1:28 PM
Trung
We have a lot on our plate.
For example, we’ve gotten three new projects just this week, and I don’t now if
we have the bandwidth to finish the work
on time. There’s only one experienced engineer who really knows the ropes. We have two new employees who catch on quickly, but this is a very heavy schedule. We need to do a dry run with the prototype before we
release the software to the customer. It’s critical that we have enough time to
troubleshoot problems in this
program and then get the bugs out before
the release. The marketing department is already advertising this software as plug and play, so it has to be trouble
free an very easy to install. We can probably finish the first job by next
Friday, but I think the next one will be down
to the wire because we only have three days after that to finish it. I gave
Don a heads up and told him to be
ready to put in some overtime for the next several days. We’ll need a few days
off after it’s over so no one gets burned
out.
1. On one’s plate:
[something that is] waiting to be done.
We have enough on our
plate right now. We shouldn’t take on more projects right now.
She has too much on her
plate. She needs to assign some of the work to another person.
2. Have the bandwidth:
have the ability or capacity to handle the work
Tech support is too
busy. They don’t have the bandwidth to handle the calls.
The company is growing
too fast. I’m not sure they have the bandwidth to manage the changes.
3. Know the ropes:
be familiar with job processes, procedures, or people
We asked the new
employee to talk to José because he knows the ropes and can show him around the
plant.
She knew the ropes, so she had to trouble getting the work
done.
4. Catch on:
quickly and easily learn or understand something
Let’s put him in
charge of the new process because he catches on quickly.
They promoted her after
only three months because she had caught on so quickly.
5. A dry run: a
rehearsal or practice session
We should test this prototype
first. We need a dry run before we go into production.
I’d like to do a dry
run with this speech before I present it to the whole company.
6. Troubleshoot
something: identify the problems in a program or process
We hired her to
troubleshoot the problems in the process. She’ll identify them, and then the
team will correct them.
We have to troubleshoot the problems before we find
solutions.
7. Get the bugs out:
fix any problems in software programs
We have to get the
bugs out of this new program before the release date.
This new software engineer
can get the bugs out faster than anyone on the team.
8. Plug and play:
easy to install and easy to use
I’ll be able to have
this new program up and running in five minute. It’s plug and play.
I like their products
because they are so easy to use. Everything they made is plug and play.
9. Down to the wire:
close to the deadline
We have to work
overtime because we’re down to the wire on this project.
He doesn’t plan his
work well, so he always has to work down to the wire.
10. Heads up: a
warning that a change or new procedure is coming
Our boss gave us a
heads up about the change in the procedure.
I’d like a heads up
on any design changes so I can make adjustments.
11. Be burned out:
to feel very tired and not want to continue an activity
She was burned out.
She had worked with children for many years and had lost her enthusiasm for the
work.
She decided to take
a vacation because she was burned out from working seven days a week.
Posted in: Learning English
