Turn something on its head

To "turn something on its head" is to make it the opposite of what it once was

Today's story: Millennials
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Turn something on its head

I had some good expressions to choose from in today’s episode. The one I chose is to turn something on its head. When you turn something on its head, you make it the opposite of what it once was. Or you totally change the way people think about something. Here’s how you first heard it. Feedback is the process of getting a review of your performance from your managers or supervisors. Time was, you got feedback like once a year, and it was very backward-looking. What did you do right last year? What did you do wrong last year? Now, however, companies are turning this whole process on its head, in response to the millennial generation and in response to new research. Instead of meeting just once a year to talk about the past, feedback these days is all about meeting more often and focusing the conversation on the future. What can you do in the future to improve? What new experiences do you need to continue to advance? How can we do better together? The conversation is turned on its head. Once, it was infrequent, one-way, and looking backward; now, it’s frequent, collaborative, and looking forward.

Here’s another example. There’s a new app called Capsule, and it only works in New York City for now. But it’s taking the process of getting prescription medicine and turning it on its head. For most of us, it’s no fun getting a prescription. First of all, you’re probably sick or ailing when you need it. The last thing you want to do is go to a store. Then you have to have your doctor send the prescription to a pharmacy. Then you go to the pharmacy. You wait in line at the tall counter. You tell them your name. Then you wait while they fill it. You’re miserable. Then you pay and go home. That’s what it’s like to get a prescription here. Capsule is turning that on its head: they are a prescription delivery service. Your doctor tells them the prescription, and they’ll take it to where you are. They are turning the whole process on its head; it used to be miserable, and now it’s convenient. I don’t need a lot of prescriptions, but when I do, I hate going to the pharmacy, so hopefully Capsule comes to Chicago sometime soon.

Technology is turning language learning on its head. Before, you would sit in a big classroom and listen to a teacher, who is usually not a native speaker, teach to a big class. But with new technology, you can practice individually and even get an individual teacher by the hour via Skype. You can get podcasts, slow them down, speed them up. There are great videos online. Tons of language learning apps. You can get stuff for free, or for a lot cheaper than going to a classroom. Not to mention MosaLingua at PlainEnglish.com/learn. So technology is turning language learning on its head.


Before we go, I want to say hi to a few listeners. Fellipe from Brazil is listening to prepare himself for an internship in India. I was joking with him that I don’t think anyone can really be prepared for an internship in India—you just have to go to experience it. Carlo from Italy is studying aerospace engineering in Rome. Hi Carlo, thanks for listening. And Guilherme from Brazil listens on Spotify, and introduced the program to his friend Johnny. I love it when people listen together and spread the word. Thanks Guilherme and Johnny for listening. The number to reach me on WhatsApp is +1 312 967 8757 , and as you know I love hearing your audio messages. Just last week alone I heard from people from all over—Colombia, Morocco, Uruguay, France, Indonesia, Germany, Israel. Even one or two people from the United States—how about that? Near and far. That’s all for today’s program. Thanks for being with us as always. JR and I will be back on Thursday for another episode. See you then!

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Story: Millennials