Ep#8: Office Gossip
Hello and welcome! You're listening to the Byron English Podcast, your go-to resource for mastering the English language. Today we're going to talk about office gossip.
Every boss dreams of a diligent employee. Hard working, professional, someone who will always finish what they start. That is how you would describe a diligent person. Unfortunately for most managers, offices are a great place to enjoy gossip. Many of you listeners will know how fun it is hanging out in the office kitchen and having a chin-wag with your colleagues.A chin-wag means a casual chat with a friend. For example, let’s go out for a coffee and have a nice chin-wag!
If you have a boss who is very hands-on, it might be difficult for you to escape for a chin-wag with your colleagues. A hands-on boss is someone who is always involved. Another way of describing a hands on boss could be by calling them a micromanager. Most people do not want to be micromanaged or have a very hands on boss.
Instead most people prefer a boss who is very hands off. Someone who leaves them alone and trusts them to do their work.
So what is the most popular topic when it comes to office gossip? I think most people would agree that the most popular topic is office romance. When two colleagues get together. Of course, in this context ‘get together’ means in a romantic way.
If one of our friends in the office gets together with someone they might try and keep it a secret. But when we find out, we will ask them for all the juicy details. Juicy details is a fun phrase we use when we are asking someone for some secret gossip. We say ‘give me all the juicy details!’
When your friend refuses to tell you anything, you can say the standard line which is:
‘Oh go on! I won’t tell a soul! I promise! I won’t tell a soul…..’ What are some other promises we can make to try and persuade our friend to give us all the juicy details? We could say ‘I swear on my Mother’s life, I won’t tell a soul’ or, if you don’t like that you could say ‘Come on! How long have we known each other? You can trust me.”
I think the lesson here, ladies and gentlemen, is to try and stay away from office gossip. That's a wrap for today's episode! Thank you for listening and don't forget to find us online at byronrome.com!
DA RICORDARE
In questo episodio vengono introdotti diversi modi di dire e concetti chiave:
Diligent: Un aggettivo usato per descrivere qualcuno che è laborioso, professionale e che completa sempre ciò che inizia.
Chin-wag: Un'espressione colloquiale che significa avere una chiacchierata informale, spesso con un amico.
Hands-on boss: Un modo di dire per descrivere un capo che è molto coinvolto e attivo nel lavoro quotidiano.
Micromanager: Una persona, spesso un capo, che controlla eccessivamente il lavoro dei suoi dipendenti.
Hands off: Un'espressione usata per descrivere qualcuno che lascia fare agli altri, dando loro fiducia e autonomia.
Office romance: Riferimento a una relazione amorosa tra colleghi di lavoro.
Juicy details: Un'espressione usata per descrivere dettagli succosi o intriganti, specialmente riguardo a gossip o segreti.
I won’t tell a soul: Una frase che significa promettere di non rivelare un segreto a nessuno.
Questi termini e modi di dire vengono utilizzati per esplorare il tema del pettegolezzo in ufficio, descrivendo diversi aspetti della cultura lavorativa e le dinamiche interpersonali in un ambiente di lavoro. Il podcast utilizza questi esempi per insegnare espressioni inglesi colloquiali e al contempo riflettere su comportamenti comuni nell'ambiente di lavoro.
