THE CALL CENTER BEAT

Beat around the bush -avoiding coming to the point or talking about what
the client needs to know directly.
Give me the run around trying to evade the issue or to fool the client by
not giving the correct and pertinent information needed. The customer is
frustrated and felt being tricked or deceived by the agent.
Catch 22 - the dilemma of facing two unwanted or objectionable alternatives
like the devil and the deep blue sea. The customer has no choice.
Lemon -description given to a defective or substandard product.
All ears - listen carefully or attentively
Cry over spilt milk - useless complaint for something that cannot be
recovered.
Eat ones words - admit mistake
Figure out try to understand or solve the situation such as how to operate
a product and solve the problem.
Fed up -tired, bored and dismayed with someone (agent) or something
(product)

AMERICAN IDIOMS
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
v Our feeling for those we love increases when we are apart from them.
"Cheer up Dude, everybody knows that absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Back handed compliment
v A compliment that also insults or puts down at the same time.
They gave me a backhanded compliment when they said I was smart for a girl.
Blow off some steam
v To enjoy oneself by relaxing normal formalities.
He is a true workaholic who has misguided priorities, when he wants to blow off
some steam he comes to work on Saturday wearing blue jeans.
Botched up
v Substandard; messed up; make a shamble of
Man, you really botched up that project. Now the company will have to start all over
costing double and missing all of our deadlines.

Brand Spanking New

v New and unused.
What you really need is a brand spanking new Porsche turbo.
Break a leg
v A wish of good luck, do well.
Break a leg in your game today.
Bust your balls
v To harass with the intent to break one's spirit.
When I ask you if you settled that dispute with the IRS, I am not just trying to bust
your balls. I am trying to help.
Busting your chops
v To say things intended to harass.
Don't get mad, I am just busting your chops.
Clear as a bell
v Clearly understood.
You don't have to repeat yourself. Your message is clear as a bell.
Close, but no cigar
v Nearly achieving success, but not quite.
That free throw was close, but no cigar.
Cold turkey
v To quit something abruptly.
You will not lose weight until you give up chocolate, and I suggest you go cold
turkey.
Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched
v Don't be overconfident and assume success before you know the outcome of a
venture.

In the midst of this daydream, she did toss her curls, sending the pail of milk
spilling. The moral of the fable is: Such are the disappointments of those who count
their chickens before they are hatched.
Face the music
v To accept the truth.
It's time to face the music on your donut addiction.
Jump on the bandwagon
v Do what everybody else is doing, whatever is popular.
When the Chicago Bears are winning, I will jump on the bandwagon and be a fan.
Keep your pants on
v Calm down, be patient.
I will be off the telephone in a minute, so keep your pants on.
Knock on wood
v Tap on a wooden surface for gook luck or to keep from putting a jinx on yourself
for having mentioned some hope or dream aloud.
If good luck is willing. I am sure that your tax returns will not be audited, knock on
wood.
Once in a blue moon
v To happen only on rare occasions.
The Post Office regularly fails to deliver checks sent in payment to me, but bills sent
to me fail to be delivered only once in a blue moon.
Passed with flying colors
v To exceed expectations, to do better than expected.
The California smog test is tough, but my car passed with flying colors.
Put English on it
v To impart a spin to something in an effort to make it hard to control, usually a ball
in sports like tennis.
Your serve is dangerous when you put English on it.
Rings a Bell

v To sound familiar, to spark a memory.

I don't remember meeting him, but the name John Smith rings a bell.
Roll with the punches
v Weather through tough times, try to minimize the trouble.
Sometimes in life you just have to roll with the punches, even when the punches
feel like they are coming from Mike Tyson.
Rule of thumb
v A basic rule that is usually but not always correct.
As a rule of thumb, plant tomato seeds three inches deep.
Show your true colors
v To reveal your true intentions, personality, or behaviors.
Everyone is on best behavior on the first date, but soon enough you will show your
true colors.
Sleep tight
v Sleep well.
Good night, sleep tight.
Strike while the iron is hot
v Act quickly while the opportunity is still available.
If you want the job, you need to strike while the iron is hot.
Tie the knot
v To get married.
I understand you want a baby, but don't you think you should tie the knot first. In
fact maybe you should get a girlfriend first.
Under the weather
v To be ill.
I'd love to help you move all your furniture next weekend, but I expect to be feeling
a bit under the weather.
Upper Hand

v Control of a situation.
If you are wondering who has the upper hand in your relationship, the next time you
get up to fetch drinks, take a look on the sofa. There you will find that person.

70 ENGLISH IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS SOMETIMES BUNGLED BY PINOYS:

By Oscar P. Lagman, Jr.
"There's a total brownout."
(This one was said by Karen Davila [of the ABS-CBN TV network]. As she kept on
saying it, I felt compelled to call the station. Luckily, I was able to get through.
Within minutes she was saying "total blackout"but in an embarrassed tone.)
"Noynoy won by a landscape."
"The defeat of Mar was heart-rendering to Korina."
"The government will exchange hands at noon of June 30."
"Ben, eat your hat out!"
"Give me the load down on that deal."
"The rocket launch was aboard when it rained."
"The flight was rough because we passed thunder and storm."
"All in a sudden..."
"C'mon! Let's get it on with it!"
"When it rains, it's four."
"Thanks God!"
"He is the splitting image of his father."
"He is cheap of the old black."
"She is getting into my nerves!"

"He ramshackled my files."

"The idea crossed at the back of my mind."
"This is our rooster of clients..."
"The more the manyer."
"It's a no-win-win situation."
"Anulled and void."
"Mute and academic."
"C'mon let's join us!"
"If worse comes to shove."
"Are you joking my leg?"
"It's not my problem anymore, it's yours anymore."
"Well well well. Look do we have here!"
"Let's give them a big hand of applause."
"Been there, been that."
"Forget it about."
"Give him the benefit of the daw."
"It's a blessing in the sky."
"Where'd you came from?"
"Did you brought the tickets?"
"Take things first at a time."
"On one thing condition."
"You're barking at the wrong dog."

"You want to have your cake and bake it too."

"First and for most. "
"I'm only human nature."
"The sky's the langit."
"That's what I'm talking about it."
"Time is of the elements."
"He is the elements."
"Please feel in the family way."
"The feeling is actual."
"For all intense and purposes."
"The traffic jam was orange juice."
"Sorry, we can't serve you banana split, our bananas ran away."
"That is outside of this world."
"What is the next that comnes after?"
"Whatever you say so."
"Base-to-base casis."
"My answers have been prayered."
"Please let me alone by myself."
"You can't teach old tricks to new dogs."
"It's as good as the new one."
"I can't take it anymore of this!"
"Are you sure ka na ba?"

"I couldn't care a damn!"

"what's your next class before this?"
"Nothing in this world is permanent except change."
"I'm sorry, my boss just passed by away."
"Taal Volcano is beginning to erect."
"Hello, can you hang yourself for a while, I am on the line ..."
" Let us not talk of spilled milk under the bridge.".
"Hello McDo, how much is a kidney meal?"
"Sorry, I am under the bad weather this morning."
"He is under the hot collar this morning."
"Ben and Joe, let's call it tonight."
Quote
THOSE 70 BUNGLED IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS PROPERLY EXPRESSED
Below are those bungled idiomatic expressions properly expressed, to the best of
my lights.Joe Carillo
"There's a total blackout."
"Noynoy won by a landslide."
"The defeat of Mar was heart-rending to Korina."
"The government will change hands at noon of June 30."
"Ben, eat your heart out!"
"Give me the lowdown on that deal."
"The rocket launch was aborted when it rained."

"The flight was rough because we passed a thunderstorm."

"All of a sudden..."
"C'mon! Let's get on with it!"
"When it rains, it pours."
"Thank God!"
"He is the spitting image of his father."
"He is a chip of the old block."
"She is getting on my nerves!"
"He ransacked my files."
"The idea crossed my mind."
(A related expression: "The idea was at the back of my mind.")
"This is our roster of clients..."
"The more the merrier."
"It's a no-win situation."
(A converse expression: "Its a win-win situation.)
"Null and void."
"Moot and academic."
"C'mon join us!"
"If push comes to shove."
"Are you pulling my leg?"
"It's not my problem anymore, it's yours now."
"Well well well. Look what we have here!"
"Let's give them a big round of applause."
(Alternatively: "Let's give them a big hand.")

"Been there, done that."

"Forget it."
"Give him the benefit of a doubt."
"It's a blessing from the sky."
"Where'd you come from?"
"Did you bring the tickets?"
"Take things one at a time."
"On one condition."
(Alternatively: Just one thing.)
"You're barking at the wrong tree."
"You want to have your cake and eat it too."
"First and foremost."
"I'm only human."
(Alternatively: "Its human nature."
"The sky's the limit."
"That's what I'm talking about."
"Time is of the essence."
"He is in his elements."
"Please feel like a member of the family."
"The feeling is mutual."
"For all intents and purposes."
"The traffic jam was horrendous."
"Sorry, we can't serve you banana split, we ran out of bananas."

"That is out of this world."

"What is the next?"
(Alternatively: "What comes after?")
"Whatever you say."
(Alternatively: "If you say so."
"Case-to-case basis."
"My prayers have been answered."
"Please leave me alone."
Alternatively: "Please leave me by myself."
"You can't teach old dogs new tricks."
"It's as good as new."
(Alternatively: "It's like new.")
"I can't take it anymore!"
"Are you sure?"
"I dont give a damn!"
Alternatively: "I couldn't care less!"
"What's your next class after this?"
"Nothing is permanent except change."
"Can you please hold on, my boss just passed by."
"Taal Volcano is beginning to erupt."
"Hello, can you hang up for a while, Im on the line ..."
"Let us not cry over spilled milk." "Let us not fret over spilled milk."
(Alternatively: "Its water under the bridge.")
"Hello, McDo, how much is the kiddy meal?"
"Sorry, I am over the weather this morning."

"Hes hot under the collar this morning."

"Ben and Joe, let's call it a night.