Hit the Ground Running and Other English Phrases

Hello! It’s Kristine here with the Express to Impress podcast.

This episode is part two of the episode How to Answer, “Why Should We Hire You?” In this episode, you will increase your English vocabulary for everyday conversations in your personal life or work. You’ll learn seven definitions for the phrases and idioms I used in the last episode. You’ll also get some homework at the end so you can continue to improve your English communication skills. 

If you currently work or want to work with native English speakers from the U.S., you won’t want to miss it!

If you like my podcast, don’t forget to subscribe to receive notifications whenever I release a new episode. You can subscribe anywhere you download podcasts like Apple Podcasts, on my YouTube Channel, or my website at www.express-to-impress.com. 

Now, let’s begin!

Idioms and Phrases

Earn One’s Keep

Hiring Managers earn their keep by hiring employees who immediately fit in, make positive contributions to the company, and stick around so that the investment pays off.

This phrase is an informal way of saying “earn a living.” It refers to “room and board,” which used to mean the only reward for working (on a farm, in a home, etc.).

Stick Around

Hiring Managers earn their keep by hiring employees who immediately fit in, make positive contributions to the company, and stick around so that the investment pays off.

Stick around means to stay or remain somewhere.

Put the Ball in One’s Court

How can they possibly identify the one candidate who is better than the others? For starters, they can put the ball in your court. 

This means someone has the responsibility for further action, especially after someone else previously held responsibility. The phrase originated in tennis.

Darn Good

I want to hire you, but I need a darn good reason to justify it to my superiors.

This is a casual or colloquial phrase that means very good. In this phrase, “darn” can be replaced by a swear word, also starting with the letter “d.” People use “darn” when they want to be polite.

Cut Through the Noise

It’s your chance to cut through the noise and tell them exactly what is unique about you.

It means that you can communicate in a way that grabs people’s attention.

Hit the Ground Running

While you cannot possibly know other applicants’ qualifications, you can sell yourself to the best of your ability, stating the things that would make you really great at the job, and convincing the hiring manager you’re ready to hit the ground running. 

This is an informal way of saying proceeding at a fast pace with great enthusiasm at the start of something.

Level-headed

I’m good at helping people stay level-headed when something irritates them. 

Level-headed is an adjective to describe a person who is calm and sensible even under challenging situations. 

How to Succeed in a Job Interview

Before we wrap up, I want to share some good news. My online video course, “How to Succeed in a Job Interview“, is selling like hotcakes. When something is selling like hotcakes, that means it is being bought quickly and in large quantities. One client who bought the course with my personal interview coaching plan recently told me her favorite lesson was “Interview Etiquette and Techniques.” As a non-native English speaker, she was glad to learn these tips for her upcoming interview with an American company. I give away two of the lessons from the course completely free on my website. They are titled “10 Common Interview Mistakes” and “Looking Good.” Visit my website at www.express-to-impress.com to watch the free lessons, and decide if you want to sign up. You can get 15% off when you use the coupon code podcast15 at the checkout. 

English Communication Homework

Alright, that’s all of the idioms and phrases for today! Learning takes repetition and implementation. So, I’ll give you some homework! Listen to this episode again and repeat the words out loud to practice. 

If you have a request for the podcast, write me an email to tell me about it. You can reach me at hello@express-to-impress.com.

Please leave a comment below telling me if this episode was helpful for you. If you liked it, remember to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to my channel! Every week, I will post a new episode with stories and tips on how to communicate clearly, confidently, and effectively in job interviews and the workplace. The tips are relevant for native and non-native English speakers.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Express to Impress. If you found it helpful, please share it with a friend. See you next time. Bye!

 

Music By Lucas Knutter