The Ebb and Flow of Success: A Guide for Business English Learners
How to express success and failure in business situations.
Life is full of ups and downs, and the English language is rich with phrases that reflect these moments of success and failure. Whether reflecting on the past, evaluating the present, or predicting the future, there's an expression to fit the mood. Let's dive into these phrases and learn how to use them in different situations.
1. WHEN THINGS GO RIGHT
IN THE PAST:
When recalling positive events from the past, you might hear:
- "Things went splendid."
- "We made it."
- "It was a great success."
- "It was a fabulous victory."
- "You delivered a top-notch service."
NOW:
When discussing the present moment, and everything seems to be going in the right direction, you could say:
- "Everything is going to plan."
- "All activities are on track/on course/on target."
- "The status is green."
- "We are doing fine or making headway."
FUTURE:
Looking forward to a hopeful outcome? Use these:
- "It will all be smooth and painless."
- "Looks like we gonna pull it off."
- "Everything will fall into place."
PAST UNTIL NOW:
Reflecting on consistent success? Here’s what you can use:
- "We have succeeded in an exceptional way."
- "We have accomplished everything satisfactorily."
2. WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
IN THE PAST:
When past events didn't quite pan out as expected:
- "Things went awry."
- "The plan fell through."
- "Things turned sour."
- "The project flopped miserably."
- "It was a good try but it didn't quite come off."
- "All came to naught."
- "It fell by the wayside."
NOW:
When the current situation isn't looking too good, consider:
- "There is something amiss."
- "We are deviating from the course."
- "The ship is sinking."
- "The status is flashing red."
- "Something is brewing."
- "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
FUTURE:
If you are predicting that things might not turn out well:
- "It is all going south."
- "It will be like going up s**t creek without a paddle."
- "Disaster is imminent."
- "We’ll go belly up in a moment."
- "It will all come to nothing."
PAST UNTIL NOW:
Reflecting on repeated failures or challenges? Say:
- "This has misfired completely."
- "All attempts have fallen flat."
- "The plan has fallen through."
NOW, PRACTICE THESE PHRASES:
WHEN THINGS GO RIGHT
IN THE PAST:
- A: "Do you remember our summer project last year?"
- B: "Oh, yes! Things went splendid. We made it, and it was a fabulous victory."
- A: "How was your experience with the new caterers at the event?"
- B: "They delivered a top-notch service. I'd recommend them!"
NOW:
- A: "How's the team managing the current project?"
- B: "Everything is going to plan, and all activities are on target."
- A: "I haven't caught up on the status of the conference. How's it shaping up?"
- B: "The status is green. We are doing fine!"
FUTURE:
- A: "I'm a bit nervous about the product launch next month."
- B: "Don’t worry. Looks like we're gonna pull it off. Everything will fall into place."
PAST UNTIL NOW:
- A: "Ever since we started, how do you think we've performed?"
- B: "We have succeeded in an exceptional way."
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
IN THE PAST:
- A: "Did the last marketing campaign work out?"
- B: "Not really. Things turned sour, and it fell by the wayside."
- A: "I thought the merger was a done deal. What happened?"
- B: "It was a good try, but it didn't quite come off. The plan fell through."
NOW:
- A: "I've been hearing whispers about the budget. What's going on?"
- B: "Something is brewing. The ship is sinking, and the status is flashing red."
- A: "There seems to be a lot of confusion about the new policies. What's your take?"
- B: "There's something amiss. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
FUTURE:
- A: "If we don't secure funding for next quarter, what do you think will happen?"
- B: "It's looking grim. It will be like going up s**t creek without a paddle."
- A: "Do you think we can survive another market crash?"
- B: "If we're not careful, we’ll go belly up in a moment."
PAST UNTIL NOW:
- A: "Our strategies haven't been working lately, have they?"
- B: "No, unfortunately. All attempts have fallen flat."
In conclusion, the English language provides a vast array of expressions to describe life's highs and lows. As you embark on your language journey, embracing these phrases will not only enrich your vocabulary but also offer a cultural insight into the nuances of life experiences as conveyed through language. So, the next time things are going right or wrong, you’ll know exactly what to say!
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