"Hungry for Success" by English Professionals. EPISODE 16 : As clear as mud - part1

Tim receives an unexpected answer from an unexpected source

Transcript

HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS : Episode 16

“As clear as mud part 1”

Before we get on with the story let me introduce myself. I’m a professional language trainer who specialises in helping people to feel comfortable speaking English. Traditional methods of learning languages are not always effective and so I aim to help you reach your goals as quickly and efficiently as possible using knowledge I have gained through my own learning plus many years of training others. Don’t waste any more time. If you want to make rapid progress go to my website www.FeelGreatEnglish.com   

You too can feel great speaking English

—----------------------------------

As Tim drove his car out of LIghtning Systems carpark, strangely he felt a weight lift from him. He even considered continuing to drive and not stopping - just like in the movies. But, unlike the movies, where would he go?  Nowhere suitable came to mind. Also unlike the movies, Tom Cruise was not going to meet him in a secluded bar and provide answers to all the questions swirling around his head. 

At that point he remembered that he was not alone - Derek sat impassive beside him. Tim smiled as a thought crossed his mind - could Derek be his Tom Cruise? Perhaps through force of habit rather bizarrely , Tim asked - “How’s the month end close going?”

Derek, for his part, perhaps also through force of habit, replied -

“We’ve almost finished processing the last few supplier invoices. Just got to sort out that invoice to the French company - it’s got a bit complicated since Brexit. I can never remember what we’re supposed to do with VAT nowadays”.

As if simultaneously struck by the utter absurdity of their conversation, both men started to laugh. 

Brexit was the least of their problems. 

It was only a short drive to the park. Tim pulled into a small layby just past the river - as Sue had indicated earlier. 

“We’re a little early”, he murmured 

“Let’s stretch our legs for a bit”, suggested Derek. 

The two men got out of the car and walked towards the river.  Seemingly without a care in the world, two swans were swimming close to the bank. The whole scene seemed a million miles away from the world of Macrosoft, Libby Jones, James and all of the other things which kept Tim awake at night. Unfortunately before Tim could reflect on this idyllic scene any longer, he heard a voice behind him.

“Good afternoon gentlemen”

Tim turned to see Henry, James’ father, flanked by Sue.

Given the events of the last few days, Tim was barely surprised. 

“Why not”, he thought. “In the scheme of things it makes sense”

“You don’t seem very surprised to see me, Tim”, said Henry

“No”, said Tim without expression

“I guess you have a few questions anyway” asked Henry

“You could say that”  said Tim

“Let’s go find somewhere quiet”, suggested Sue

A few minutes later the four of them were sitting at a picnic bench in a clearing surrounded by trees. There was nobody else in sight. 

“Shoot” said Henry

Tim didn’t know where to start so in the end he just blurted out the first thing on his mind.

“Why do Macrosoft want Lightning Systems?”

“They don’t” said Henry

COMMENTARY

The title of this episode “as clear as mud” is a typical expression which we use to say that something is difficult to understand and that the explanation given is really not clear - because mud, usually a darkish brown colour, is far from clear.

Tim is under a lot of pressure and for some reason, driving out of the car park, he feels that a weight has lifted from him. This means that he feels more relaxed and less worried about the situation. In other words the worries that were metaphorically pushing down on his back, seem less intense.

If you do something “through force of habit”, you do it only because you are used to doing it - it has become a habit and so you do it anyway even though it doesn’t make much sense to do it. It does seem bizarre to be worrying about the month end close when there are bigger problems at Lightning Systems. The month end close is a financial term which describes what an accounting department of a company do at the end of each month - basically they finish recording all of the transactions which occurred in the month so that they can produce statements of the financial results achieved in the month.

Derek also replied through force of habit. Brexit may be important to many people but, again, Lightning has more immediate problems.

The story includes a couple of common expressions which, although relatively easy to understand in context, are not used often by non-native speakers. The first is the verb “to sort out”. Derek says that he needs to sort out the French invoice. “Sort out” has a number of flexible meanings and so is a very useful verb to know. It can mean to arrange things systematically in groups or according to type, or, as is the case here, to resolve a problem or difficulty. 

For example -

I need to sort out the staffing issues before we launch the new product

My first task was to sort out the factory 

As you can see in this second example, how you intend to resolve any problems does not need to be defined when using “sort out”. You don’t even need to specify what the problem is - use of the verb implies that a problem of some type exists.

The second expression which I would mention is “to be supposed to”. Derek says he is not sure what he is supposed to do with VAT (which is the UK sales tax - literally value added tax). What he “is supposed to do” means . what is he expected to do, and more importantly in this case, what do the rules say that he should do. Again a couple of examples -

What are we supposed to do after the meeting?

We’re supposed to sign the delivery note before passing it to purchasing

In other words what must we or should we do according to the rules, or - what is expected of us by others - what have we been told to do in particular. 

Derek suggests that he and Tim “stretch their legs” - meaning simply take a short walk. They see some swans which “don’t have a care in the world” - meaning not surprisingly, that they don’t have anything to worry about - “cares” in this expression meaning worries.  Tim on the other hand is “kept awake at night” by certain things - he can’t sleep because he is worrying about the situation at Lightning Systems.

Henry appears and offers to answer Tim’s questions. “Shoot” he says - which is a very informal way of saying - go ahead and speak - ask me your first question.

If you are enjoying this podcast you will find many other FREE resources aimed at helping you to improve your English on my website www.FeelGreatEnglish.com. 

You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel, watch my free videos, and be notified when new videos are published. You’ll see the link for this on my website.