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.
If you’re lucky enough to be on holiday already—or if you're heading off soon—you’ll know that setting your Out-of-Office auto-reply is easily the best feeling of the summer.
But how do you sound professional while making it clear you really won't be checking emails?
Here are 3 polished, ready-to-use OOO templates you can copy, paste, and set up before you close your laptop!
1. Formal & Professional
Best for: External clients, senior management, formal stakeholders, or legal/financial sectors.
Subject: Out of Office: [Your Name]
Dear Sender,
Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office on leave with limited access to email, returning on [Date].
If your request is urgent, please forward your email to [Colleague's Name] at [Colleague's Email], who will be able to assist you. Otherwise, I will respond to your message as soon as possible upon my return.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
2. Neutral & Modern Corporate
Best for: Everyday business communication, regular client contacts, and cross-department emails.
Subject: Out of Office: [Your Name]
Hello,
Thank you for your email. I am currently away and will return to the office on [Date].
I’ll have limited access to my inbox during this time. For urgent matters, please contact [Colleague's Name] ([Colleague's Email]).
I’ll get back to you as soon as possible when I return.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
3. Informal & Friendly
Best for: Close colleagues, internal team members, or familiar long-term contacts.
Subject: Out of Office: [Your Name]
Hi,
Thanks for getting in touch. I am currently on holiday and will be back in the office on [Date].
If you need immediate assistance while I am away, please reach out to [Colleague's Name] at [Colleague's Email].
I'll reply to your email as soon as I am back.
Best,
[Your Name]
Fantastic phrasal verbs
Let’s stimulate those brain cells with a quick phrasal verbs quiz!
If you enjoyed last week’s selection, you’ll love these. Here are 6 more phrasal verbs to describe your travel and time off like a native speaker.
Let's dive right in.
📖 Would you do this in a hotel?
What are you really planning to do with those mini toiletries? And where are you taking that hotel towel? 🧐
Before you check in this summer, check out what British etiquette expert William Hanson has to say about the strict do’s and don’ts of hotel stays—from queue-jumping at breakfast to what’s actually considered theft.
Skim the article quickly without stopping for unknown words. According to the etiquette expert, what is the root cause of bad hotel behavior?
A) People don't know the rules of luxury hotels because etiquette is no longer taught in schools.
B) People treat hotels as transactional business deals, making them feel entitled to act differently than at home.
C) International travel causes jet lag and stress, which makes even polite tourists lose their temper.
📖 Let’s take a closer look
Read the article again in more detail and answer these 4 questions. You can find the answers at the bottom 👀
Speaking Up: According to William Hanson, how do Americans handle problems at a hotel differently than British guests?
Getting an Upgrade: What simple personal touch does Hanson suggest doing when interacting with hotel staff to build a good rapport?
Taking Items Home: Which hotel items are completely fine to take with you, and which ones are considered theft?
Luggage Etiquette: Why does Hanson prefer guests to call the concierge for their bags rather than carrying them through the corridors themselves?
💡 Vocabulary Spotlight
Ready to sound more precise and expressive? Here are 4 natural expressions from the article that native speakers use all the time—complete with Italian translations and real-world examples!
1. Pet peeve (noun)
Definition: Something small or specific that annoys or frustrates you deeply.
Italian Translation: Fastidio personale
Example from Text: "He details his pet hotel peeves, and how he thinks we should all do better."
2. Go the extra mile (idiom)
Definition: To make a special effort or do more than what is expected to help someone.
Italian Translation: Fare quel qualcosa in più
Example from Text: "They will go the extra mile because you have seen them as a person rather than as a function."
3. A pushover (noun)
Definition: A person who is easily influenced, persuaded, or intimidated by others (someone who never says "no").
Italian Translation: Qualcuno che si fa mettere i piedi in testa
Example from Text: "Brits sometimes mistake being polite for being a pushover, and they are very different things."
4. Up to par (idiom / adjective phrase)
Definition: Meeting the expected or required standard; good enough.
Italian Translation: All'altezza delle aspettative
Example from Text: "Brits sometimes lack the confidence to say, 'Well, actually, this isn't quite up to par.'"
✅ Answers
According to the etiquette expert, what is the root cause of bad hotel behavior?
Correct Answer: B
He puts bad behavior down to the "commercial/transactional" factor, where people feel entitled to act wild because they paid for the room.
Let’s take a closer look
Americans speak up sooner and complain courteously when something is wrong, whereas Brits often pretend everything is fine even if they are unhappy.
Simply learning and using the staff members' names when speaking to them.
Small amenity items like cotton pads, nail files, sewing kits, and disposable slippers are fine. Taking hairdryers, towels, bedding, or bathrobes is theft.
Because handling luggage is the specific service the hotel provides (and why they charge their prices), and seeing guests drag heavy bags down corridors ruins the serene atmosphere of a nice hotel.
All right, that’s it for this week’s edition.
Let me know if you enjoyed it and I’ll see you next time.
Have a great week. I’m off to the beach 😎
All the best,
Dan
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