📰 The Story
In today’s episode, we talked about a major shake-up in the fashion world. The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus has filed for bankruptcy protection. After sales kept dropping last year, they couldn’t afford their debts. Now, shoppers are rushing to the stores to spend their gift cards before it’s too late!
Here are the 5 key expressions native speakers use to talk about this kind of dramatic situation.
🔑 Key Expressions
- Plunge 🏊♂️📉
Meaning: To fall very quickly and dramatically.
In the News: “Sales at Saks Global kept plunging last year.”
Why we use it: It’s much stronger than “fall” or “drop.” It paints a picture of something diving down fast (like a diver in a pool!).
- Example: “The stock market plunged after the bad news was released.”
- Catch up on 🏃💨
Meaning: To do work (or payments) that you are behind on, so you can be up to date again.
In the News: The company hoped to “catch up on overdue payments to its suppliers.”
Why we use it: We often use this for tasks we procrastinated on or debts we owe.
- Example: “I need to stay home this weekend and catch up on my laundry.”
- Go under 🚢⚓
Meaning: To fail completely or go bankrupt.
Context: This is a common idiom for bankruptcy. While the news says Saks “filed for bankruptcy” and other stores like Barneys “went bankrupt”, native speakers often say a business “went under” to describe the final collapse.
- Example: “Many small cafes went under during the economic crisis.”
- Just in case ☔🛡️
Meaning: Doing something now to be safe, even if a bad thing might not happen.
In the News: “Just in case, shoppers are descending upon Saks Fifth Avenue to spend gift cards.”
Why we use it: It’s the perfect phrase for being cautious or prepared.
- Example: “Take an umbrella, just in case it rains later.”
- Descend upon 🛸👯♀️
Meaning: To arrive somewhere in a large group, often suddenly or overwhelmingly.
In the News: Shoppers are “descending upon Saks Fifth Avenue.”
Why we use it: It sounds dramatic! It feels like an invasion or a swarm of people rather than just a “visit.”
- Example: “Locusts descended upon the cornfields.” / “My hungry relatives descended upon the buffet.”
🧠 Smart Quiz Answer
Question: If a profitable company is “in the black,” what color is a company that is losing money?
Answer: In the Red 🔴- Explanation: This comes from old accounting books where losses were written in red ink. Saks is definitely “in the red” right now with billions in debt!
