Here’s a casual coffee break chat. Review it to understand the meanings of idioms, and then answer questions with them.
☕️ Coffee Break Chat: Dev Team
Participants: Liam (Senior Dev) and Maya (Junior Dev)
Liam: Hey Maya, how was your weekend? You look a little quiet.
Maya: Hey Liam. It was okay. Honestly, I’m feeling blue today. I spent a good chunk of yesterday trying to debug that legacy module, and I can’t make heads or tails of it. The documentation is nonexistent!
Liam: Ugh, I know that feeling. That module is a beast. Don’t worry about it too much if you mess up a few times while you’re trying to learn the ropes on that old codebase. We all do. Just focus on one function at a time. Did you check with David? He wrote most of it.
Maya: I did, but he’s actually between jobs right now, so I couldn’t reach him. I really needed his input on the data validation logic.
Liam: Ah, right. Well, I can sit down with you for a bit later this afternoon. Let’s get the main validation logic figured out. Once that’s stable, adding the new feature will be the icing on the cake.
Maya: Oh, now you’re talking! That would be a huge help. I felt like I was going to have to guilt trip you into looking at it! [She laughs]
Liam: No guilt trip necessary! I promised I’d help onboard you. But look, I’ve refactored the database schema migration scripts and pushed them to the main branch. They look good from my side. The ball is in your court now to integrate those changes into the front end.
Maya: Got it. Migration scripts, front-end integration. Easy enough. Speaking of breaks, I’m starving. Are we ordering pizza for lunch today? I’m ready to pig out.
Liam: Pizza sounds perfect. Let’s make it happen.
| Idiom | Definition | Sense | Example |
| the ball is in your court | you have to do the next part of the project or do the next required thing (from tennis) | neutral | I finished the marketing plan. Now the ball is in your court–you’re the best person to do the cost analysis. |
| between jobs | a nice or positive way of saying that a person is not employed | positive | My friend Tim is doing fine. He’s between jobs right now, but he has three interviews next week. |
| can’t make heads or tails of | can’t figure out; can’t make sense of | humorously negative | My boyfriend has terrible handwriting. I can’t make heads or tails of it. |
| feel blue | feel sad | negative | I don’t know why I feel blue today. Maybe it’s the rainy weather. |
| guilt trip | a series of words or actions that make another person feel guilty, usually the words are indirect | negative, often humorous | I had not talked to my sister for two weeks. When I did, she gave me a guilt trip by telling me about all of her problems. |
| icing on the cake | the best part, an extra good thing in a positive situation | positive | She has a new job with Amazon, and the icing on the cake is that she gets five weeks of vacation during her first year! |
| learn the ropes | to learn the basics in a new situation | neutral | The company politics are very complex. I hope I can learn the ropes within a few weeks. |
| mess up | to do the wrong thing; to make an error | negative, but often used lightly | I’m so sorry I forgot our appointment. I messed up! |
| Now you’re talking! | that’s a great idea; you’re saying good, agreeable things | positive | You’ll try ballroom dancing? Now you’re talking! It’ll be really fun–you’ll see! |
| pig out | to eat a lot or too much | negative, but humorous | I’m trying not to pig out on your chocolate chip cookies, but they’re really good. |
Questions
1. Are you working on a project with a relative or teammates? When might you say the ball is in your court?
2. Do you know anyone who is between jobs right now? Have you ever been between jobs? If so, how did it feel?
3. What is a subject that is very difficult for you, so that you can’t make heads or tails of it?
4. What is one situation or event that can make you feel blue? Why does it affect you?
5. Is there a parent or relative that often gives you guilt trips? If so, describe the guilt trips.
6. What was one good thing that is happened to you recently? And also, what was the icing on the cake?
7. When did you have to learn the ropes in a new place or at a new job?
8. We all mess up sometimes. Describe a situation in which you messed up recently.
9. What is a topic that you love to discuss/agree with a friend or relative. When might you say now you’re talking!
10. Name one food you love that is so great you might pig out on it.
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