Plans and decisions ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 28

Plans and decisions

A	Decisions and solutions Hans Brokaw, head of a company that manufactures garden furniture, is announcing to his senior staff plans he is making for the business to be exclusively online. As you know, for some time now we’ve been toying1 with the idea of transferring all our business to online-only sales as a long-term solution to the problem of finding good retail outlets. You’ll remember that at the last team meeting Rob unveiled2 a plan to move the business to the web in three phases over nine months. And Philippa did a great job drumming up support3 for the move among the sales and marketing people. Since then, as you also know, we’ve had a slight change of plan, and, acting on a suggestion4 from the logistics team, we’ve now decided that the move should happen over 12 months. In order to implement5 such a plan, we need to draw up a schedule and stick to6 that schedule. So I’d like to make a tentative suggestion7. Before we launch the scheme, I think we should invite the web designers to come here and take us through the process from their side. That will give us the opportunity to exercise greater control over things. I don’t think we should just leave everything to their discretion8. I’m just aware of how important it’s going to be to cover every eventuality9 before we commit 100% to going online. We propose to end our relationship with the garden centres where we currently sell. We’ve reached this decision after careful consideration. We do believe that realistically it’s the only option open to us. The deciding factor was losing our biggest customer – the Greenway garden centre chain. After that, we really had no choice. 1 considering, but not in a focused way 2 showed / made known for the first time 3 increasing support for something 4 doing something as a result of a suggestion 5 put into operation 6 keep to 7 a suggestion that you are not sure will be accepted 8 leave everything to their judgement 9 consider all possible situations and difficulties
B	Making plans Note the collocations in this speech at the start of an annual youth summit. Good morning, friends, and welcome to our summit, the first of what we plan to be an annual event! I have been waiting for this day with eager anticipation1 for a long time. We came up with the idea five years ago and preparations have been underway2 ever since. There was a certain amount of necessary groundwork3 to do, of course, before our sponsors were able to reach the decision to support us. But then we were able to turn our attention to how best to put our ideas into practice. 1 feeling of great excitement about something that is going to happen 2 happening 3 work done in preparation
C	Rejecting plans Someone may declare outright opposition or outright hostility to a plan. [say they are completely opposed/hostile] A plan can be rejected out of hand. [totally rejected] Those who do not like a plan or piece of work may offer constructive criticism. [criticism which is useful and intended to help or improve] Common mistakes Note that we come to or arrive at a conclusion, NOT make a conclusion.

EXERCISES

28.1	Match the two parts of these collocations. 1 unveil every eventuality 2 stick to a lot of support 3 make something a reality 4 leave it a schedule 5 drum up a plan 6 cover to someone’s discretion
28.2	Complete each conversation to make B agree with what A says. 1 A: I think we should do what Ruby is proposing. B: Yes, I think we should definitely act ____________ her suggestion. 2 A: We need to make a timetable for what needs to be done. B: Yes, we need to draw ____________ a schedule. 3 A: We need a lot of discussion before we can put the scheme into operation. B: Yes, we need a couple of meetings before we can implement the ____________. 4 A: We need to be able to have more influence over what’s happening. B: I agree. We must ____________ greater control over things. 5 A: It’s not an answer to the problem that will solve it permanently. B: I agree. It’s not a ____________ solution. 6 A: We don’t really have that choice. B: I agree. That ____________ is not open to us.
28.3	Complete each sentence using a word from the box. change consideration factor groundwork launch outright suggestion 1 After careful ______________, we decided not to sell the business. 2 We’ll do the necessary ______________and then ______________the scheme in May. 3 I was very shocked to encounter such ______________hostility to my plan. 4 Money is always the deciding ______________in business decisions. 5 It was only a tentative ______________, not a final decision. 6 There’s been a slight ______________of plan, I’m afraid.
28.4	Correct the collocation errors in these sentences. 1 Final preparations for the music festival are now undergone. 2 I was very upset when they rejected my suggestions out of foot. 3 The company came on with the idea of encouraging customers to recycle packaging. 4 I don’t think you will find it easy to get your ideas into practice. 5 He declared his offright opposition to the plan. 6 Constructed criticism is always welcome, but negative criticism is not.
28.5	Complete the word puzzle. Across 3 It’s difficult to put the idea into _________. 5 He leaves me to _________the plans for our holidays. 6 We should _________on this suggestion at once. Down 1 The kids are full of _________anticipation. 2 We need to _________a decision today. 3 There’s been a change of _________. 4 I _________with a few ideas, but rejected them.

ANSWER KEY

28.1 1 unveil a plan 2 stick to a schedule 3 make something a reality 4 leave it to someone’s discretion 5 drum up a lot of support 6 cover every eventuality 28.2 1 on 2 up 3 plan 4 exercise 5 long-term 6 option 28.3 1 consideration 2 groundwork; launch 3 outright 4 factor 5 suggestion 6 change 28.4 1 Final preparations for the music festival are now underway. 2 I was very upset when they rejected my suggestions out of hand. 3 The company came up with the idea of encouraging customers to recycle packaging. 4 I don’t think you will find it easy to put your ideas into practice. 5 He declared his outright opposition to the plan. 6 Constructive criticism is always welcome, but negative criticism is not. 28.5