British English · B2 · Unit 3
Trouble at work
Trouble at work
By the end you can
- Raise a problem with a colleague tactfully
- Suggest a solution both sides can accept
- Understand a description of a conflict
Words and phrases
| British English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I wanted to have a word about | I want to speak to you briefly about (a problem) | Have you got a minute? I wanted to have a word about the reports. |
| it's holding me up | it's delaying my work | When the figures are late, it's holding me up. |
| I'm not blaming you | I'm not saying it's your fault | I'm not blaming you, I just want to find a solution. |
| would it help if | maybe it's easier if | Would it help if I sent you the data a day earlier? |
| how can we make this work? | how can we solve this together? | So how can we make this work? |
| I can see where you're coming from | I understand your point of view | I can see where you're coming from, but I'm under pressure too. |
| clear the air | talk openly to end bad feelings | I think we need to clear the air. |
| a misunderstanding | when people understand something in different ways | I think it was just a misunderstanding. |
| fall out | argue and stop being friendly | I don't want us to fall out over this. |
| behind my back | without telling me | I don't like people talking behind my back. |
| tensions | bad feelings between people | There have been tensions in the team since the restructure. |
| workload | the amount of work you have | My workload has doubled since March. |
Then talk it through
Telling a colleague that their late work is holding yours up. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.