In fact, you could say he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
So, what you mean is – he’s stupid. However, we don’t like to be that direct and we frequently prefer to use a more diplomatic style to soften our words (and often to add humour).
In business and indeed life in general, a more diplomatic, subtle language may pay dividends. Learning this skill can be a challenge for non-native speakers, but it is worth doing.
Is diplomacy important in your language or do you just say what you mean?
Click on the image below to read an excellent article that provides some very useful guidelines on precisely this topic.
Good advice, I have stolem them already!!!
I will practise with my classmates!!!
Great to hear from you Galina – it has been a while!
Oh, Mr Jon, I have a lot of work and unfortunately, not much time to read the blog. I’ll try to do more often. By the way, I am going to my beautiful Vienna of my own accord (Damian has taught me this phrase) tomorrow!!! I suppose you and teacher are doing well and have much work with students. I have heard about your bad weather (+8) and rains. Mind you we have Sun and +20C, just remarkably!!! Take my regards to Marie, Lara, Hannah, Anna and Gwen! Have a nice day and weather!
Have a fantastic time in Vienna! Have you ever seen the film ‘The Third Man’?
Yes, the weather here is not exactly tropical at the moment….
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