ESL Podcast 812 - Losing Employees to Other Companies
to hire away - to give a job to someone who was working for another company, so that he or she has to leave that other company
The company grew by hiring away all of the best employees at its main competitors.
headhunter - a person whose job is to find qualified people for challenging, high-level jobs, primarily by contacting people who are working in similar jobs at other companies
Dana was surprised and flattered to receive a call from a headhunter about an executive position with an international company.
rising star - someone who is doing very well and advancing in a particular field or industry, gaining valuable experience and respect
Melesa is a rising star in local theatrical productions and she's thinking about moving to Hollywood.
tough loss - something that is difficult to say goodbye to or difficult to realize and accept that one no longer has; something that one has lost, but wishes one still had
When the hurricane destroyed the orange trees, it was a tough loss for local farmers.
unique - unlike anything else; one of a kind; distinct
This artwork is so unique! I've never seen anything like it.
to duplicate - to copy; to do something exactly the same, or to create an exact copy
Bryan spends hours at the golf course, trying to duplicate what he did the day he hit a hole in one.
replacement - something new that is used instead of something else, especially when the thing that was used previously is old, undesirable, or broken; a person who is hired for a job when the person who previously worked in that job leaves it
Nancy's camera broke, so now she has to shop for a replacement.
classic case - a perfect example of something
The way Derek lied to his sister is a classic case of dishonesty.
brain drain - the phenomenon where the most intelligent, hardest working, and best educated people leave a country to accept better, higher-paying jobs in another country
The government is trying to create programs that will stop and reverse the brain drain by encouraging the country's best students to work for local companies.
lucrative - profitable; making a lot of money
This deal could be really lucrative for our company.
to match - to do something to the same level or extent as someone or something else; to do something comparable
He gave Wendy a car for her birthday, but there's no way she can match that for his next birthday.
startup - a new company that was established or founded very recently and still needs to prove that it can be successful
Yukihiro refuses to invest in startup companies, preferring larger, more established companies.
an offer (one) can't refuse - a proposal, suggestion or offer that is so attractive and desirable that it is difficult or impossible to say `no'
The power company wants to buy the land for its new transmission lines, so its making an offer the property owners can't refuse.
to catch on - to begin to understand, especially something that other people already understand or are already doing
It took Ro a few weeks to catch on to how things were done in the new office.
to put out feelers - to subtly or quietly look for information, especially about job openings, but without asking directly or in a way that attracts a lot of attention
Even if you love your job, it's a good idea to put out feelers and know what other job opportunities are available in your field.
to talk (someone) into - to convince or persuade someone to do something
We tried, but we couldn't talk Quincy into selling us her car.
If you can't beat them, join them - a phrase used to mean that if one's enemies or the people one does not agree with have a stronger position, it's best to stop fighting against them and instead do what they are doing
A: I thought you said you'd never have a TV in your home. B: Well, everyone else does and the kids were begging for a TV. If you can't beat them, join them.