The English Breakfast ☕
Hi there,
Welcome back to The English Breakfast — the newsletter for Italian professionals who want to feel more confident in English at work.
Greetings from Alba! I'm here this weekend enjoying the countryside and eating way too much (tagliolini and truffles to be precise 😆), but I haven't forgotten about your English. Let’s dive right in.
🥇 The One-Word Challenge
We’re kicking things off today with something a little different. Can you think of ONE missing word that fits into all three of these sentences?
Her remarks during the presentation were completely out of ……...
It took months of negotiation, but we finally got the contract over the ….….
Please hold the ……. while I transfer your call.
( Check your answer after this week’s Quick Fix)
🔧 Quick Fix
Are you feeling relaxed or relaxing right now?
If you hesitated, you need this week's Quick Fix! Choosing between -ing and -ed adjectives (like bored vs. boring or relaxed vs. relaxing etc.) is confusing for many English learners, even at an intermediate level.
Watch the video below, test your skills, and make sure you're using them correctly. Let’s go!
🥇 The One-Word Challenge: Answer and breakdown
Did you guess the word? The missing word is line! Now let’s look closer at how these expressions in bold work.
Her remarks during the presentation were completely out of line = Behaving inappropriately or disobeying authority.
It took months of negotiation, but we finally got the contract over the line = To successfully complete or finalise a task or project.
Please hold the line while I transfer your call = To wait on a phone call
Now that you've seen how versatile "line" is in Business English, let’s test your knowledge. Fill in the blanks in the mini-dialogues with the three phrases we’ve just learned.
👀 You can find the answers at the end of the newsletter.
Dialogue 1
❝Marco: "Did you hear what Julian said to the department head during the budget review?"
Elena: "Yes, it was completely ________ ________ ________. He owes her an apology before the next meeting."
Dialogue 2
❝Receptionist: "Thank you for calling Apex Solutions. Could you please ________ ________ ________ for just a second while I transfer you to Mr. Rossi?"
Caller: "Sure, no problem at all."
Dialogue 3
❝Sofia: "How are the negotiations going with the German distributors?"
Matteo: "It was tough, but we managed to ________ the deal ________ ________ ________ right before the Friday deadline."
📖 In other news
What happens when a popstar walks into a tiny local toy shop… maybe not what you’d expect.
This week, singer Kelly Clarkson found herself at the centre of a massive internet drama after visiting a boutique store in Brooklyn. Her complaint? That the staff treated her like she couldn't afford a $15,000 mechanical singing bird. But the store says it was all a big misunderstanding—and now, they are facing a social media storm.
Grab a coffee, dive into the full story below, and decide whose side you're on!
📚 Vocabulary Focus: 5 Words to Know Before You Read
To help you enjoy the article without stopping to check a dictionary, here are 5 useful B2-level words and phrases from the text:
Boutique (noun) /buːˈtiːk/
Meaning: A small shop that sells fashionable clothes, gifts, or unique items.
Example from the text: "...complained online that the boutique store would not let her buy a singing and dancing mechanical bird..."
Comparable (adjective) /ˈkɒm.pər.ə.bəl/
Meaning: Similar in size, amount, quality, or value to something else, so that you can compare them.
Example from the text: "...the store had told her the bird cost $15,000 and that they could find her something else comparable."
Surreal (adjective) /səˈriː.əl/
Meaning: Strange; feeling like a dream or a situation that doesn't feel real.
Example from the text: "It's been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity."
Harassment (noun) /ˈhær.əs.mənt/
Meaning: Illegal or annoying behavior that upsets, threatens, or troubles someone repeatedly.
Example from the text: "The store's owner has said he and his staff have faced threats and harassment after Clarkson's complaint..."
Kerfuffle (noun) /kəˈfʌf.əl/ (Informal)
Meaning: A short argument, fuss, or commotion about something unimportant.
Example from the text: "The kerfuffle lingered in headlines on Wednesday as a news outlet released surveillance video..."
Alright, now read the full article.
Want to finally speak English fluently?
If you want to speak more naturally without fear of making mistakes, The English Fluency Club is for you. In small online group sessions, we practice real-life topics, learn vocabulary in context, and work on pronunciation and grammar with structured feedback.
Not sure if your level is right for the Club? Don't worry—I have groups for different levels so you'll always feel comfortable!
Simply take this quick English level test. I'll look at your result and send you an email with details on the best group and schedule options for you. No pressure, no obligation—just a quick check to see if it's a good fit!
👀 Answers to the Mini-Dialogues
out of line
hold the line
get (the deal) over the line
OK, that’s all for this week’s edition.
Let me know if you enjoyed it, and I’ll see you next time.
Have a great week. 😎
All the best,
Dan
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