LESSON 1 : TALKING ABOUT A NEW PROJECT
Carl, Greg, and Anne work for WaterSonic Corporation. Recently, the company has come up with an idea for a new electric toothbrush.
Carl: I think we’ve come up with a winner.
Anne: I agree. The new Brush-o-matic toothbrush should be a blockbuster!
Carl: Our designers have already made up some prototypes * The toothbrushes have a tooth-whitening attachment and many other bells and whistles.
Greg: We should fast track this project. Let’s try to launch it in time for the holiday season.
Anne: This will be a great stocking stuffer!
Carl: We definitely need a big win for the holidays.
Anne: This is a great idea. We’re going to make a killing.
Greg: Let’s not talk about this project to anybody who doesn’t need to know. We’ll keep it under wraps.
Carl: I agree. Mum’s the word. We don’t want any of our competitors to get wind of the idea and rip it off!
Anne: Right. Let’s meet again on Monday morning and discuss our game plan for getting this project off the ground!
GIẢI THÍCH THÀNH NGỮ & CÁCH DIỄN ĐẠT
1- (to) come up with a winner: to think up a very good idea [nghĩ ra ý kiến hay]
example: Everybody likes Pepsi’s new advertising campaign. Their advertising agency has come up with a winner.
2- blockbuster: a big success; a huge hit [thành công to lớn]
Example: Eli Lilly made a lot of money with the prescription drug, Prozac. It was a real blockbuster.
3- bells and whistles: extra product features, usually using the latest technologies; product features which are attractive, but not essential for the product to function [tính năng tiên tiến]
example: Our office just got a new copier with all the bells and whistles. I’ll probably never learn how to use all of its features!
4- (to) fast track a project: to make a project a high priority; to speed up the time frame of a project [ưu tiên, xúc tiến nhanh dự án]
example: Let’s fast track this project. We’ve heard rumors that our competitors are developing similar products.
5- stocking stuffer: a small gift given at Christmas time [món quà nhỏ vào dịp Giáng Sinh]
example: These new mini travel pillows will make great stocking stuffers!
6- big win: a huge success; a successful product [ thành công to lớn]
example: The drug company spent millions on research and development, hoping that one of their new products would be a big win.
7- (to) make a killing: to make a lot of money [kiếm nhiều tiền] (Đồng nghĩa: to make a fortune)
example: Suzanne made a killing on her Google stock and retired at 40.
8– (to) keep something under wraps: to keep something secret; to not let anybody know about a new project or plan [giữ bí mật]
example: I’m sorry I can’t tell you anything about the project I’m working on. My boss told me to keep it under wraps.
9- mum’s the word: let’s keep quiet about this; I agree not to tell anyone about this
example: Please don’t tell anybody about our new project. Remember: mum’s the word!
10- (to) get wind of: to find out about something, often sensitive information [phát hiện cái gì]
example: When the restaurant owner got wind of the fact that one of his waiters was stealing money from the cash register, he was furious.
11- (to) rip off: to copy an idea; to steal [nhái ý tưởng, ăn cắp]
example: Why doesn’t the Donox Company ever think up any original ideas? All they ever do is rip off their competitors! note: “Rip off’ is also a noun. Example: We were charged $10,000 for a small advertisement in the newspaper. What a rip off!
12- game plan: an action plan; a plan for how a project will proceed [kế hoạch hành động]
example: The software company’s game plan is to expand its operations into China and India over the next year.
13-(to) get something off the ground: to get started on something, often a project [khởi động dự án]
example: We’ve been sitting around talking about this project for months. It’s time to take action and get it off the ground!
Practice the idioms
Choose the best substitute for the phrase or sentence in bold:
1) Did the company think of this new product idea themselves? No, they ripped it off from an inventor.
a- No, they paid an inventor for the idea.
b- No, they stole the idea from an inventor.
c- No, they discussed it with an inventor and he agreed to sell
it to them.
2) Andrea is planning to quit her job at the end of September, but mum’s the word.
a- don’t tell anybody
b- don’t tell her mother
c- she may change her mind
3) Sony has made a killing on its popular PlayStation line.
a- lost money on
b- made a lot of money on
c- decided to stop producing
4) After receiving a large loan from the bank, the company was
finally able to get its project off the ground.
a- get started on the project
b- cancel the project
c- borrow money
5) That new software company seems very disorganized. Do they
have a game plan?
a- a plan for closing down their business
b- a plan for developing new games
c- a plan for how they will proceed to grow their business
6) Some experts recommend that when you’re interviewing for a
new job, you keep your current salary under wraps.
a- you should tell the interviewer what your current salary is
b- you should say you’re making twice as much as you’re
really earning
c- you should not say how much you’re currently earning
7) Don’s new cell phone has a video camera and all sorts of other
bells and whistles.
a- fancy features
b- things that make loud ringing noises and whistle tones
c- features typical in a low-priced product
8) When investors got wind of the fact that the pharmaceutical
company’s major drug increased the risk of heart attacks, the
company’s stock price fell.
a- hid
b- discovered
c- got fed up over
ANSWERS TO LESSON 1: lb, 2a, 3b, 4a, 5c, 6c, 7a, 8b