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Idiom: run a tight ship



 
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Idiom: run a tight ship #1 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:24 am   Idiom: run a tight ship
 

English Idioms and Expressions, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #13 "On the Water", question 5

We were all a bit worried about the new manager because we heard that she liked to run a tight ship.

(a) be well organized
(b) be well disposed
(c) be well received
(d) be well placed

English Idioms and Expressions, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #13 "On the Water", answer 5

We were all a bit worried about the new manager because we heard that she liked to be well organized.

Correct answer: (a) be well organized

Your answer was: incorrect
We were all a bit worried about the new manager because we heard that she liked to be well disposed.
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From the point of view of a non-native speaker, I would feel easier if the sentence went like this:

We heard that she liked the office to be well organized.

Sorry for the silly question. haihao
Haihao
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Idiom: run a tight ship #2 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:29 am   Idiom: run a tight ship
 

1...This is an idiom question.
2...Maybe there is no office; maybe it's striictly an online business.
:wink:
Canadian45
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Joined: 08 Oct 2006
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Idiom: run a tight ship #3 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:57 am   Idiom: run a tight ship
 

Aha, interesting supposition: an online business! Sorry for the imprudence to my English teachers but What I didn't feel easy and safe about was that if 'she liked to be well organized', needn't I bear any misgiving that the sentence could virtually mean 'she...was...organized'? I mean, she comes to play the subject role. I know this is a stupid question and nobody would be confused by that... I am sorry...

haihao
Haihao
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Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 2471
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Idiom: run a tight ship #4 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:09 am   Idiom: run a tight ship
 

You don't need to be sorry!

I am pondering your last post but it is late here and my brain is already asleep. Maybe someone in the European morning can help you more.

konbanwa! (? sp)
Canadian45
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Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Posts: 184
Location: Canada

Idiom: run a tight ship #5 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:19 am   Idiom: run a tight ship
 

Hi Haihao

Your question is logical and it would indeed be possible to say "she liked the office to be well organized." However, saying it that way would lose a little bit of the sense of "run" from the idiom. Saying "she is well organized" suggests that she organizes herself and the things around her (i.e. she runs things in an organized manner).

Saying "she liked the office to be well organized" is a little more passive. In this case, possibly someone else is responsible for the organizing and she simply likes the good organization that someone else has provided.

But, bottom line, I think both ways would be OK here. The focus of the question is on knowing that "run a tight ship" means that things are "run in a highly organized fashion." The word organized is key.

Hope that helps.

Amy
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Idiom: run a tight ship #6 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:40 am   Idiom: run a tight ship
 

As clear as a bell. Now I think I caught the drift of the whole picture and its nuance.

Many many thanks.
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 2471
Location: Japan

Idiom: run a tight ship #7 (permalink) Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:49 am   Idiom: run a tight ship
 

You're very welcome, Haihao.
I'm looking forward to more questions from you because I think you ask very good ones. :D

Amy
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Yankee
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
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Expression: 'in no end of trouble' | Meaning of "rock the boat"
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