ESL Podcast 568 - Describing Brisk and Slow Business

banner - very good, better than expected or better than anything that has happened before

It was a banner year for Charlie, who got perfect grades, found a great job, won the lottery, and fell in love.

to launch - to start a new project, program, business, or organization; to begin selling a new product or service

When did they launch the new marketing campaign?

line - a group of related products with the same brand name

All the teenagers love this line of clothing.

to keep up with demand - to be able to produce or manufacture at least as much of something as people want to buy

During the long snowstorm, stores weren't able to keep up with demand for flashlights, water, basic medicine, and canned food.

to fly off the shelves - to be sold very quickly and in very large quantities

The new Harry Potter books flew off the shelves and the bookstore sold out within an hour.

to sing a different tune - to have a different experience than before; to talk about something that has changed very much

You think being a parent is easy, but you'll be singing a different tune once you have kids of your own.

foot traffic - the number of people who come into a store, restaurant, or business; the people who walk in and out of a building

Our store would get a lot more foot traffic if we were on a busier street.

brisk - very fast and energetic, with a lot of movement and excitement

Does she always walk at such a brisk pace? I can barely keep up with her.

all the rage - very popular; something that everyone wants to do or have

This band is all the rage among the college students.

to beat down (one's) door - to break a locked door so that one can enter a room or building; a phrase used to describe people who want to do or have something very badly

In the early 1990s, students who majored in computer engineering had employers beating down their door even before they graduated.

passé - no longer popular or fashionable; old-fashioned; outdated

When Meg realized that her clothing and hairstyle were passé, she decided to get a makeover.

inventory - the items that a company owns and is waiting to sell

How many boxes do we have in inventory?

to unload - to get rid of something, either by selling it or by giving it away, especially if it isn't of very good quality

They need to unload their old house, but in this market it's almost impossible to sell it for a decent price.

fickle - changing one's mind frequently, especially about what one does and does not like

Her boyfriend is so fickle! One day he says he loves her and wants to marry her, and the next day he's flirting with other girls at a bar.

to cry in (one's) beer - to drink beer when one is very sad or depressed because one thinks the beer will make one feel better

Bartenders are used to seeing customers cry in their beer, and they often try to start a conversation to help them feel better.

to pull up a chair - to sit down next to someone at a table and enjoy a meal, drink, or conversation with them

It's great to see you! Please pull up a chair so we can talk for a while.

sob story - a very sad story; an explanation of why a person is feeling sad

They spent all night sharing sob stories about their ex-boyfriends.