/her to do, often by offering to give him/her something

The university tempts students into difficult majors like biophysics by offering them full scholarships.