Making a case or arguing a point

Conversation: Selecting a company officer

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Boss: I’ve called you here to talk about the selection of a new director for the Customer Service Department. As you know, so far there are only two candidates, Martha Francis and Juliette Welch. First, I’d like to hear your comments, both pro and con, about Martha’s qualifications for this position.

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So far

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So far indicates what has happened between the beginning of something and the present time. It can go before the subject or at the end of the phrase.

We have a hundred signatures on the petition so far.
So far we have a hundred signatures on the petition.

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Pros and cons

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Pro can be used as a shortened form of professional—in this case meaning expert.

You painted the walls yourself? Man, you’re a real pro!

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Pro can refer to the positive characteristics or positions in an argument. Con refers to the negative ones.

This issue has both pros and cons.
On the pro side, he’s a hard worker.
On the con side, he often comes to work late.

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Ivana: Well, I think Martha is the perfect person for this position. She’s been with the company for twenty years, so she knows the business inside out. She’s conservative and serious; plus she gets along with everybody.

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Inside out

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Inside out can indicate that an inner surface has become the outer surface.

You have your shirt on inside out.

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It can also indicate a thorough knowledge of something.

Get Pierre to help you with your French. He knows the grammar inside out.

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April: Yikes! In my opinion, if she becomes director, nothing will change. I mean, we wouldn’t see anything new—just the opposite—we’d keep on implementing the same programs as always.

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Yikes

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Yikes is an expression that indicates surprise—either good or bad.

You have just won a trip for two to Hawaii. Yikes! Wait ’til I tell my husband!
You are charged with driving more than fifteen miles over the speed limit. Yikes! Wait ’til I tell my husband!

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Keep on

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To keep on means to continue or not stop. It is followed by a verb in -ing form.

We can’t take a break. We have to keep on studying.

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Katie: She isn’t known for thinking outside the box. What’s more, we’d start to see our current customer base fall off, simply because our competitors have enthusiastic new people and innovative programs. I’m just sayin’ . . .

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Think outside the box

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To think outside the box means to be creative or to always have new ideas for solving problems.

When she solved the school’s traffic problem, she was really thinking outside the box.

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Just sayin’ . . .

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Just sayin’ . . . is an expression that is intended to subtly show the speaker’s desire that you consider something just suggested.

There’s a good movie on tonight, and I have a big flat-screen TV. Just sayin’ . . .
It could be that you’re being a little hard on your sister. Just sayin’ . . .

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Tim: I have to agree with April and Katie on this one. In the first place, Martha is too conservative; plus she’d hardly inspire any enthusiasm among the employees

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Hardly

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Hardly means almost not at all.

She hardly has enough money to live on.

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Hardly ever means almost never

He hardly ever calls his mother.

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Boss: Anybody else want to put their two cents in? OK. Then let’s talk about Juliette. What do you guys think?

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Put one’s two cents in

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To put one’s two cents in means to offer one’s opinion.

Everybody is arguing about this. OK, I’ll put my two cents in: we should go home and think about this and then try to discuss it calmly next week.

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You guys

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You guys is an informal way to address more than one person. In the southern part of the United States, y’all is commonly used instead.

What are you guys doing for the Fourth of July?
What are y’all doing for the Fourth of July?

You people is considered extremely insulting. It’s best not to use it.

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Ivana: Look, if Juliette gets this job, it will be a total disaster for the company. In the first place, her fancy degree isn’t worth squat because she has zero experience. Besides, we don’t even know her very well. Good grief, she’s only been here since March, and to top it all off, we all know that she was fired from her last job.

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Total

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Total, when used as an adjective (before a noun), means complete.

He’s a total slob. He never cleans his desk.

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Worth squat

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Worthless

What you want, what I want, isn't worth squat.

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Besides

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In a con (negative) argument, the same expressions are used, with one exception: instead of in addition, besides is used.

I don’t recommend the lake district for a family vacation. In the first place, it’s very expensive for what it o0ers. In the second place, it’s just as hot there as it is in the city, and besides, the place is full of mosquitoes. Finally, the roads that take you there are jammed with traffic all summer. Why not opt for a change of scenery and go a little farther away?

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Good grief

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Good grief is an expression that indicates mild displeasure. (Hadi ya!, Yok canım, Allah Allah)

More homework? Good grief, Miss Thompson, you’ve already given us a paper to write!

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Since

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Since has a number of meanings. It can indicate the beginning of a time period that extends to now.

I haven’t seen my uncle since last Friday.
They’ve been living in their new house since June.

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In the example conversation since means because, indicating convenience.

I can take you home, since your house isn’t far from mine.
Since you came early, you can help me finish setting up for the party.

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Tim: Really. I’ve heard that her coworkers think she’s a bit uppity like she thinks she’s the queen of the office. She’s not exactly popular with the other employees. I don’t think they’d be happy with her as the boss.

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A bit uppity

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To be a bit uppity means to act as if you were superior to other people. Alternative expressions include to be stuck-up/to be snooty/to be a snob. (haddini aşmak, küçümsemek)

Maybe she’s just not used to the job, but the new secretary seems to be a bit uppity.

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Not exactly

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Not exactly, when used before an adjective, means hardly.

Well, this is not exactly the best pizza I ever ate.

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Stan: Well, since I put her name up, I have to say that I see her as a very bright and competent person. Still, I recognize that she lacks experience. And now that you tell me that her personality could cause friction among the employees, then I’ll go along with your decision in this case.

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Put someone’s name up

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To put someone’s name up means to nominate someone for a position or office.

No, I’m not running for president. I don’t know who put my name up.

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Still

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Still has a number of meanings. Here it indicates that what follows is contrary to and more important than what preceded it.

I would like to have that job. Still, it would be very difficult for me to move to another city to be able to do it. (I probably wouldn’t accept it if they offered it to me.)
It would be very difficult for me to move to another city to be able to take that job. Still, I would like to have it. (I would probably accept it if they offered it to me.)

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On the other hand can be used for the same purpose.

I would love to move to a place with a better climate. On the other hand, my whole family lives here. (I’ll probably stay here.)
My whole family lives here. On the other hand, I would love to move to a place with a better climate. (I might move.)

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Friction

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Friction can mean unrest, difficulty, or disagreement between two or more people.

You guys have got to learn to get along. ,ere is too much friction in this office.

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Boss: Obviously, we haven’t found the ideal person to handle this job. We may have to look outside the company, which I don’t particularly want to do. We’ll meet here tomorrow at the same time. I’ll expect your suggestions—and they’d better be more promising

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Obviously

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Obviously indicates that what is going to be said is already known by the listener(s); an alternative is of course.

John’s dog just died. Obviously, he’s feeling sad.

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