Talent and Energy are the Only 2 Things Within Your Control

Question 1

“Right from the word go”

Answer 1

idiom
From the very beginning
* We made it clear right from the word go that quality would be our top priority.
* Right from the word go, there were communication issues between the two departments.

Question 2

Closeted

Answer 2

adjective
To conceal a significant aspect of one’s identity
* Many people stay closeted at work due to concerns about discrimination or being treated differently.
* She felt a deep sense of relief after coming out, having been closeted for most of her adult life.

Question 3

Dazzling

Answer 3

adjective
Extremely impressive, beautiful, or skillful in a way that captures attention
* The campaign’s dazzling success exceeded all expectations.
* They launched the product with dazzling precision and creativity.

Question 4

Deflect

Answer 4

verb
To redirect something in order to avoid dealing with it directly
* The manager tried to deflect questions about the budget cuts during the meeting.
* The CEO skillfully deflected the reporter’s tough questions with a well-prepared statement.

Question 5

Bright

Answer 5

adjective
Intelligent, quick-witted, or mentally sharp
* He’s a bright employee who consistently offers innovative solutions.
* His bright ideas have helped the team overcome several key challenges.

Question 6

Tick boxes

Answer 6

idiom
To meet all the requirements or expectations
* This proposal ticks all the boxes, addressing both budget constraints and client needs.
* The new marketing strategy really ticks all the boxes for engaging our target audience.

Question 7

Second-guess

Answer 7

verb
To question or doubt a decision or action after it has been made
* After the meeting, she started to second-guess her decision to propose the new strategy.
* Don’t second-guess yourself—trust that you made the right decision at the time.

Question 8

Stay on

Answer 8

phrasal verb
To remain in a place or situation longer than originally planned
* The CEO chose to stay on for another year to ensure the new leadership team was fully in place.
* He was offered a promotion but decided to stay on in his current role for personal reasons.

Question 9

Gig

Answer 9

noun
A short-term job or performance
* She’s looking for a gig in digital marketing while she finishes her degree.
* The band has several gigs lined up this summer.

Question 10

Tick by

Answer 10

idiom
To proceed slowly without much progress or excitement
* For years, the project seemed to be ticking by with no real progress, until we brought in new leadership.
* The first few months at the company felt like I was just ticking by until I found my focus.

Question 11

Perplexed

Answer 11

adjective
To be confused or uncertain about something
* The team was perplexed by the sudden drop in sales despite their strong marketing efforts.
* The client seemed perplexed by the proposal and asked for further clarification.

Question 12

Have one’s mind blown

Answer 12

idiom
To be extremely impressed, shocked, or amazed by something
* He had his mind blown when he saw the potential of the data analytics tool.
* After the product demo, the client had their mind blown by the advanced features.

Question 13

“Hang on”

Answer 13

expression
“Wait a second” / “hold on”
* Hang on, I’ll check the schedule and get back to you.
* Just hang on—there’s one more thing I want to show you.

Question 14

Snap out of (something)

Answer 14

phrasal verb
To quickly recover from a negative or unproductive state
* You need to snap out of that mindset if we’re going to meet this deadline.
* I had to snap out of my frustration and focus on solving the problem.