#53 - To be On The Ball (idiom)
The Vocab Man - Fluent Vocabulary
Introduction
On this episode of The Volkop Man, we're going to focus on the idiom on the ball. It means to be up to date with modern developments ahead of others. But when you're in a kitchen, it's quick. Like this all the time. And you've got to be very sharp.
00:00
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Episode notes
The full transcript is further below...
Word list/difficult expressions explained with time stamps
If you snooze you'll lose
2:53 To reassure = put/set someone's mind at rest / to raise someone's spirits
To put someone at ease
3:40 "Vice versa" basically means the other way round
3:50 "terminology" is another way of saying expressions or words or the language that is being used,
Full transript:
On the ball, but when you're in a kitchen, it's quick like this all the time, and you've got to be very sharp on this episode of the Vocab Man, we are going to focus on the idiom on the ball, which means to be up to date with modern developments. And of all others quick to catch on to know what is happening.
0:31
I find this a bit strange because on the, where we as dictionaries, it says that the idiom to be on the ball is meant to be slang. It occurred to me that I came across a lot of ways in which, for example, politicians used this expression. So I don't know if it is still slang, but it is often used in business context as well.
1:00 first clip
But when you're in a kitchen, it's quick like this all the time, and you've got to be very sharp and on the ball. And it, a lot of it is sensibility. Like I say, where you have a good team of guys and girls in the kitchen and there's that look, it's that sensibility. It's a, it's a nod. It's an, you know, if this course adjustments it's services like going to war you plan.
1:25
I think this is a great picture to explain the expression, to be on the ball, because if you are working in the kitchen, you always need to be yeah. Up to date with modern developments ahead of others. If you snooze, then you lose. I mean, it is a very competitive bronch, I suppose.
1:48
And, and the speaker really spoke very fast. So maybe. I'm going to show it again, but this time at a slower pace,
1:57 first clip at a slower pace
but when you're in a kitchen, it's quick like this all the time, and you've got to be very sharp and on the ball and you, it, a lot of it is sensibility. Like I say, where you have a good team of guys and girls in the kitchen and there's that look, it's that sensibility.
2:16
It's a, it's a nod it. And you know, if this. Cost adjustments with services like going to war you plan. But as soon as you go into it, things change, you have to adapt. So yeah, to be on the ball really means to be aware of what is happening and being able to react or deal with it quickly. In other words, to be attentive, knowledgeable and quick to take action.
2:47
And actually, I would like to stick to this interview because this is going to reassure (put/set someone's mind at rest) you as an English learner. Not understanding every single word from a native English speaker, because the guy you were listening to right before is a chef in the kitchen. And actually he. He moved to New York and the interviewer asked him what about when he came to New York and what was one of his biggest surprise or biggest challenges that he faced as a non American in a New York kitchen, but listen for yourself.
3:35
What I mean by that? Well, we'll aim my accent. Vice versa basically means the other way. Round me understanding the American terminology. Um, terminology is another way of saying expressions or words or the language that is being used, especially working with people from California, who. Would have this very sort of bro speak kind of way, which I had no idea what they were saying.
4:08
I kind of laughed the expression he used there, bro. Speak. So meaning how brothers speak. With each other. So in a rather slang way. Okay. Remember, there was a gentleman that I worked with at Boulay and, um, he would, he, he was working on this other stove. I was working on the side of the stove and he would look at me and say, Hey guy, can I, can I take my guy and write it in your guy?
4:37
I'm like, what that translated into? Can I take this piece of lamb and braise it in the shoe that you're making? I didn't know that because everyone else seemed to, but I didn't true. True story. Wow. Yeah. Um, okay, so that is meant to reassure you because I think that we as English learner should not beat ourselves up that often because even the native speakers don't understand each other sometimes.
Word list/difficult expressions explained with time stamps
If you snooze you'll lose
2:53 To reassure = put/set someone's mind at rest / to raise someone's spirits
To put someone at ease
3:40 "Vice versa" basically means the other way round
3:50 "terminology" is another way of saying expressions or words or the language that is being used,
Full transript:
On the ball, but when you're in a kitchen, it's quick like this all the time, and you've got to be very sharp on this episode of the Vocab Man, we are going to focus on the idiom on the ball, which means to be up to date with modern developments. And of all others quick to catch on to know what is happening.
0:31
I find this a bit strange because on the, where we as dictionaries, it says that the idiom to be on the ball is meant to be slang. It occurred to me that I came across a lot of ways in which, for example, politicians used this expression. So I don't know if it is still slang, but it is often used in business context as well.
1:00 first clip
But when you're in a kitchen, it's quick like this all the time, and you've got to be very sharp and on the ball. And it, a lot of it is sensibility. Like I say, where you have a good team of guys and girls in the kitchen and there's that look, it's that sensibility. It's a, it's a nod. It's an, you know, if this course adjustments it's services like going to war you plan.
1:25
I think this is a great picture to explain the expression, to be on the ball, because if you are working in the kitchen, you always need to be yeah. Up to date with modern developments ahead of others. If you snooze, then you lose. I mean, it is a very competitive bronch, I suppose.
1:48
And, and the speaker really spoke very fast. So maybe. I'm going to show it again, but this time at a slower pace,
1:57 first clip at a slower pace
but when you're in a kitchen, it's quick like this all the time, and you've got to be very sharp and on the ball and you, it, a lot of it is sensibility. Like I say, where you have a good team of guys and girls in the kitchen and there's that look, it's that sensibility.
2:16
It's a, it's a nod it. And you know, if this. Cost adjustments with services like going to war you plan. But as soon as you go into it, things change, you have to adapt. So yeah, to be on the ball really means to be aware of what is happening and being able to react or deal with it quickly. In other words, to be attentive, knowledgeable and quick to take action.
2:47
And actually, I would like to stick to this interview because this is going to reassure (put/set someone's mind at rest) you as an English learner. Not understanding every single word from a native English speaker, because the guy you were listening to right before is a chef in the kitchen. And actually he. He moved to New York and the interviewer asked him what about when he came to New York and what was one of his biggest surprise or biggest challenges that he faced as a non American in a New York kitchen, but listen for yourself.
3:35
What I mean by that? Well, we'll aim my accent. Vice versa basically means the other way. Round me understanding the American terminology. Um, terminology is another way of saying expressions or words or the language that is being used, especially working with people from California, who. Would have this very sort of bro speak kind of way, which I had no idea what they were saying.
4:08
I kind of laughed the expression he used there, bro. Speak. So meaning how brothers speak. With each other. So in a rather slang way. Okay. Remember, there was a gentleman that I worked with at Boulay and, um, he would, he, he was working on this other stove. I was working on the side of the stove and he would look at me and say, Hey guy, can I, can I take my guy and write it in your guy?
4:37
I'm like, what that translated into? Can I take this piece of lamb and braise it in the shoe that you're making? I didn't know that because everyone else seemed to, but I didn't true. True story. Wow. Yeah. Um, okay, so that is meant to reassure you because I think that we as English learner should not beat ourselves up that often because even the native speakers don't understand each other sometimes.
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