2026-08-05
17 分钟Hi there, this is Harry and welcome back to Advanced English Lessons with Harry,
where I try to help you to get a better understanding of the English language.
And in this particular business English lesson,
we're looking at how to defend your idea in English when somebody challenges it.
So, for example, you put forward an idea in a meeting.
Perhaps it's a new system, a change to a process, a different deadline
or a proposal that will cost the company some money.
And then somebody says, well, I don't think that will work.
Or they ask, why should we do that?
Or they tell you it's too expensive, too risky or too difficult or whatever it might be.
So what do you say then?
Now when I use the word defend I don't mean that you have to argue with everybody.
There is an important difference between defending your idea and becoming defensive.
When you defend an idea you explain the reasons for it.
You give evidence, you give them facts, you address your point.
When you become defensive you take it.
Personally, you react as if the other person has attacked you personally.
So you might get annoyed, you speak too quickly or simply repeat the same point again and again.
So I've got 10 particular expressions and structures for you so you can defend your idea professionally.
As always, I'll go through them one by one.