Advanced English Conversations (2) - Robert Allans, Matt Edie, A. Mustafaoglu 2020

Set 29 - We can join forces and put together a team

Presenter: Let's go way back. You're an incredibly successful driver and on top of your game. What made you decide you wanted to establish your own team?

Mike: In actuality, my entire career has been about grabbing opportunities that present themselves. Once I ran into a buddy who had just lost his ride. He was all bummed out. On the spur of the moment I said, "If we can join forces and put together a team, you won't have to worry about who you'll drive for every year." He said, "Man, that would be awesome."

Presenter: Impressive! So; you had been around racing all your life, but how did you figure out how to put together a team?

Mike: The shine of your name was enough. That's what helped us get the sponsorships to start that team. Of course I put some money in, too, but for the most part, sponsorships helped carry the team. Again, we just reacted promptly to opportunities that came our way.

Presenter: So it's like a tree: It starts here, then something branches off, and that branches off, and suddenly you have this big awesome mess.

Vocabulary;

on top of one’s game: doing something at one's highest level.

grab an opportunity: to take advantage of: to seize; to make use of.

run into: to meet someone you know when you are not expecting to.

bummed out: (adjective) annoyed, upset, or disappointed.

on the spur of the moment: suddenly; spontaneously.

put together: to build or assemble something; to create something.

put in: to invest money in something.

for the most part: mostly; typically; in general.

promptly: quickly, without delay, or at the arranged time

come one’s way: to present itself, happen to.

branch off: to separate from a primary source or origin and move or develop in a different direction.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases or words;

1. The pitcher is completely on top of his .......... tonight—the batters barely stand a chance to get a hit.

2. I really hope this promotion comes my .......... because it sounds like a fascinating position.

3. The emergency services arrived .......... at the scene.

4. If I ........... in more cash in this venture, your profits will double in two years.

5. Please put .......... an outline of your plan and have it on my desk by Friday.

6. It's totally out my character to take a trip on the .......... of the moment, but I just needed to get out of the city for a while.

7. After we discovered a new species of insect, some members of our research team .......... off and are studying it.

8. These woods, such as willow or hazel, remain for the most .......... outside of the timber and lumber trades because they are not particularly useful in building or for most furniture forms.

9. After all, when you feel .......... out, it makes life more difficult. You might even try to convince yourself that your situation is no big deal or that you don't care.

10. Sheffield University offered to appoint me, I grabbed the .......... with both hands.

11. Graham ran .......... someone he used to know at school the other day.

1. game 2. way 3. promptly 4. put 5. together 6. spur 7. branched 8. part 9. bummed 10. opportunity 11. into