ESL Podcast 692 - Recommending Someone for a Job
to put in a good word for (someone) - to say something good about another person; to recommend someone for an opportunity or position
The committee is going to review my artwork tomorrow. Could you please put in a good word for me?
to stop by - to go somewhere for a short period of time, usually informally
If you have time tomorrow afternoon, please stop by for a cup of coffee.
interview - a formal meeting where one person asks another person many questions to learn about his or her experience and knowledge and determine whether that person should be offered a certain position or opportunity
During the interview, they'll probably ask you to identify your greatest strength and your greatest weakness.
sharp - precisely; exactly; at a specific time
Blake promised to be there at 8:30 sharp, but he overslept and didn't arrive until almost 10:00.
to stick (one's) neck out - to take a risk; to give one's opinion or to do something even though it may have negative consequences and other people may not like it
If I stick out my neck for you by saying that, you're going to have to do something nice for me, too.
to recommend - to say that someone should do (or not do) something based on one's opinion, knowledge, or experience
If you want to eat some great pizza, I recommend the new restaurant on 42nd Street and Taylor Avenue.
to let (someone) down - to disappoint someone; to not meet someone's expectations, hopes, or standards
Darla was supposed to finish the report by Tuesday afternoon, but she let us down when she didn't meet the deadline.
to put (one's) reputation on the line - to put one's reputation at risk; to do or say something that might change the way other people think about oneself
I put my reputation on the line when I recommended that other people invest in your business. If your business fails, they'll never respect me again.
a good fit - a match; something that is comfortable and convenient
Cory has always liked big cities, so living in New York will be a good fit for him.
to afford to - to be able to do something because it does not present any problem
They wanted to wait for Harvey, but ultimately they decided they couldn't afford to wait anymore and they left without him.
choosy - picky; having very high standards for selecting something; accepting only the very best; willing to take or have only things that meet all of one's high standards
Lilian is so choosy! All these sweaters look fine to me, but she's still searching for the perfect one.
to suit (one's) talents - to make good use of one's strengths and interests; to be appropriate for and matching what one is qualified to do
Sheila has always been good with numbers, so becoming an accountant or an engineer would probably suit her talents.
to mooch off (someone) - to take things for free from another person; to ask another person to provide money, food, shelter, clothing, or other things without offering to pay for them
Wouldn't you be embarrassed to be mooching off your parents as a 33-year- old?
nursing home - a facility where elderly people live when they have medical problems and can no longer take care of themselves because they need a nurse or doctor to be present
Gretl took care of her father-in-law for years, but they recently had to move him to a nursing home where he could receive specialized medical care.
insane asylum - a facility or medical institution that houses and treats people with severe mental or psychological problems
In the old days, people with disabilities were sometimes placed in insane asylums.