CRISIS MANAGEMENT 08-04

1. CRISIS-RELATED IDIOMS

to rise to the situation – to go awry – the calm before the storm – to weather the storm
– to rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic – at a crossroads – a mountain out of a
molehill – to show one’s mettle – to put up a good fight – stiff upper lip

1. They are and things could go quite wrong if they don’t make the right
decisions.
2. The press conference was completely useless. The PM might as well have been .
3. The boss worked on a contingency plan so that they could relax and enjoy .
4. You are making . We haven’t met our sales targets this month but it
doesn’t mean the company will go bankrupt.
5. The team really and I was surprised they lost to their competitors.
6. In the next few days we will see if the PM can caused by his remarks.
7. Fortunately, we had been taught to keep a , whatever happens.
8. They at the time of the 2019 crisis and have logically
been promoted since.
9. They in the final stage of the crisis – I didn’t
expect them to be so cool and determined.
10. Because of the strike, our investment plans have seriously .

2. STARTING UP
3. HANDLING A CRISIS

D. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words.

4. Top PR nightmares: what went wrong, CNN Business, September 2017

1) What was the common point between the BP, United Airlines and Toyota crises?

2) What was the problem with United Airlines’ response?

3) What prevented Toyota from realising just how serious the crisis was?

4) What comment did the BP’s CEO make and how damaging was it to the company?

5) “The lesson? ……………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..”

5. DEALING WITH CRISES

F. CONDITIONALS

- Le conditionnel (if + présent / will + infinitif) indique qu’une situation est susceptible
de se produire dans le futur (if they work harder, they will be able to join Goldman
Sachs : s’il travaillent davantage, ils pourront rejoindre Goldman Sachs).

- L’irréel du présent (if + préterit / would + infinitif) indique qu’une situation n’est pas
réalisée dans le présent (what would you do if they fired you? : que feriez-vous s’ils
vous renvoyaient ?). Attention au prétérit modal de be qui devient were à toutes les
personnes.

- L’irréel du passé (if + past perfect / would + have + participe passé) indique qu’une
situation ne s’est pas réalisée dans le passé (if they had met you, they would have
invited you to this symposium: s’ils vous avaient rencontrés, ils vous auraient invités à
ce colloque).
 A.

B. TRANSLATE

a) Si nous manquons le bus, il faudra marcher jusqu’à Dauphine.

b) S’ils avaient plus d’argent, ils déménageraient dans le New Jersey.

c) Si vous achetiez ce livre chez W. H. Smith, ce serait moins cher.

d) Nous aurions été très déçus s’il avait échoué au concours d’entrée.

e) Les auriez-vous aidés s’ils vous l’avaient demandé?