ESL Podcast 492 - Importing and Exporting Goods
to touch base with (someone) - to speak with someone about something, especially to get that person's opinion and share one's own opinion
I'll give you a call so we can touch base on the revised plan.
regulation - rule; law
Last week, the city council passed a new regulation against smoking in public places.
cursory - quick and without paying very much attention to the details
The manager did a cursory review of the report and said that we would need to make some changes, but he hasn't had time to read it in detail yet.
to have a grasp on - to understand something and believe that one can do what is required
Clothilde doesn't have a grasp on physics and is considering hiring a tutor.
class - type; kind; classification
The airplane has three classes of seating: coach, business, and first-class.
cargo - freight; something that is carried in a truck, plane, or ship, especially so that it can be sold somewhere else
Uncle Bob is a truck driver who transports cargo between Boise and Seattle.
certificate of origin - a document that states where a product was made, used when something is sold and transported internationally
According to the certificate of origin, the wood for this table came from Alaska.
in order - correct and organized as needed
Is everything in order for tomorrow's conference?
shipping agent - a person whose job is to make sure that products can be sent from one place to another, especially internationally, usually by filling out all the required paperwork
When ambassadors move to another country, shipping agents make sure that all their furniture and personal belonging follow them to their new home.
rest assured - a phrase used to mean that one should not worry about something, because everything is under control and has been or will be handled correctly
Rest assured, we'll take good care of your dog while you're on vacation.
customs - the part of the government that inspects things coming into a country, looking for items that are not allowed and collecting taxes as needed
The customs officer said that we couldn't bring any fresh fruits or vegetables across the border.
container - something that holds something else, such as a box or bottle, especially used to talk about large metal boxes that contain products and are transported by trucks or ships
How many containers will we need for the next shipment?
freight - cargo; something that is carried in a truck, plane, or ship, especially so that it can be sold somewhere else
We're expecting a new freight shipment to arrive this afternoon.
waybill - a piece of paper with information about what is being sent, how much it weighs, and how much money it is worth
According to this waybill, there is more than $400,000 of medications inside this box!
packing list - a piece of paper that lists all the things that should be put in a box, especially for mailing to a customer
The packing list has three books, but only two were actually in the box when it arrived.
to put (one's) mind at ease - to make one feel calmer and more comfortable; to make one feel that one no longer has to worry about something
Being able to call your cell phone puts my mind at ease, because I know I can reach you anytime.
fire away - an expression used to let another person know that one is ready for his or her questions, or that one is ready to hear what another person has to say
Are you ready for the first question?
Sure, fire away.