ESL Podcast 684 - Asking for Information About a Coworker
lowdown - the interesting, possibly secret information about someone or something
When I asked Eiko for the lowdown on the business deal, she refused to tell me anything.
to fill (someone) in - to give someone the information he or she wants or needs
Is it true that Hinton asked you out on a date? Fill me in!
to glean - to learn something or find something out indirectly, without asking about it directly
Have you been able to glean any information about their budget range for the project?
to pry - to ask personal, obtrusive questions about things that should be private, secret, or confidential
I don't mean to pry, but how old are you?
the scoop - all the most important information about something, especially when it is a secret
What's the scoop on why the politician really resigned from his job?
source - the person who provides information on a particular topic; where information comes from
The teacher was impressed with Josephina's report because she used several good and reliable sources, unlike her classmates.
selfish - caring only about one's own happiness or comfort, and not caring about other people
Samantha is so selfish! She never shares anything with anyone.
self-centered - thinking only about oneself and how something will affect oneself or what will benefit oneself
Bryan is so self-centered. He probably thinks the world was created just for him!
jerk - a rude, uncaring, thoughtless person whom one does not like
What a jerk! I can't believe he wouldn't open the door for you.
to catch (someone) up - to give someone the information he or she needs in order to know as much about something as everyone else does
I had to step out of the room for a minute, but please catch me up. What did you guys talk about while I was gone?
to bombard - to ask someone many questions very quickly
Ever since they sent out that press release last week, they've been bombarded with phone calls from reporters.
social secretary - a person who schedules another person's personal (not professional) meetings and dates
How many social secretaries does the U.S. President have?
to satisfy (one's) own curiosity - to find the answers to one's questions by oneself; to discover the things one wants to know without help from other people
Marissa has always been fascinated by Southeast Asia, so she decided to satisfy her own curiosity by taking a trip to Thailand.
point taken - an informal phrase used to mean that one understands and agrees with what another person has just said
I really dislike the way you chew with your mouth open.
Point taken. I'll try to stop doing it.
to show interest in - to be interested in someone or something, especially to be interested in starting a romantic relationship
When Vinny started showing interest in the trombone, his parents signed him up for music lessons.