ESL Podcast 940 - Ending Excessive Spending

buzzkill - a party pooper; someone who spoils everyone's fun; someone who ends a good or enjoyable situation

Whenever Serena comes to a party, she's such a buzzkill! She only wants to talk about her classes and exam scores.

gravy train - a situation where there is a lot of money or people make a lot of money very easily

I didn't expect our business to become a gravy train right away, but I also never thought it would be this hard to make a profit!

spending - expenses; money paid in exchange for goods and services

We have to reduce our spending, or we'll never be able to save enough money to retire.

extraneous - extra and unnecessary; more than is needed or wanted

Employees have to learn to identify and discard extraneous information so that they can focus on the most important issues.

to quell the masses - to appease people; to do or say something that addresses others' concerns and makes them feel calmer or less upset

When people were worried about inflation, the government gave everyone free rice to try to quell the masses.

department head - the top manager of a division or a group of people working together within a larger business or organization

The department head has requested funding for three new positions.

frivolous - silly and unimportant; not worthy of serious attention or consideration

As the executive assistant, Amanda's job is to handle all frivolous requests and inquiries so that her boss can focus on the more important problems.

excessive - too much of something; more than is needed or normal

Don't you think the punishment you gave the kids was excessive?

bearable - tolerable; manageable; not so difficult that one can't stand something

The pain should be bearable, but if it becomes too intense, we can give you some more medication.

perks - benefits one receives in a job in addition to one's pay or salary

Some of the perks of working here include a company car, an expense account, and discounts at the gym.

part and parcel - a necessary part of something; a part that is separate, but cannot be avoided

Learning how to paint and fix leaking faucets are part and parcel of being a homeowner.

to get wind of - to hear about something; to hear a rumor; to become aware of something

If anyone gets wind of her involvement in the scandal, her career will be ruined.

spending practices - spending habits; how one typically spends money

Did you read that article about the spending practices of millionaires?

budget allocation - a plan for how and when money will be spent, usually within a company or an organization

Voters clearly support greater budget allocations for education and healthcare.

the long and short of it - a phrase used to present the most important point or a conclusion about something that is complex

I could show you graphs and charts full of data all day long, but the long and short of it is that our company is losing market share.

retreat - a long meeting held outside of the office where people normally work, often for strategic planning or teambuilding, and often with opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment

Each summer, the managers go on a three-day retreat to set goals for the coming year.

venue - the place where an event is held; location

Does Springfield have any venues that can accommodate a conference with 500 participants?