ESL Podcast 916 - Being Forced Out of a Position

wicked witch - a woman with magical powers used for evil (doing bad things), a reference to the movie The Wizard of Oz

Shelby's new boss is a wicked witch who does everything she can to make life miserable for the employees.

to step down - to voluntarily leave a position of responsibility, allowing someone else to have that role

As Orlando got older, he began thinking about stepping down from his position as CEO to let a younger executive gain leadership experience.

to think this day would never come - to have trouble believing that something has actually happened, because one has wanted it to happen for a very long time, but did not know whether it was possible

Can you believe Amman and Hannah are getting married tomorrow? I thought this day would never come.

to live to see the day - to still be alive when an event finally happens, because one has been waiting for it for a very long time and was doubting whether it would happen in one's lifetime

I hope I never live to see the day when the company values making money more than it values employees.

willingly - voluntarily; agreeing to do something without being forced to do it

Why would you willingly pay more in taxes than you're required to pay?

to give up - to relinquish; to step down from a position or let go of something so that another person can have it

After years of trying to get acting jobs, Jenna had to give up her dreams of becoming a professional actress.

to force (someone) out - to make someone leave a position, especially in business and politics

Bryan tried to force out the other manager to give himself more power.

how the mighty have fallen - a reference to a Biblical verse, "How the mighty have fallen in battle!" describing how someone who was very strong and powerful suddenly loses that strength or power, and/or has something taken away

Just five years ago, Acme was the market leader, but today it has a market share of less than 10 percent. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

higher-up - an executive, a top manager, or a decision-maker; someone who has a lot of influence and decision-making power in an organization

The higher-ups are in a meeting to discuss the merger.

to fall from grace - to fall out of favor; to do something that makes other people unhappy and think less of a person

Our Senator used to be very popular, but he voted in ways that led him to fall from grace in the eyes of the people.

to not be able to wait to see the back of (someone) - to be very eager for someone to leave and no longer be involved in something

Joey was a terrible team member, and throughout the whole project, we couldn't wait to see the back of him.

comeuppance - a punishment that someone deserves; a negative consequence of bad behavior, especially when one has been acting in a superior or negative way toward others

Justin spent the past few months bragging about his new job, so when he was fired, it was his comeuppance.

full story - the whole truth; the entire truth, without any parts left out; a story that incorporates the perspectives of everyone who is involved

At first, we all blamed Jesse for the divorce, but once we heard the full story, we realized that Monica was equally at fault.

to be rid of - to no longer have someone or something, especially an unpleasant person or thing

It feels great to finally be rid of all that junk that was in the garage!

once and for all - finally and completely; a phrase used when something has happened that one has been anticipating for a long time, and that thing is definite and final

Why do we keep arguing about the same things over and over again? Let's really talk about it and get things cleared up once and for all.

hallelujah - a phrase used in worship or to express joy, happiness, and appreciation; a cheer used to show one's happiness or enthusiasm

Did you hear that Quentin and Elena are getting married? Hallelujah!

to bite (one's) tongue - to stop talking immediately, especially when one has been saying bad things

Bite your tongue! I never want to hear you say anything like that again.