This is the Business English Podcast, Episode 442.
Are you in a tough spot at work?
How to communicate it?
Welcome to the Business English Podcast from All Ears English.
Get the English skills you need to achieve your dreams in global business.
For a presentation, a meeting, or your office party, this is Real Business English with with your favorite American hosts, Lindsay and Michelle, coming to you from New York City and Colorado, USA.
Are you feeling stuck at your English level?
Are you sure what your real English level is?
If you take our free quiz, we'll tell you what level you're stuck at and how to reach your next English milestone.
milestone go to allearsenglish .com slash fluency score now that's fluency score one word allearsenglish .com slash fluency score hey michelle how's it going today how are you good lindsey yeah i'm good how are you doing good michelle i have a question for you have you ever felt like you were in a bind bind?
Ooh, of course. I think that this, you know, this happens to everyone, right?
You're kind of something tricky is happening.
You're trying to figure out what to do.
Yeah. What about you?
Oh, for sure. Especially around scheduling, right?
Um, if you know, you've scheduled like a trip to go somewhere and you're supposed to be somewhere else, then you have to figure out how to get someone to fill in, for example, for you.
It can be tricky. That is a real bind, yeah definitely and this is really a useful expression for the workplace and for you know your daily life even outside of work don't you think oh yeah for sure because we this happens to us a lot and before we get into this for listeners guys I want to remind you to hit the follow button right there on business English so wherever you're listening Apple podcast Spotify maybe you are in another podcast player hit follow on the show so you get our episodes automatically right michelle perfect yeah definitely make it easy yes um so but what does it mean in a bind
to be in a bind kind of means to be in trouble meaning something tricky is happening and you're not really sure what to do next maybe you're having to choose between two things option a option b or like i said you're supposed to be on the east coast but you're also supposed to be on the west coast or something for example yeah yeah so i mean for example um i'm in a bind here i don't want the quality to suffer but we need to save money yes and the truth is life is i mean we could encounter binds every day right yeah life is like this it's trade -offs it's choices right here's another example let's
look at it from her perspective she's in a bind she can't just hire someone because they seem nice yeah difficult yeah definitely um so but how else would we describe this this actually also makes me think of I didn't have this listed but between a rock and a hard place yeah right do you ever use that of course you had such a famous phrase Michelle yeah what does it mean it's it's exactly this it's your So both are difficult situations.
You're stuck between a rock and a hard place.
It's basically saying I'm in a bind, right?
It's the same thing.
Exactly. And because if you break it down, the rock is a hard, hard place.
So it's two hard things.
So it's just something that we see.
So that's a good one.
But another way that we describe this is that you can just say something like a situation.
Do you ever hear somebody just say, oh, it's a deal.
Like, for example, dealing with a situation you might hear.
That might be like a little bit of a euphemism that people use to disguise that it is actually a bind.
It's actually a problem.
We've talked about euphemisms on the show recently, right, Michelle?
Yes. Yes. We have talked about, yeah, we did for business.
Yeah, that's exactly right.
But yeah, it, it may be a little bit more immediate of a problem, right?
Depending on how it's used.
So for example she has to cancel the meeting.
She's dealing with a situation up upfront.
What does that mean?
Upfront? She's dealing with a situation upfront.
So let's imagine we're in an office, right?
So we were supposed to have a meeting in one of the back rooms in a conference room.
Yeah. I meant physically, but maybe a customer or a client came to the front desk or maybe the phones weren't working.
So dealing with the situation.
Oh, and we could do an episode on upfront, like physically upfront and being upfront with someone.
one, right? Good episode idea, Michelle.
Hit the follow button right now to get that episode coming up soon.
Here's another example of a situation, quote unquote.
We need to decide how to deal with this situation before we go any further.
And the reason why it's a euphemism potentially is situation.
Just the word is kind of neutral, right, Michelle?
But in this case, when we refer to it this way, it's not neutral.
It's bad. It's a bind.
And so that's how it's kind of a euphemism.
little bit yeah yeah definitely right it's it's very vague we don't know it's vague what the situation is we're not telling you right it's just it's a situation love it so good with the venmo debit card you can venmo everything your favorite band's merch you can venmo this or their next show you can venmo that visit venmo .me slash debit to learn more the venmo mastercard is issued by the bank and a pursuant to license by mastercard international incorporated card may be used everywhere mastercard is accepted venmo purchase restrictions apply all right in a tough spot here we're not using a euphemism
we're being a little more clear michelle what's an example of that we are in a tough spot we have to tread lightly as to not offend any of our competition but we also need to show our dominance and again brands always have to kind of toe the line there to navigate these situations right if you're in a tough spot i can extend the deadline another day day or two.
This is a way of empathizing and helping people.
Maybe they're going through something and you can, you know, they don't have to turn in that report or that project that day.
You can give them an extension.
Okay. Right. Right.
And sometimes that can really just help a lot.
Um, so good to consider that if you have the flexibility and somebody needs it.
Um, and the last one we have is in a predicament.
Oh, right. Good one.
Predicament. This is a little a little bit more formal, right?
This is a fancier word, but it basically means a problem, right?
Yeah. So for example, we need to make some real decisions here.
We're definitely in a predicament.
Yes, exactly. Or we are in a predicament in terms of our stock picks.
We need some guidance.
Yes. Good one. So you have a lot of choices here ranging from being kind of vague with situation, again, maybe hiding the fact that it's a bad thing, or predicament, which is more clear or tough spot.
Michelle, why does this matter for connection at work for building relationships?
Yeah, well, you have to communicate when you are in one of these tough situations, right?
You know, perhaps it's something you can just solve on yourself.
But maybe it's something like like with the meeting.
Oh, we're canceling the meeting.
There's a situation, right?
So it might actually just deal with schedules.
You need to be able to know how to express these things.
Yes, for sure. Yeah.
But sometimes also to be able to be honest about what's happening in your life.
Oh, I'm just, I'm really in a tough spot right now.
I could use your help or, you know, I'm in a bind.
I don't know who to hire.
You know, there's just, work life is constantly about problem solving, right?
And if you work long enough in the same place, meaning more than like a month, you're going to encounter some kind of challenge, whether it's your coworkers that encounter that or you, and you're going to need to know how to communicate that.
So you can ask for someone to cover for you or to help you maybe to, or offer, Hey, if you're in a tough spot, I can do this for you.
Right. Right. So there's just so many times where this can be used.
You're trying to problem problem -solve, you're being kind to your co -workers, or you're being honest about your own situation.
There's just a lot of times when this could come through.
So to be able to have these expressions, right, to not just always say things like, oh, I'm in trouble, or I need help, or, you know, this is kind of phrases, right?
Those are kind of, yeah, these kind of smooth it over a little bit, even though they are intense and honest, they're, they're a little bit more smooth than what you might typically say or what you might hear in a textbook.
Yeah. And we're moving away from the era where people were expected to show up to work and be robots, right?
We know that things happen in life.
We're human beings.
We bring our whole selves into work.
At least that's our philosophy here in business English.
And so it is an appropriate time, right?
Maybe in the fifties or the sixties, you had to show up and be a robot and you couldn't express anything.
But I think now more and more, at least in American business culture, we can say when we need help with things.
Okay. I agree. I agree.
Although you're making me laugh because you keep on saying, oh, that you can't show up and be a robot.
But now we know what's happening in the world.
More and more likely, great, we'll have our AI bots that can go and show up for us.
Good. We get to stay in bed.
It's good. Oh, yeah.
This will feel great.
I love it. Oh my gosh, so funny.
So, Michelle, should we go through a role play?
Let's go through it.
So we are meeting at work.
We're in a meeting.
So let's go for it.
Okay. I don't know, Michelle.
We are in a tough spot for sure.
What do you think we should do?
Yeah, we are in a predicament, but I think once we work out the kinks with the logistics, everything will be okay.
We're just dealing with a situation, but it's temporary.
Good viewpoint. Thanks.
And next time we are in a bind, we will know what to do.
that's true nice yes you have the perspective the perspective calm calm confident and collected yes exactly yes i'm super cool you're starting to panic and i'm just like i don't think so lindsay it's always funny how in in dynamics just two co -workers or even in a relationship there's so the energy has to balance so usually one person has is is more worried about something and the the other person naturally plays the role of calming, being calm.
Right. Yeah. It's interesting how that works in human dynamics.
Yeah. Who are you when your relationship?
Oh, it's, I am the one that freaks out for sure.
My partner is the steady one, the one that helps me build perspective and let's think about this, you know, like, yeah, yeah.
I'm the one that freaks out.
I'm the the emotional one for sure.
Yeah. Yeah. I think I was.
And now we're like, I think I've become more steady as time has gone by.
That's good, Michelle.
That's good. Just like, I don't know, living life.
Right. I'm still a freak.
I still freak out. Don't you?
Don't get me wrong.
I mean, life, you go through a lot in life and life gives you that balance, that perspective.
You start to chill out over time a little bit, which is good, right?
Yeah. Yeah. All right.
So let's go through through this.
So you said, I don't know, Michelle, we are in a tough spot for sure.
So right. We have a, we have a problem we have to fix.
Yes, exactly. And then you said we are in a predicament, but I think, so you use that more direct, like a more obvious word. Yeah.
We have a problem here, right?
Yeah. Yeah. But I think once we work out the kinks, everything will be okay.
And then you said, what does it mean to work out the kinks?
Yeah. Problems, the issues, like if you have a hose the hose has a kink in it it means it might be slightly bent so the water can't fully flow through it right exactly so that's that's it the kinks yeah um and then i said we're just dealing with a situation and that's just kind of a situation meaning a problem a little right i'm kind of euphemism a little bit it's a mufamism exactly a mufamism a mufamism a mufamism guys Guys, euphemism, not mewphemism.
I like it. Interesting.
Yeah, and maybe we'll revisit more ways to mask things with words at another date.
Who knows, right? And here we have thanks, and then you said, and next time we're in a bind, we'll know what to do.
And so you have that greater perspective.
Next time we have a problem, we'll know what to do.
Yes. Yes. Exactly. All right, guys, definitely check out episode 437.
we did that so this is also really good for kind of comforting or showing your confidence um so it's episode 30 oh my here wait i got it now uh 437 that was rest assured this phrase will put your customers at ease so yeah that's a really good useful expression yeah and that can you can use that when there are these problems these predicaments yeah and i think as a takeaway for for our listeners, like I said before, if you work in any place longer than a month or two, things are going to come up.
You're going to be in a bind at some point, whether it's you, your team, or your coworkers experiencing that.
So how do you phrase it?
What do you say? All right.
Well, this has been fun.
I'm glad we talked about this.
And yeah, Lindsay, I'll see you on the next episode.
All right, Michelle.
See you then. Take care.
Thank you for listening to Business English, a podcast just for you, the high -achieving global professional.
Want more from All Ears English?
Don't miss our biggest and best podcast with 8 million monthly downloads.
Just search for the All Ears English podcast and hit follow to get four new episodes per week on fluency, American culture, grammar, and so much more.
Or tap the the link in the show notes.
Remember, we believe in connection, not perfection, when it comes to learning English.
Follow the All Ears English podcast now.
This episode is brought to you by Bluehost. You might not be a tech genius, but you want the website for your business to crush it.
Thankfully, Bluehost makes it easy.
Customized, optimized and monetized.
Everything exactly how you want with AI.
Your site can be up within minutes and the search engine tools even help you get more site visitors.
Whatever your passion project is, set it up with Bluehost. With our 30 -day money -back guarantee, what have you got to lose?
Head to Bluehost .com to start now.
You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday.
How can you find amazing candidates fast?
Easy. Just use Indeed.
Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites.
With Indeed Sponsored Jobs, your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates, so you can reach the people you want faster.
According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on Indeed have 45 % more applications than non -sponsored jobs.
Don't wait any longer.
Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed.
And listeners of this show We'll get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed .com slash kids and family.
Just go to Indeed .com slash kids and family right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.
Hiring Indeed is all you need.
