ESL Podcast 808 - Asking for Time Off

to take (a day) off - to not go to work on a day when one normally would; to take a break from one's regular activities

Wei Han asked to take next Wednesday off for a doctor's appointment.

to turn (someone) down - to say "no" to someone's request; to not allow a person to do or have what he or she is asking to do or have

Bryan asked three girls to the high school dance, but they all turned him down.

time off - a period of time when one has permission to not be at work even though one normally would; leave; vacation

You seem so stressed out! I think you should take some time off and relax.

messed up - not right, fair, or clear; confusing; unjust

Laura wasn't allowed to date until she turned 17, but her younger sister was allowed to date when she was just 15. That's messed up!

permission - authorization; agreement from someone in authority that one should be allowed to have or do something

We need all of the parents to give their permission before we can take the students to the museum.

to have it in for (someone) - to want to do things that will make someone's life difficult because one dislikes that person; to try to create problems or trouble for another person

Lydia has it in for Ahmed, because she wants his job and she'll do anything to make him look bad in front of the director.

the case - the way something is; a situation, scenario, or circumstance

Craig didn't want to believe his wife when she told him the neighbor was stealing their tools, but when he saw it happen, he understood that it was really the case.

in advance - ahead of time; with anticipation; before something else happens

If you'd told us about your visit in advance, we would have prepared a nice meal.

seniority - having more power, influence, or rights than another person because one has been working in a particular organization for a certain period of time

The schools use a seniority system, so the teachers who have been there the longest earn more, even if they aren't the best teachers.

screwed - an informal, vulgar term for being treated unfairly and in an unpleasant, uncomfortable, or undesirable situation that one is not able to change

Shigemi didn't finish the report on time and now our whole team is screwed.

a chip on (one's) shoulder - continuing to think about something bad or unfair that happened in the past, letting it continue to affect oneself in a negative way

He has had a chip on his shoulder ever since he applied for a job with the company and didn't get called for an interview.

to put in (one's) years - to do something for the period of time needed in order to receive some benefit, advantage, or recognition; to put in one's time

They can't change the company's retirement plan now! I've put in my years and I expect to receive my pension!

fair and square - in a truthful, honest, and fair way, without tricking or lying to anyone

What do you mean we won't receive our prize money? We won the contest fair and square!

priority - something that is most important and must be dealt with or addressed before anything else

The manager asked us to make this client's project our top priority for the next few weeks.

hire - a person who has been given a job in an organization; an employee, especially a new employee

All of the new hires are in the employee orientation this week.

shoot me - a phrase used to ask another person to kill oneself, used jokingly or sarcastically when one is in a very unpleasant and undesirable situation without control

Last week our cat died, I lost my job, and the house caught on fire. Just shoot me before anything else happens.