What did they say again?
English is rich in idiomatic expressions — and using them can make your language sound authentic and up to date. You can learn some of them in these short extracts.
First, the idiomatic way
Sophie: Did you get hold of
Mark?
Jules: I’ve tried, but it’s his day off.
I’ve been playing phone tag with
him all afternoon.
Sophie: We need to bring him up to speed today.
Now, more simply
Sophie: Did you contact Mark? Jules: I’ve tried, but he’s on holiday today. I’ve called him, left a message, he called me back, left a message, again and again all afternoon.
Sophie: We need to give him the latest information today. get hold of sb. ifml. jmdn. erreichen day off: be sb.’s ~ jmds. freier Tag sein play phone tag with sb. US ifml. hin und her telefonieren, ohne jmdn. zu erreichen (play tag with sb. mit jmdm. Fangen spielen) bring sb. up to speed ifml. jmdn. auf den neuesten Stand bringen
First, the idiomatic way
Sophie: Hey, Mark, thanks for touching base today.
Mark: Stop beating about the bush. What’s wrong?
Sophie: You haven’t heard anything through the grapevine?
Now, more simply
Sophie: Hey, Mark, thanks for contacting us today.
Mark: Stop avoiding talking directly about the problem. What’s wrong?
Sophie: You haven’t heard anything from anyone else? touch base (with sb.) jmdn. kontaktieren beat about the bush um den heißen Brei herumreden through the grapevine: hear sth. ~ ifml. etw. aus der Gerüchteküche hören
First, the idiomatic way
Sophie: In a nutshell, this means that George will leave the team this Friday. Can you get on board with that?
Mark: Absolutely. Honestly, I had to bite my tongue during the meeting last week. He was totally
out of line. I support you.
Sophie: Great!
Now, more simply
Sophie: In just a few simple words, this means that George will leave the team this Friday. Are you OK with that?
Mark: Absolutely. Honestly, I had to stop myself from saying something during the meeting last week. He behaved very badly. I support you.
Sophie: Great!
First, the idiomatic way
Mark: So, Sophie really does call the tune!
Jules: Yes, and George really dropped the ball. He should never have pointed the finger at Sophie for his own mistakes.
Mark: True. Keep me posted if there are any other changes. I’ll be back on Monday.
Now, more simply
Mark: So, Sophie really is in control!
Jules: Yes, and George really failed to do the things he was supposed to. He should never have blamed Sophie for his own mistakes. Mark: True. Tell me if there are any other changes. I’ll be back on Monday. in a nutshell kurz gesagt, in aller Kürze get on board with sth. mit etw. zurechtkommen bite one’s tongue ifml. sich auf die Zunge beißen out of line: be ~ ifml. aus der Reihe tanzen, sich schlecht benehmen call the tune das Heft in der Hand haben drop the ball UK ifml. Mist bauen point the finger at sb. mit dem Finger auf jmdn. zeigen keep sb. posted jmdn. auf dem Laufenden halten