Vocabulary practice · Episode 126

Review the useful expressions from the episode

Study the episode’s central expressions with English definitions, nuance and examples, plus reviewed support-language versions where available.

B1–B2Everyday EnglishAbout 18 min + dynamic ads5 PDF versions available
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  1. Choose one expression. Read its definition, nuance and examples.
  2. Make it yours. Write one true sentence from your own life.
  3. Return to the episode. Listen for the expression in its original context.

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Vocabulary from the episode

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Expression 1

key result areas

The small number of responsibilities in which good performance is essential for success in a role.

Nuance: A business and productivity collocation, often shortened to KRAs; it focuses on outcomes rather than every activity on a task list.

Client communication was one of Martin's key result areas.

Identify your key result areas before planning the rest of your week.

Expression 2

the weakest link

The least effective part of a connected system, which limits the strength or success of the whole.

Nuance: A common metaphor from a chain; it can describe a person, skill, process or component and is often used with the definite article.

Slow communication was the weakest link in an otherwise excellent service.

Listening may be the weakest link in your English at the moment.

Expression 3

to drag something down

To reduce the quality, performance, mood or success of something larger.

Nuance: An informal phrasal verb; the object may appear between drag and down, as in drag the team down.

One weak process can drag the whole project down.

Constant interruptions were dragging her productivity down.

Expression 4

to cap something

To place an upper limit on the amount, level or growth of something.

Nuance: Common in business, policy and performance contexts; unlike stop, cap allows progress only up to a maximum point.

Poor communication capped the growth of his business.

The company capped meeting time at thirty minutes.

Expression 5

to hand something off

To transfer a task, responsibility or piece of work to another person.

Nuance: Common in workplace English and less formal than delegate; the object usually comes between hand and off.

Julia handed several routine tasks off to a colleague.

Before your holiday, hand the client account off carefully.

Expression 6

to expand to fill the time

To grow in scope or duration until a task uses all the time available for it.

Nuance: This structure is closely associated with Parkinson's Law and often suggests unnecessary delay, checking or polishing.

A two-hour task can expand to fill the whole day.

Without a deadline, the research expanded to fill the month.

Expression 7

friction

Small practical or mental obstacles that make an action harder to start or continue.

Nuance: In productivity language, friction is metaphorical and often uncountable; removing friction means making the desired action easier.

Missing files create friction at the start of the day.

She removed friction by preparing her gym clothes the night before.

Expression 8

primed and ready

Fully prepared and able to begin or react immediately.

Nuance: An energetic but neutral collocation; primed often suggests that preparation has created the right conditions for action.

With the document open, Martin was primed and ready to begin.

The team is primed and ready for the product launch.

Expression 9

back to back

One immediately after another, with little or no time between.

Nuance: Common with meetings, calls, classes and events; it functions adverbially or before a noun as back-to-back.

Julia scheduled her phone calls back to back.

We have three back-to-back meetings this afternoon.

Expression 10

to fall behind

To fail to make expected progress or to become late with work, payments or a schedule.

Nuance: An intransitive phrasal verb, often followed by on plus a task or with plus a continuing responsibility.

Martin was working constantly but still felt he was falling behind.

I fell behind on my emails during the conference.

Expression 11

to set yourself up

To arrange conditions in advance so that a future action or result becomes easier or more likely.

Nuance: Often followed by for plus a noun or to plus an infinitive; context determines whether the expected result is positive or negative.

Prepare your files tonight to set yourself up for an easy start.

A realistic schedule sets you up to finish on time.

Expression 12

to add up

To accumulate gradually until several small amounts or effects produce a significant total.

Nuance: In this meaning it is intransitive; it can also mean that facts are logical, but that is not the sense used in the episode.

Small switching costs add up to a serious loss of focus.

Ten minutes of daily practice adds up over a year.

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