What did they say again?
English is rich in idiomatic expressions — and using them can make your language sound authentic and up to date.
First, the idiomatic way
Sara: This demo needs to be more in-your-face and have pride of place. Tell the designers to go back to the drawing board. Joe: Really? We’re cutting it fine. Sara: This demo is our chance to stand out from the crowd.
Now, more simply
Sara: This demo needs to be more dramatic and it has to be in the most important place. Tell the designers to think of a new idea as this one doesn’t work.
Joe: Really? We don’t have much time.
Sara: This demo is our chance to get noticed.
in-your-face: be ~ ifml. provokativ sein
have pride of place einen Ehrenplatz einnehmen
go back to the drawing board (etw.) wieder ganz von vorn beginnen
cut sth. fine wenig Zeit für etw. haben, etw. (zeitlich) knapp kalkulieren
stand out from the crowd sich von allen anderen abheben
First, the idiomatic way
Joe: If you hadn’t got the demo up and running today, we would have been for the high jump.
You’ve saved our bacon.
Sara: I designed it, so I know it inside out. It was a piece of cake
to fix.
Now, more simply
Joe: If you hadn’t got the demo to work today, we would have been in serious trouble. You’ve helped us to avoid problems.
Sara: I designed it, so I know it well. It was easy to fix.
up and running: get sth. ~ etw. zum Laufen bringen
for the high jump: be ~ UK ifml. sein blaues Wunder erleben
save sb.’s bacon ifml. jmds. Rettung sein
know sth. inside out etw. in- und auswendig kennen
piece of cake: a ~ ifml. ein Klacks
First, the idiomatic way
Sara: OK, you see the guy in the blue suit? Go for it!
Joe: That guy? He’s just here to kick the tyres.
Sara: You don’t know that. Offer him a drink. Just don’t go for the hard sell right off the bat.
Joe: I never do that.
Now, more simply
Sara: OK, you see the guy in the blue suit? You should go over and try hard to be successful with him.
Joe: That guy? He’s just here to look around.
Sara: You don’t know that. Offer him a drink. Just don’t be too aggressive with your sales technique from the very beginning.
Joe: I never do that.
Go for it! Nichts wie ran!
kick the tyres US ifml. sich ohne ernsthafte Kaufabsicht umsehen
go for the hard sell eine aggressive Verkaufsstrategie einsetzen
right off the bat US sofort, auf Anhieb
First, the idiomatic way
Sara: Why are you grinning from ear to ear?
Joe: I didn’t just clinch a deal, I hit a home run. Look at the numbers! Sara: Wow! Crack open the champagne!
Joe: It was your demo that caught his eye!
Now, more simply
Sara: Why do you look so happy?
Joe: I didn’t just make a sale, I was really successful. Look at the numbers!
Sara: Wow! Let’s have a drink to celebrate!
Joe: It was your demo that made him stop and look!
grin from ear to ear von einem Ohr zum anderen grinsen
clinch a deal ein Geschäft abschließen
hit a home run US den großen Treffer landen
crack open the champagne den Champagnerkorken knallen lassen
catch sb.’s eye jmds. Aufmerksamkeit erregen