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Julia, I have bad news. What happened?
I knocked a cup of coffee onto the handouts forour workshop.
Is anyone hurt? No.
Is the computer damaged? No. Only six pages arewet.
Then it is no big deal. We can print them again.
You made that problem feel smaller in onesentence.
That is exactly what today's expressions can do.
Welcome to your English Toolbox. I am Martin.
And I am Julia.
This is Episode 9 of Everyday Useful Expressions,
our series of ready-made English for realsituations.
Today we are learning four natural ways to respondcalmly to small problems
and move towards a solution.
Our first expression is, It is no big deal.
It is no big deal.
Use this to say that a problem is not very seriousor difficult.
For example, I am sorry I arrived five minuteslate.
It is no big deal. We have not started yet.
Or, I printed the old version by mistake. It is nobig deal. We can print the new one.
This expression reassures the other person andreduces tension.
But be careful. If somebody is genuinely upset orthe problem is serious, it can sound dismissive.
Do not call a major loss or a painful experienceno big deal.
Use it for genuinely small problems.
Our second expression is, These things happen.
These things happen.
Use it when a mistake or accident isunderstandable and you do not want to blame the
person.
For example, I am sorry I sent the message to thewrong group. These things happen.
Or, we missed the turning because the sign washidden. These things happen.
The expression means that ordinary peoplesometimes make ordinary mistakes.
It can sound warmer if you add support afterwards.
These things happen. We will send a correction.
That leads to our third expression, We will figureit out.
We will figure it out.
Use this when you do not have the solution yet,but you are confident that you can find one
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together.
For example, The booking system is not working,but we will figure it out.
Or, we do not have enough chairs. We will figureit out before the guests arrive.
Notice the word, We. It turns the problem intosomething shared.
If the responsibility is mine alone, I can say, Iwill figure it out.
Our fourth expression is, Let me take care of it.
Let me take care of it.
Use this when you are offering to handle theproblem or task yourself.
For example, The printer needs more paper. Let metake care of it.
Or, Somebody needs to call the hotel. Let me takecare of it.
A natural reply is, Thank you, I appreciate it.
The expression sounds calm and confident.
It tells the other person that they do not need tomanage the issue now.
But make sure you can actually do what you havepromised.
Otherwise, it creates a second problem.
Let us compare the four expressions.
It is no big deal says the problem is small.
These things happen removes unnecessary blame.
We will figure it out expresses confidence in ashared solution.
And let me take care of it means that you willhandle the problem yourself.
Time for a quick challenge.
Choose the most natural expression before weanswer.
Situation 1
A friend apologizes for spilling a little water onan empty table.
It is no big deal.
Situation 2
A colleague makes a small, understandable mistakeand feels embarrassed.
These things happen.
Situation 3
Your group has lost the room booking and nobodyknows the solution yet.
We will figure it out.
Situation 4
The event organizer is busy and you can call thedelivery company yourself.
Let me take care of it.
Now build a complete response.
Your colleague says I attach the wrong document tothe email.
You could say these things happen.
We will figure it out.
Let us send the correct document now.
That response reduces blame and moves towardsaction.
On the episode page at yourenglishtoolbox.com,
you will find five additional expressions forhandling small problems calmly.
Each one includes its meaning, tone, two examples,and active practice.
06:05
The direct link is in the episode description.
Martin, what happened to the wet handouts?
I printed six new pages.
Good. Problem solved.
There is one more issue.
What is it?
I put your coffee beside this printer and now Icannot remember which cup is yours.
These things happen.
Will we figure it out?
No. Let me take care of it. I will make freshcoffee.
You really do have a solution for everything.
Only for small problems.
See you next time, friends.
Goodbye.