When you need this
A flash drive is the small stick you plug into a USB port; an external drive is a bigger box that holds much more. People still use both at work: to bring a presentation to a client, to hand over a big video file, or to keep a backup. They also cause two kinds of trouble. The drive doesn't show up, or the company doesn't let you use it at all.
Many offices block USB drives on work laptops, because a drive from outside can carry a virus and a lost drive can carry client data out the door. So before you plug one in, ask what the rule is. If it's allowed, remember to eject the drive before you pull it out. Pulling it out while a file is still copying is the fastest way to end up with a file that won't open.
Phrases
a small storage stick that plugs into a computer
a separate hard drive connected by a cable
connect something to a computer or power
the small opening where the drive goes in
the computer doesn't see the drive
tell the computer you're about to remove the drive
put a copy of a file on the drive
not allowed by the company's security settings
check a drive for harmful software
protected with a password so others can't read it
Say it out loud
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Practice · 3 min
Say the line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.
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Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.