ESL Podcast 752 - Working With Unreliable People

to hold up - to delay; to make something happen later than originally planned; to not complete something when it should have been finished

Preparations for the outdoor wedding were held up by poor weather.

annual report - a written document produced once each year that shares information about a company's financial status and achievements during the past year

They spend a lot of money on their annual report, because they use it as a tool to attract new investors. (one's) head is going to roll - for someone to be punished for one's actions, especially by being fired

If we don't get this contract, heads are going to roll.

in a lurch - with a major problem; in a very difficult situation

Shane and his wife lost their jobs on the same day, so now the family is in a lurch.

to drop the ball - to be unreliable; to not do what one is supposed to do; to be irresponsible

Ollie really dropped the ball when he forgot to pick up his son from school.

to cover for (someone) - to lie or act a certain way to protect another person so that he or she doesn't get in trouble for what he or she has or has not done

As a teenager, Erwin always asked his twin brother to cover for him when he stayed out late at night.

the patience of a saint - with a lot of patience; never in a hurry; always willing to wait to do or have something, much more than other people

A good kindergartener teacher needs to have the patience of a saint!

flake - a person who is very unreliable and does not do what he or she is supposed to do

Nancy said she'd meet me here an hour ago, but she's such a flake that I'm really not surprised she isn't here.

beats me - an informal phrase used when one does not have an answer to another person's question; I don't know

• Do you know why Adam decided to shave his head?

• Beats me.

in for - expecting or deserving to have or do something

We're in for more expensive health insurance premiums if medical costs keep rising.

in charge - responsible for a project or group; with decision-making power over a project, program, or team

Larry received such bad customer service that he asked to speak with the person in charge.

to light a fire under (someone) - to do or say something to motivate a person; to do or say something that makes someone do something, especially if he or she is very lazy and was not going to do that thing alone even though he or she should

Karl was never a very good worker, but his daughter's birth lit a fire under him and he began to work really hard to try to get a promotion.

to keep on (someone) - to nag; to bother someone repeatedly to make sure he or she does what needs to be done; to remind someone about something many times

Do you have to keep on your kids to make them practice playing the violin so much, or do they choose to do it on their own?

line - a saying; an excuse; one sentence, especially one that is common and used by many people

When the teacher asked Rajal why he didn't write the essay, he gave her the line about how the dog ate his homework, but of course she didn't believe it.

a trip down memory lane - time spent remembering what happened in the past

Looking through photo albums is like taking a trip down memory lane.

polite - not rude; using kind, nice words that are appropriate for the place and audience

Mitchell is a very polite young man who always says "please" and "thank you."