（2015-04-03）會議中，丟出一個點子時，如何詢問與會者對點子的意見？要請對方吃大餐時，如何優雅的表達，要請客的意願？
《Five Interesting English Expressions》
（文╱Robert Tolmasoff）Below are five interesting English expressions and what they really mean.
1. To bounce something off someone.
If you “bounce something off someone” you tell them an idea or plan to get the person’s thoughts about the idea or plan. This is often an informal way to understand how a colleague might feel about an idea you have.
Example: John, do you have a minute. I would like to bounce something off you.
2. Pick up the tab. This is an expression you want someone to say after an expensive dinner. If someone “picks up the tab” it means they will pay for the expense. This is used in business and social situations.
Example: John picked up the tab for the client dinner.
3. To fall through the cracks. If something “falls through the cracks” it went forgotten or unnoticed. This is an expression often used when something was missed and it was just recently discovered.
Example: How did we miss this? I don’t know. It just fell through the cracks.
4. to go back to the drawing board. This expression means to start over or return to the planning stage to try to save a project or idea.
Example: The client rejected our idea for the campaign, so we will have to go back to the drawing board.
5. To be in the doghouse. If you are in the doghouse it means someone is upset with you or displeased with your performance.
Example: John is in the director’s doghouse because the client pitch went bad last week.
Robert Tolmasoff is a trainer, editor, and author based in Taipei. His clients include international companies as well as individuals looking to sharpen their communications skills. Robert’s last two books, 上班族完美英文e-mail輕鬆寫 and 1000 Essential Business English Terms, are available in books stores and from McGraw-Hill Taiwan. Have ideas for future columns or questions? Email Robert at rtlmsff@gmail.com
