ESL Podcast 572 - Blowing the Whistle at Work

ramification - implication; consequence; something additional that results from one's actions, especially when one cannot know exactly what it will be ahead of time

The decision to quit your job could have serious ramifications for your future career.

to blow the whistle - to share information about something wrong or bad that an individual, corporation, or organization is doing, because one hopes to end it

Who blew the whistle on Enron?

no two ways about it - very clear; without any uncertainty; able to happen in only one way

There are no two ways about it: if you break up with Margot, she'll never speak to you again.

to step up - to come forward; to voluntarily do or participate in something without being forced to do it

If you step up and tell the police what you've done, you'll probably get a less serious punishment than if you wait until you've been arrested.

on the line - at risk; in danger; with the possibility of being lost or damaged

My job is on the line! If this presentation isn't perfect, I'll be fired for sure.

to get out - for information to become public; for information to become known by many people; for a secret to be broken

Sequita would be so embarrassed if any of this information got out.

to live with - to put up with something; to be able to tolerate something; to be able to continue living one's normal life if something is true

I don't think I could live with myself if I accidentally killed someone in a car accident because I was driving while drunk.

to protect (one's) interests - to meet one's own needs and fulfill one's own wishes; to take care of oneself

The bankers seem very helpful, but they aren't really here to protect our interests, so we need to read all the documents very carefully before signing.

anonymous - without one's name being known; with an unknown name or identity

This anonymous poem is beautiful. I wish I knew who wrote it.

to blow up - to become a major problem, usually affecting many people; to become an uncontrollable situation

When a government scandal blows up, voters become angry and many politicians lose their jobs.

to be in knee-deep - to be heavily involved in something

I'm knee-deep in paperwork, so I need to work late tonight.

to put (one's) money where (one's) mouth is - to finally do what one has been saying should be done; to stop just talking about something and begin acting on it

If you think getting a college education is so important, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and go back to school?

to go public - to share information with many people, especially with the media; to stop keeping something a secret

What made you decide to go public with that story? Most people would have tried to keep it a secret.

to let the chips fall where they may - to do something or to let something happen, no matter what positive or negative things might result from it

Even though they knew the housing market was falling, they decided to buy the home and let the chips fall where they may.

hasty - quick, fast, or rushed, especially when making a decision

Whenever I make a hasty decision, I usually regret it the next day.

to sleep on it - to think about something overnight; to not make a final decision until the next morning, after one has had some time to think about it more carefully

Don't make a decision right now. Go home, sleep on it, and call me again tomorrow morning.

with (someone) - in agreement with another person; willing to support another person; willing to join another person in doing something

We're going to protest against the mayor's decision. Are you with us or against us?