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Martin, did the workshop organizers finallyconfirm your place?
They sent me a very long email.
What did it say?
First, they thanked everyone. Then they explainedhow popular the workshop is.
After that, they described the building.
Martin, get straight to the point.
Fine, my place is not confirmed.
They were beating around the bush.
Yes, if I read between the lines, someone may havecancelled.
And I am next on the waiting list.
Did they promise another update?
Yes, they said they would keep me posted.
Excellent. Four expressions before theintroduction.
Welcome to your English Toolbox. I am Martin.
And I am Julia.
Today we are exploring Lesson 10 of our free IdiomToolbox course, Communication.
Find the course at yourenglishtoolbox.com.
Open the Idiom section and choose Lesson 10,Communication.
You will find a slow dialogue, clear meanings,examples, and interactive practice.
The direct link is also in the episodedescription.
Let us begin with get straight to the point.
To get straight to the point means to say theimportant thing immediately.
For example, let us get straight to the point.
We cannot finish the project today.
Or, she got straight to the point and askedwhether I wanted the job.
This expression values clarity.
It is direct, but your tone determines whether itsounds helpful or rude.
And learn the full expression, get straight to thepoint.
Our second idiom is beat around the sush.
To beat around the bush means to avoid sayingsomething directly,
usually because the subject is uncomfortable.
For example, stop beating around the bush and tellme what happened.
Or, he beat around the bush before admitting thathe had lost the keys.
It is often critical.
You are saying that someone is taking too long toreach the real subject.
So, get straight to the point and beat around thebush are almost opposites.
03:05
One moves directly to the main message, the otheravoids it.
Our third expression is read between the lines.
To read between the lines means to find a meaningthat is suggested but not stated directly.
The workshop email sounded positive, but it didnot promise Martin a place.
He noticed what the organizers did not say.
For example, if you read between the lines, herpolite reply is actually a refusal.
We can read between the lines of an email,message, conversation, or tone.
We use real clues.
We do not simply invent a meaning.
Our fourth expression is keep someone posted.
To keep someone posted means to continue givingthat person the latest information.
For example, I will keep you posted about theinterview.
Or, please keep us posted on any changes.
Notice the pattern, keep someone posted about oron something.
We can also simply say, keep me posted.
Let us compare all four idioms.
Get straight to the point means say the importantthing immediately.
Beat around the bush means avoid saying somethingdirectly.
Read between the lines means understand a meaningthat is suggested but not stated.
And keep someone posted means continue givingsomeone the latest information.
Time for a quick challenge.
Choose the best expression before we answer.
Situation 1.
Your colleague gives a long introduction, but youneed the main message now.
Ask them to get straight to the point.
Situation 2.
A friend avoids explaining why they missed themeeting.
They are beating around the bush.
Situation 3.
A polite message suggests disappointment withoutstating it.
You need to read between the lines.
Situation 4.
A technician promises to tell you whenever thereis progress.
The technician will keep you posted.
Now complete this sentence about your own life.
Please keep me posted about...
Continue with lesson 10 in the free idiom toolboxcourse at youranglishtoolbox.com.
Use the retrieval practice to recall the fouridioms without looking at the answers.
The direct link is in the episode description.
So, will the organizers keep you posted?
They promise to email tomorrow.
06:01
And what will you do until then?
I will try not to read between every possibleline.
That sounds wise.
But if they send another five-paragraph email, Iam starting at the final sentence.
You are learning to get straight to the point.
See you next time, friends.
Goodbye!
