This is the Business English Podcast, episode 594 vocabulary that will give you every advantage in the book.
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This is Real Business English, with your favorite American hosts, Lindsay and Michelle, coming to you from New York City and Colorado, USA.
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Hey, Michelle.
How are you?
Hey, Aubrey.
I'm doing well.
How are you?
I am great.
Question.
What are you reading right now?
I just read a couple of really heavy books.
So I needed something lighthearted.
So I think, do you know the comedian Nate Bargetzi?
I love him.
He's so funny.
The SNL skit where he's George Washington is my favorite SNL skit of all time.
And that's saying something because there have been so many good SNL skits.
Yeah, he's really funny.
So I decided to just, his book came up as being available.
So I'm reading his book.
I bet it is good.
Yeah, just for something lighthearted and because I think he's so funny.
So I definitely needed that because the last book I read was like, Heavy.
That's funny.
A little too cancer-y, I'll say that much.
Oh, gotcha.
That happens.
Yeah.
So I needed a break.
It was just too much.
So I mean, it was a very good book.
But now I'm reading Nate Bargatze's book.
So it might be a little while. before you read my book that I shared with you.
Not just because I forgot to actually share the document with you, but also because you want to read Nate Bargasi's book.
I get it.
Exactly.
Exactly.
So Aubrey, what about you?
I know you're not only reading, you're also writing.
I was gonna say I'm not reading anything because I'm writing a book that I'm excited about.
Once it's finished, I'll tell you guys about it.
But I am actually I have this right next to me here.
I did start this book 20 years later, which so far I love it.
It's like a thriller.
And we'd hold it up again.
20 years later.
I guess this might not be on video.
One day we might have these episodes on video, but not right now.
But it's a thriller, like a crime thriller.
Somebody dies in the beginning and then you're trying to find out who it is.
And it's one of those where there are shifting perspectives and it's going back and forth between the past and the present.
And it's kind of hard to know who's your, who like which if you.
I think that's like an unreliable narrator kind of situation which I sort of love.
I kind of love trying to figure out who you can trust.
Right.
Yeah.
Even if you're in their own head, because there's mental illness, there's all kinds of things where you might not trust a first person narrator.
It's interesting.
Yeah, absolutely.
So Aubrey, today we are going to share a fun idiom that you can use in or out of work dealing with books.
And this idiom is everything in the book.
Do you hear or use this, Aubrey?
Definitely.
If we are trying to make sure that we've thought of everything or come up with all the ideas we can, we might say like we've tried everything in the book and nothing's working, something like that.
It's a little more rare.
Exactly.
I don't use it a ton, but I know what it means if someone uses it.
Yeah, it's interesting.
What about you?
Do you use it a lot?
Yeah.
I mean, I would say, well, I think there's another construction that I might use. more.
So but we're going to talk all about this today.
We're going to explain what it means, how to use it and how to help you connect at work.
So guys make sure you hit the follow button so you never miss anything from the Business English podcast.
And also, Aubrey, could you tell us about some of the reviews we've gotten recently?
Yes, these are reviews from the Android app.
Thank you, everyone who has left a review.
And we love to shout out your names when we can.
So we got reviews from Songkwan Baik.
Thank you so much for the review.
Love that.
And then from Santiago Wagner.
Thank you for the review, Santiago.
And these right now.
We're in April and we know these episodes are going to be published in like July.
So hello to future us listeners of the business english podcast and thank you for leaving these reviews back in april.
And then also we had a really nice um like this.
Santiago said the best, this is the best podcast for learning english.
That was a review of the allers english episode.
He said the girls are great, let alone the materials, their interactions, which combine, create the perfect mix to either improve or hone your English skills.
Keep up the fantastic work, girls.
Thanks a lot.
Santiago from Argentina.
What an amazing review.
This really makes our day to read things like that.
Right, Michelle?
We absolutely love this, guys.
We do read your reviews and it means a lot to us.
So please keep them coming.
One more to hear what you think of the show.
One more I have here, Bing Abjalina as well.
And they said, I love listening to your podcast when I'm driving to work every moment.
Every morning.
The moment I learned from the podcast new conversations or words, I'm eager to use them.
I really love these.
Thank you.
Like you said, Michelle, keep them coming.
Leave a review wherever you listen to the podcast.
Yes, yes.
Thank you guys so much.
So, all right, everything in the book.
So, this means all possibilities.
So, for example, we have tried everything in the book, but we still can't get a straight answer from their team.
What should we do?
Yes.
Yeah.
This is where I hear the most, I think.
But I'm excited to hear yours Michelle, because often with phrases like this, if I haven't really thought about it, I'm like okay, I can think of this one.
But then you might share with them like, yep, that I hear a lot, that I use a lot.
And that's always kind of fun, right?
But here's another example with that way.
Our team has done everything in the book to make the boss happy but it isn't working.
I don't know what we're doing wrong.
Oh, that would be terrible mm-hmm.
Yeah exactly, and another thing you can do is actually list out what everything in the book is.
So, for example, we've given her everything in the book.
We could come up with different colors, different logos, different music, but she has a very, she has very particular taste.
Mm-hmm, And this is interesting.
So yeah, you're like actually explaining more of the story, giving more information.
Exactly, right?
If you're going to say we gave her everything in the book, we often would list what exactly we mean by that right.
Give her everything in the book.
Colors, logos, ideas, music, and just nothing is working.
Interesting.
Yeah, exactly.
So here is the other way that I hear pretty commonly and I like to use.
It's every plus noun plus in the book.
So now we're being really specific here.
So here are some examples.
She's given us every excuse in the book, but we still know that it isn't ultimately a good decision for our team.
Yeah.
I had a feeling this was going to happen where I'm like, yep, you're right.
This is how I hear this the most.
I do this.
Right.
I hear it a lot.
Plugging in a noun.
In the book.
Yes.
Every something in the book.
Yeah.
So you could use excuse.
I think that that one is the word excuse is really common.
You could even say my kids have given me every excuse in the book as to why they haven't done their homework, but I still make sure that you get it done.
And what a more fun way to say that than like, my kids have given me a lot of reasons that they didn't do it.
This is way more fun, way more natural.
And we use it a lot at work as well.
It's not overly informal.
So you can definitely say at work.
Right.
My friend gave me every excuse in the book not to come to happy hour, but I'm still making her come with us.
Right.
And it's just like when we say in the book, it's almost like we're just imagining this.
A book of reasons.
A book of excuses.
Right?
Turn a page, read another one.
Turn another page, read another one.
Right.
Exactly.
Another noun you might hear with this is reason.
So, for example, I have every reason in the book to leave my job, but it's so hard because I'm still passionate about the mission of the company.
Yeah, this is always interesting.
And people, a lot of people, are in that situation where they're like I feel like I have all of these reasons to leave, but then a lot of reasons to stay.
And that's a tricky place to be.
And you're between a rock and a hard place.
We say that's a fun idiom to mean like no decision feels like the right decision.
Everything is tricky.
Exactly.
Exactly.
We're going to talk about a few more common ones when we get back from the break.
Okay.
Another common one you might hear is a lie.
What would that sound like, Aubrey?
Yeah, maybe.
I've heard every lie in the book from him.
It's time to consider letting him go.
Yeah, you might hear someone say this about someone they're dating and they're feeling like they've.
I say, after one lie, let them go.
But
You could wait and hear every lie in the book if you want to waste your time.
It's up to you.
Yeah, whatever you feel comfortable with.
I'm not going to tell you how to live your life.
But one lie and I'm out.
Yeah yep yep, exactly.
Uh, can you read also one more for us, aubrey?
Yeah, the next one is strategy.
This is another good noun.
We use this at work.
We've tried every strategy in the book.
I think we are finally getting her to budge.
And yeah, we do this a lot when we're negotiating, when we're in meetings, when we're figuring out a plan.
We try every strategy in the book, meaning all the strategies we can think of.
And let's do one more.
So option.
So, for example, I will try every option in the book if it means our team gets to continue to work on this project.
So, but really you can plug any noun in here that you could imagine there are a lot of these things.
There's a bunch of pillows on this couch right here.
I'm like, I tried every pillow on this couch and none of them are comfortable.
Right.
So it doesn't have to be in the book.
I've tried every pillow in the book and none of them are good.
That would be strange.
It's interesting.
Right.
Exactly.
So it doesn't quite work with everything.
I think it's more concepts, right?
Yeah, I agree.
Not actual physical things.
Like I mean, I could say like, I don't know.
Of course, this is the first one I think of.
Like I've tried every French fry in the book, but McDonald's are still my favorite, right?
Like you could to make a joke.
I would say instead, here's another option, is I would say I've tried every French fry out there.
And this is the one I like.
So I think you're right.
It's more about concepts.
It's more about ideas.
Because I also wouldn't say if I'm trying to think of the perfect word when I'm writing a book, for example, I would not say I've tried every word in the book and nothing's working.
I wouldn't.
I'd be like, I've tried every word I can think of.
So there are other ways we would do this.
But when it's a bigger concept, when it's strategies and reasons, there are specific chunks where we use this to say every reason in the book, every excuse in the book.
Yes, right, exactly.
You have to imagine if there would be a book of this thing, right?
Exactly.
But maybe, I mean, I think that's a really good idea, Aubrey.
Maybe we can do a follow-up about what to say about different things out there I could think of.
You know different ways to express this idea.
I love that idea, hip follow guys.
To make sure you don't miss that, we'll do a follow-up with the other ways that we say this, because we do say that a lot of different ways besides just in the book.
So but yeah, I mean for connection.
This sounds professional, shows you know what you're talking about and even steps you've taken.
So it's just really really good for work to you know, to explain what's going on, to share a process.
So really good.
Aubrey, should we roll?
Let's do it.
We just submitted a second draft of a project to our boss.
Michelle and I are co-workers here.
Want to start us out?
Here we go.
Do you think it will get approved?
I hope so.
I mean, we've tried everything in the book.
I feel like we need more help if she doesn't like it.
She's given us every excuse in the book as to why it's not getting approved, but maybe we actually need a specialist to help.
Oh, let's bring that up if we don't get positive feedback.
Good idea.
I love that.
I love that we're thinking of.
We're like anticipating a possible rejection and instead of being upset by that, we have a plan.
I think this is such a great business strategy skill.
I have done this where I'm like, I'm not sure how this is going to go.
I recognize that there's a chance that what we're presenting isn't exactly what they want.
So what will we do if that's?
I don't want to stand there like well, i want to have an idea to present.
If that's the case and this would work like okay, let's bring in a professional marketing team, because we recognize this is maybe not our specialty.
Look at us in this role play fixing problems and predicting disadvantages, and we're ready.
We're so proud of us.
So you said, I mean, we've tried everything in the book.
So, you know...
This is more general.
You're not saying what we've tried in the book, but we can imagine that it's basically every idea.
Everything we could think of.
We've tried everything we can think of.
Yes, exactly.
This is a fun way to say that.
Exactly.
And then...
She's given us every excuse in the book.
So she's given us a lot of excuses, right?
And it could even be two or three, but if it feels like a lot to us, this is an appropriate expression.
She's given us every excuse in the book.
Yes, exactly.
All right, guys, head on over to episode 589 of the Business English podcast.
That was how leading questions can be dangerous at work.
Leading questions.
Be careful with those.
If you missed that podcast, definitely scroll up and check it out.
Yes.
All right.
Well, takeaway for today, Aubrey, you want to...
Instead of being angry and upset and disappointed if an idea is rejected or if something isn't exactly what someone wants and they're having to give you a little bit of negative feedback.
Be ready for that.
Anticipate it.
And know how you will respond if that's the case.
And what we hadn't had decided in this roleplay is one good option like oh then we could suggest bringing in a professional
And you wouldn't want to do that in a passive aggressive way.
Like, I guess we need to bring in a professional then if our ideas aren't good enough.
You wouldn't want to say that, but you would just have that as an idea.
Like, I totally understand.
I agree.
I feel like we've come up with all the ideas we could think of.
So let's bring in a professional so that we can get some other ideas.
I think about Elf when they bring in the other author to give them the ideas for the children's book.
Yeah. because their ideas, their author's ideas aren't good enough.
Got to bring in a professional sometimes.
That's right.
All right, Aubrey.
On that note, thanks for chatting with me today.
And guys, we'll see you on the next episode.
See you guys next time.
Bye.
Bye.
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