“Albert got all defensive when I commented on his design.”

At work, a software designer made a design for a new product. You saw some problems with the design, so you talked to him about the problems. He got angry and fought back against each point. Now you're telling another coworker about it. You say:

Albert got all defensive when I commented on his design.

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“That's unlike him. He's usually so clean-cut.”

Your coworker came to work looking really scruffy. His hair is messed up, his clothes are wrinkled, etc. He doesn't usually look this way, so you're worried about him. When someone comments on how he looks, you say:

That's unlike him. He's usually so clean-cut.

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“He just blew me off.”

A coworker just told you that he was too busy to talk to you. You're annoyed, so you complain to a work friend:

He just blew me off.

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“I was talking with this girl at work who just got back from maternity leave.”

Memorize

Your coworker had a baby and took off work for a couple of months, but now she's back. You're telling your husband about a conversation you had with her at work. You are setting up the story, and you explain who she is by saying:

Today I was talking with this girl at work who just got back from maternity leave.

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“Have you noticed that she's been acting a little strange lately?”

You are having lunch with a coworker. You saw another coworker, Lisa, yesterday and earlier today. She usually looks busy and stressed out, but yesterday and today she looked quite happy and relaxed. You wonder if your coworker also saw this. You ask her:

Have you noticed that Lisa's been acting a llittle strange lately?

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“It looks like his contract isn't being renewed.”

You are discussing a coworker who is working on a contract basis, not as a full-time employee. You were told that the company is going to end this person's contract. You want to tell this news to another coworker, without saying who made this decision. You say:

It looks like his contract isn't being renewed.

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“I'm sorry to see him go.”

Someone that you work with is leaving the company. You like him. You say to another coworker:    

I'm sorry to see him go.

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