to light a fire under (someone)

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 752: Working With Unreliable People.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 752. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website, you know what it is, eslpod.com. Go there, download the Learning Guide, enjoy life.

This episode is a dialogue between Paul and Jackie, and it’s going to be talking about people at work who don’t do what they are supposed to do. Sound familiar? Let’s get started.

Paul: What time is it?

Jackie: It’s 2:30. The Cleveland office report should have been emailed to us by the end of the workday yesterday. What are we supposed to do now?

Paul: If we don’t get their report, we’ll have to hold up the production of the annual report and if that happens, somebody’s head is going to roll. This really leaves us in a lurch. Who’s responsible for the report in Cleveland?

Jackie: Noel Simmons.

Paul: Oh, no. I know Noel. I used to work with him in the Columbus