Idiom Communication – BE 4; Unit 1

Example:

Oh, I just wondered.

Don’t beat about the bush! Why are you asking.

Well, I heard on the grapevine that he has been promoted.

Really? Are you sure you didn’t get the wrong end of the stick?

That why I asked if you had seen him. I want to get it straight from the horse’s mouth.

Why don’t you ask Rolf? He will know.

Talking to him is like talking to a brick wall. We never on the same wavelength.

How about Suzy? I am sure Tom is keeping her in the loop.

Yeah, good idea. I am sure Suzy will put me in the picture . Thanks for the suggestion.

**

I can’t make head or tail of these instructions. – They are terribly confusing.

We had asked for profit figures and they sent us sales figures. – We have been talking at cross purpose again.

So it seems our office manager is going to resign. – it is not official though. I just heard it on the grapevine.

The new team leader and I share similar ideas about this. – we seem to be on the same wavelength.

I know you didn’t receive the report in time. – so let me put you in the picture before the meeting starts.

I was trying to give you advice but you think I am criticizing you. – you have got the wrong end of the stick.

***

To put in a nutshell – pada intinya

= to give the main facts in  a short or clear way

The new organogram is very complicated, but to put in a nutshell, we still report to the same manager.

To get straight to the point

= to talk about the most important thing

Ok, I will get straight to the point. I am afraid it is the last time we are going to miss a deadline.

To hear it on the grapevine (selentingan/rumor)

= to hear about something because the information has been passed one person to another in conversation.

I hear it on the grapevine that he has been fired. Is it true.

To put someone in the picture (update )

= to give the latest information

A lot happened while you were on holiday. Let me put you in the picture.

To get the wrong end of the stick

= to not understand something

I am afraid that it isn’t right. If you think our biggest problem is communication, then you have got the wrong end of the stick.

To be on the same wavelength

= to share similar opinions or ideas

He and I agree on most things. We seem to be on the same wavelength (same boat).

Can not make head nor tail of it  (tak paham ujung pangkalnya)

= to fail to understand anything

This document from our subsidiary makes no sense at all. I can not make head nor tail of it  .

To talk at cross-purpose

=not to understand someone

I think we are talking at cross purpose. I mean next week, not this week.

To beat about the bush (berputar-putar)

= to delay talking about something

He never gives you a straight answer. He always beats about the bush.

To get it straight from the horse’s mouth

= to be told something from someone who has direct knowledge of it.

The company is going bankrupt. The CEO told me himself. I heard it from the horse’s mouth.

To be like talking to brick wall

= to try to communicate with an unresponsive person

I have tried to get my supplier to give us a discount several times, but they just wont it. It is like talking to brick wall.

To keep someone in the loop

= to include someone in group communication

I will need regular updates about the progress of the project. I will also need to know what is going on when I am away. Please keep me in the loop.


 ***

I can’t make head or tail of these instructions. – They are terribly confusing.

We had asked for profit figures and they sent us sales figures. – We have been talking at cross purpose again.

So it seems our office manager is going to resign. – it is not official though. I just heard it on the grapevine.

The new team leader and I share similar ideas about this. – we seem to be on the same wavelength.

I know you didn’t receive the report in time. – so let me put you in the picture before the meeting starts.

I was trying to give you advice but you think I am criticizing you. – you have got the wrong end of the stick.