Idioms - Culture Unit 7 BE 3

In a new situation, do not panic. Relax, go with the flow, listen carefully and show interested in what people say.

We have received dozens of huge orders for our new product, so we are all up to our eyes in work.

You know their terms, they have made you a firm offer, so now the ball is in your court.

Our guests were quite irritated that the team leader allow the meeting to run 45 minutes over schedule.

Mr Alvarez was an excellent manager, well-respected, and knew the business inside out.

We have a difference of opinion, so let’s not act as if we don’t. Let’s get it out in the open.

Our workshop on cultural awareness was a real eye-opener for me. I had never realized how important cultural differences can be.

My first meeting with our overseas clients was a real eye-opener. I hadn’t seen that style of negotiation before. = an experience where you learn something surprising or something you didn’t know before.

I was worried that he and his new team leader would not like each other, but in fact they are getting on like a house on fire.

I get on like a house on fire with our Polish agent; we like the same things and have the same sense of humours. = quickly have a friendly relationship with someone.

If I miss the deadline again, I am sure I will get into hot water with my line manager.

I got into hot water with my boss for wearing casual clothes to the meeting with the potential Japanese customers. = get into trouble

I would never give a talk in my life, and they asked me to do a product presentation the next day. I really felt I was thrown in at the deep end.

I was thrown in at the deep end when my company sent me to run for the German office. I was only given two days’ notice to get everything ready. = given a difficult job to do without preparation.

I do all my writing on my PC. On the rare occasions when I have to use a pen and paper, I really fell like a fish out of water.

When I visited china for the first time, I was  like a fish out of water. Everything was so different and I couldn’t read any of the signs. = feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation.

I told my boss a joke about vegetarians, then he told me he had never eaten meat in his life. I had really put my foot in it.

I really put my foot in it when I met our Spanish partner. Because I was nervous. I said who are you rather than how are you. = say or do something without thinking carefully, so that you embarrass or upset someone.

Unfortunately, I don’t see eye to eye with my colleagues on the changes. We seem to have completely different ideas.

We don’t see eye to eye with our US parent company about punctuality . we have very different ideas about  what being on time means. It is a question of culture. = disagree with someone

Talking about your hobbies is often a good way to break the ice when you meet someone on the first time.

Small talk is one way to break the ice when meeting someone for the first time = make someone you have just met less nervous and more willing to talk.