Today's podcast is about words and phrases which we use to talk about being very busy.
Kevin's boss wants his staff to prepare a new report. As usual, he wants it straight away. His staff explain that they can't write the report instantly. So the boss says OK, but he wants it on his desk tomorrow morning. He sets a deadline of 9am — that means, he wants the report to be ready by then.
So Kevin and his colleagues set to work. They rush around trying to find all the material that they need for the report — facts, figures, pictures, tables, charts, diagrams and so on.
In the middle of the morning, Joanne telephones Kevin. Kevin says, "I can't talk to you now. We've got lots to do. Everyone here is rushed off their feet."
Joanne says, "But we were going to meet for lunch."
Kevin replies, "Sorry, Joanne, we're too busy. I've got no time for lunch. I will probably need to work late this evening, too. Sorry, I must go, the boss wants to talk to me immediately."
Kevin skips lunch, and eats a sandwich and drinks coffee while working at his computer. He and his colleagues stay working in the office after the rest of the staff go home. At last, at about 8 pm the report is finished. It will be on the boss's desk when he comes in in the morning.
Alas, when Kevin's boss sees the report, he finds several mistakes which his staff had overlooked in their hurry. So they need to rewrite the report — as soon as possible.
There is an English saying "More haste, less speed." It means that if you try to do something too quickly, it will in the end take longer than if you had taken a little more time.
There are some vocabulary notes on the website. In the meantime, here is Alice Leon, and she is So Busy!
You don't know how crazy things have been
You don't know how crazy it's been
You don't know how crazy it's been
But I haven't had 2 seconds to myself
Days turn to nights and I don't have a second
Got to get a few hours of sleep, dear
I don't have time for my friends
I don't have time for my nails
You don't know how crazy things have been
I've been meaning to send that check
You asked what I've been up to
Where can I start if it's not at the top
immediately, straight away, at once, instantly — these all mean the same.
And here are more words and expressions about being busy — in a hurry, in a rush, no time, as soon as possible, busy, deadline, can't stop, rushed off my feet, it's crazy round here, skip lunch, work late.