What's the estimated time of arrival/completion? · When do you expect it to be ready/done?
This phrase is your secret weapon when you need to politely inquire about a deadline, delivery, or when a task will be wrapped up. 🚀 It's perfect for getting a clear timeline without sounding demanding! Imagine you're eagerly awaiting a project update or a crucial package. This is the go-to question!
Your colleague, Mike, promised to send you the final project proposal by the end of the day. It's now 4:30 PM, and you haven't received it. Which English expression would you use to politely ask about its status? A. Could you elaborate on this proposal? B. What's the ETA on that proposal, Mike? C. Let's do a deep dive into the proposal details.
💡 **Pro Tip!** While 'ETA' literally means 'Estimated Time of Arrival' (think planes ✈️ and packages 📦), in the business world, it's widely used for 'Estimated Time of Accomplishment' or 'Estimated Time of Completion' for pretty much any task or project. So, you can use it for your colleague's report, a client's feedback, or even the coffee machine repair! Just make sure to keep a polite tone. 😉