ESL Podcast 620 - Making Quick and Slow Decisions

vendor - a company that sells products or services to another company; supplier

We could simplify our accounts payable if we reduced the number of vendors we work with. For example, we could order all our office supplies from just one company instead of from five different ones.

to go with - to choose to use a particular product or a particular service provider; to choose to have or use a certain thing

We decided to go with orange paint for painting the dining room.

hesitant - pausing and delaying to do or decide something because one isn't sure

After everything you just told me about that company, I'm hesitant to accept the job.

to ponder - to consider; to think about something very seriously for a long period of time

How often do we stop and take time to ponder the meaning of life?

rash - done or decided very quickly, often so quickly that a mistake is made

They made a rash decision to get married, only knowing each other for a few weeks.

to sit on (something) - to spend a lot of time thinking about something before one makes a decision

When they make the job offer, don't respond right away. Sit on it for a few days and try to figure out whether it's what you really want.

of two minds - undecided; able to see the advantages and disadvantages of doing two different things, but unable to decide which one would be better

Sandra is of two minds as to whether she should specialize in mechanical or electrical engineering.

to switch - to change from one thing to another; to stop using or doing one thing so that one can use or do another thing

Why did you decide to switch from drinking coffee in the mornings to drinking tea?

sound - logical, rational, and well-though-out

Our school needs a sound policy on how to handle fights between students.

split-second decision - a decision made very quickly, without having enough time to think about it

When the car in front of him suddenly stopped, Jake made a split-second decision to turn to the right, and it probably saved his life.

debatable - open for discussion; something that people can have more than one opinion about and therefore should be discussed

Scientists are now able to modify human genes, but whether or not that's a good thing is debatable.

ifs, ands, or buts - excuses; any reasons for not doing something

Clean up your room right now! I don't want to hear any ifs, ands, or buts.

tentative - possible; uncertain; something that may be changed later; not yet finalized

Here's a tentative budget for the project, but it might still change depending on the salaries negotiated for the new staff members.

set in stone - finalized; clearly determined and agreed upon; not able to be changed anymore

Once we submit the grant proposal, everything is set in stone. There's no way to make changes after we send it in.

to revisit - to reconsider something after a period of time; to analyze or discuss something again at a future time

After a few years of marriage, Corrine told her husband it was time for them to revisit how household chores were being shared.

to work out - to be successful or unsuccessful; to achieve particular results or solutions

So, I hear you've been living with Gregory for the past few months. How's that working out?

to live with (something) - to be able to tolerate or handle a situation or arrangement, especially if it isn't one's preference; to accept a difficult or challenging situation

I don't really like my new office, but I guess I can live with it.

raise - an increase in the amount of money someone earns by working in a particular job

After one year in the position, Dennis decided to ask his boss for a raise.