Episodio 34
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En el episodio de hoy:
Volveré a hablar de algunas de las business expressions (expresiones de negocios) más habituales.
Después practicarás tu expresión oral en inglés con una historia divertida de preguntas y respuestas.
¡Genial! Empecemos.
A long shot
Si dices que algo es a long shot, significa que tiene pocas probabilidades de salir bien, aunque todavía crees que merece la pena intentarlo.
La expresión procede de la idea de disparar a un objetivo desde una gran distancia: acertar es difícil, pero no imposible.
Ejemplo:
"You could try to find that mysterious man. It's a long shot, but you could start surfing the internet."
To go broke
Si alguien o una empresa goes broke, sufre un colapso financiero y pierde la mayor parte o todo su dinero.
Ejemplo:
"Our company is going to go broke anytime unless you stop spending money foolishly."
Start from scratch
La expresión start from scratch significa volver a empezar desde el principio. Su origen se relaciona con carreras en las que la línea de salida se marcaba con una raya o scratch line; empezar desde ahí implicaba no tener ninguna ventaja.
Ejemplo:
"The company expects me to start from scratch and redo the entire task because I missed a key point.
Down the drain
Esta expresión metafórica parte de la imagen del agua que se va por el desagüe.
Cuando algo va down the drain, significa que se está perdiendo, desperdiciando o arruinando y que probablemente no se recuperará.
Ejemplo:
"Everything's ruined! My big plans, my great company. All those years of work are down the drain."
Go Out of Business
Cuando una empresa goes out of business, deja de operar, normalmente por problemas financieros.
Ejemplo:
"Highest interest rates can drive small companies out of business."
At stake
Si algo está at stake, está en juego o en riesgo: podría perderse o resultar perjudicado si las cosas no salen bien.
Ejemplo:
"This surely seems like a risky investment. There's plenty of money at stake."
Corner the market
Si una empresa corners the market de un producto, consigue dominar ese mercado y venderlo con más éxito que sus competidores.
Ejemplo:
"Our company has effectively cornered the market. By reducing our prices, our competitors won't be able to compete, and they'll soon go out of business."
Go the extra mile
Estar dispuesto a go the extra mile significa hacer un esfuerzo adicional, más allá de lo esperado, para conseguir algo.
Ejemplo:
"People with a clear goal in mind are more willing to go the extra mile."
Throw in the towel / Toss the towel
Cuando alguien throws in the towel, admite la derrota o decide que ya no puede continuar.
La expresión viene del boxeo: lanzar la toalla indica que el boxeador o su equipo acepta la derrota y detiene el combate.
Ejemplo: "It's a little early to throw in the towel; you've just started working on this project."
Thumbs up / down
Thumbs up expresa aprobación o aceptación; thumbs down expresa lo contrario: rechazo o desaprobación.
Ejemplo:
"Our boss gave us the thumbs up to continue with our project."
Espero que lo estés disfrutando. ¡Continuemos con una historia de preguntas y respuestas!
¿Quieres practicar más la expresión oral? Continúa con un curso completo de audio.
MEJORA TU EXPRESIÓN ORAL
Mini-historia: practica tu inglés hablado
Responde a las preguntas en voz alta con respuestas cortas y rápidas. Repite la mini-historia varias veces para mejorar tu expresión oral y tu comprensión.
Steven was only 26 when he founded his own startup video game company starting from scratch.
How old was Steven?
26. He was only 26 years old.
Was he old?
No. No. He wasn't old. He was only 26. He was young.
Who founded his own video game company?
Jake?
Not Jake. Steven. He founded his own company.
Steven started a toy company?
Right?
No. No. Not a toy company. He started a video game company.
How did he start his business?
From scratch. He started his video game company from scratch.
He definitely took a long shot investing all his savings. Moreover, his family gave him the thumbs down.
Did Steven invest anything?
Yes. He invested all his savings.
Who got shot?
No one got shot. Taking a long shot means taking a risk.
Did he invest all his savings or only some of it?
Not only some of it. He invested all his savings.
His family supported him. Right?
No. No. His family didn't support him. They gave him the thumbs down. They disapproved of his new business.
Who gave the thumbs down?
Steven?
No. Not Steven. His family gave him the thumbs down.
One time he almost went broke. His company was about to go out of business because there was too much at stake. Steven dropped prices by 200% by selling video games online.
How many times did Steven go broke?
Ten times?
No. No. He didn't go broke ten times. He almost went broke one time.
Did Steven's company go out of business?
No. Luckily, his company didn't go out of business.
Who's eaten a stake?
No one has eaten any stake. When something's at stake, it means that it's at risk.
Did Steven drop or raise the prices by 200%?
He didn't raise the prices by 200%. He dropped the prices.
What did Steven sell online?
His house?
No. No. Not his house. He sold video games online.
Who started selling video games?
Steven's family?
No. Not his family. It was Steven who decided to start selling video games online.
After this rather risky decision, everyone except Steven assumed that his entire work would go down the drain.
When did everyone assume that his work would go down the drain?
After making the decision or before?
After making the decision. Not before.
How was the decision?
Was it risky or safe?
Risky. It wasn't safe at all. It was a risky decision.
Who assumed that his entire work would go down the drain?
Everyone except Steven assumed that his entire work would go down the drain.
However, things finally turned out well for Steven. By dropping prices, he managed to corner the market.
How did things turn out for Steven?
Well or badly?
Not badly. Things turned out well for Steven.
For whom did things turn out well?
For Steven. Things turned out well for Steven.
Did he lower the prices?
Yes. He lowered the prices. Steven dropped the prices of video games.
Who went to the corner of a market?
No one went to any market. Steven managed to corner the market.
His company was selling more video games than any other company.
How did Steven corner the market?
By dropping the prices. He cornered the market by dropping the prices.
Steven really went the extra mile to build a successful international online business.
How did Steven's business become successful?
By going the extra mile.
Where did he go?
He didn't go anywhere. Steven worked hard and made some risky decisions. That's why we say that he went the extra mile.
Did Steven build a successful or unsuccessful international business?
Not unsuccessful. He built a successful international business.
Did Steven sell video games online or in a physical store?
Steven sold video games online. He had an online business.
Although his family didn't support his business from day one, they never wanted to see Steven throwing in the towel.
Who didn't support Steven's business?
His family. His family didn't support his business.
Did his family want to see him throwing in the towel?
No. No. His family never wanted to see him throw in the towel.
Did Steven throw in the towel?
Absolutely not! Steven didn't throw in the towel. He went the extra mile until his business became a successful international company.
Gracias por escuchar. Nos vemos en el próximo episodio.
Repaso
Vocabulario
Repasa las palabras y expresiones más útiles antes de volver a escuchar.
A long shot
Algo con pocas probabilidades de éxito, pero que todavía merece la pena intentar.
Go broke
Perder la mayor parte o todo tu dinero.
Start from scratch
Volver a empezar desde el principio.
Down the drain
Algo perdido, desperdiciado o arruinado.
Go out of business
Dejar de operar, normalmente por problemas financieros.
At stake
Estar en riesgo de perderse o resultar perjudicado.
Go the extra mile
Hacer un esfuerzo adicional más allá de lo que normalmente se espera.
Throw in the towel
Admitir la derrota y dejar de intentarlo.
¿Quieres practicar más la expresión oral? Continúa con un curso completo de audio.