Vocabulary for Proposing Solutions

Question 1

What does it mean to think on your feet?

Answer 1

Respond quickly and effectively without prior preparation.

Example: During the investor Q&A, she had to think on her feet when asked about the unexpected dip in Q2 margins.

Question 2

Define ‘work around (something)’.

Answer 2

Find a way to overcome or bypass a problem or limitation.

Example: The supply issue delayed shipments, but the team worked around it by sourcing from local distributors.

Question 3

What does it mean to tweak something?

Answer 3

Make small adjustments or fine-tuning to improve something.

Example: We just need to tweak the assumptions slightly in the model to reflect updated tax rates.

Question 4

What does ‘double down on’ refer to?

Answer 4

Increase commitment or investment in a particular course of action.

Example: Seeing early traction, they doubled down on influencer partnerships to drive brand awareness.

Question 5

Explain the phrase ‘zero in on’.

Answer 5

Focus closely on a specific element or goal.

Example: The campaign initially missed the mark, so they zeroed in on a narrower customer segment.

Question 6

What does it mean to play it by ear?

Answer 6

Respond flexibly based on how events unfold rather than planning strictly in advance.

Example: We’ll play it by ear with the forecasting update, depending on what guidance we get from leadership.

Question 7

Define ‘cut corners’.

Answer 7

Do something cheaply or quickly at the expense of quality or standards.

Example: It’s clear they cut corners in the audit prep — several reconciliations are incomplete.

Question 8

What does it mean to pin down something?

Answer 8

Define, identify, or finalize something clearly, especially when it’s elusive.

Example: We still can’t pin down the exact cause of the month-end variance in payroll.