ESL Podcast 764 - Being Unsure and Unready
bigwig - an important person, usually in a specific field; a person with a lot of power or prestige in a particular field
This reception is for all of the bigwigs and many of the most influential people in the advertising field will be attending.
toss up - something that may or may not happen; something that is equally likely to succeed or fail
Which team do you think will win?
I don't know. It's a toss up. They're both good teams.
don't quote me on that - a phrase used when one is sharing a secret but does not want other people to share the source of the information, because one will deny it
The mayor is considering firing the police chief, but don't quote me on that.
to tinker with - to make small changes to try to make something better or improve it in some way, usually when those efforts are not successful
Grandpa spends hours in the garage tinkering with that old car, but it's never going to run again.
100% sure - positive; absolutely certain; without any doubt
Are you 100% sure this face cream will remove wrinkles?
to work out - to resolve, fix, or address a problem, issue, or challenge
They're meeting with a therapist twice a week to try to work out their problems.
bug - an error in a computer program or software; something that isn't working properly, especially when talking about electronics and technology
Adele volunteered to test the software and look for any bugs.
to get a move on - to work on something with urgency and try to do it quickly, especially when one has been making very slow progress
Jake has been sitting at the computer for hours, but so far he has written only two paragraphs of his report. He'd better get a move on, because it's due by noon!
prototype - a model showing how something will appear or operate, especially when testing an idea and deciding whether one should proceed to manufacture, implement, or sell it
This is just a prototype, but it shows what the robotic vacuum cleaner would look like.
a work in progress - something that has not yet finished and is still being developed, changed, and implemented
Kelly's knitting is a work in progress. She keeps adding more rows, making the scarf longer and longer.
iffy - uncertain; questionable; with at least two possible outcomes
The weather is iffy, so we should take an umbrella in case it rains.
at best - in the most positive, optimistic way or situation; at most
He's so skinny! He must weigh 100 pounds at best.
the bearer of bad news - someone who is sharing unpleasant or unwelcome information that must be shared, even though it will have negative consequences
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I washed your clothes, and now your white shirt is pink.
to count on - to rely on; to depend on; to trust in; to believe that something will happen and plan accordingly
Sheila was counting on receiving that check from her biggest customer in order to pay her employees.
fast-talking - the use of words in a way that distracts or misleads the listener, especially when one wants to hide something or when one wants to trick someone
Drake dreads buying a car, because he doesn't like the fast-talking salespeople.
tap dancing - the act of moving or speaking quickly, especially to distract or mislead someone, or to avoid discussing something or answering questions
The company's managers are tap-dancing to try to distract the journalists from the scandal.