B2 Collocation Neutre 3 min de lecture

rapid response

استجابة سريعة

Use it to describe or praise someone who acts instantly and efficiently during a time-sensitive situation.

En 15 secondes

  • Acting immediately and effectively when a problem or request arises.
  • Common in business, emergencies, and fast-paced daily communication.
  • Implies both speed and a high level of preparedness.

Signification

It describes a person or a team that acts immediately when a problem or request pops up. It is all about speed and being ready to help the second you are needed.

Exemples clés

3 sur 6
1

Praising a coworker

Thanks for the rapid response on those files; you saved the meeting!

Thanks for the rapid response on those files; you saved the meeting!

💼
2

Texting a friend about a crisis

I need a rapid response: which dress should I wear for the interview?

I need a rapid response: which dress should I wear for the interview?

😊
3

Formal business report

The company's rapid response to the data breach minimized the damage.

The company's rapid response to the data breach minimized the damage.

👔
🌍

Contexte culturel

Originally a military and medical term, it became a staple of corporate English during the tech boom of the 1990s. It reflects a Western cultural priority on 'time is money' and the high value placed on instant digital connectivity.

💡

The 'Email' Trick

If you want to sound professional but friendly, start your email with 'Thank you for your rapid response.' It makes the other person feel like a hero.

⚠️

Avoid Sarcasm

Be careful using this if someone was actually slow. Saying 'Thanks for the rapid response' after a week of waiting sounds very passive-aggressive!

En 15 secondes

  • Acting immediately and effectively when a problem or request arises.
  • Common in business, emergencies, and fast-paced daily communication.
  • Implies both speed and a high level of preparedness.

What It Means

Rapid response is a high-speed reaction to a situation. Imagine a fire truck leaving the station seconds after the alarm rings. That is the essence of this phrase. It is not just about being fast. It is about being organized and effective under pressure. You use it when someone handles a crisis or a task without any delay. It feels like a superhero swooping in just in time.

How To Use It

You can use it as a noun or an adjective. In a meeting, you might praise a team's rapid response to a client complaint. If you are texting, you might thank a friend for their rapid response to your SOS message. It often appears in professional settings like healthcare, tech support, or emergency services. Just place it before the action or use it to describe the feedback you received. It sounds sharp, professional, and very capable.

When To Use It

Use it when speed actually matters. If a server crashes at work, you need a rapid response from IT. If you ask your partner what they want for dinner and they answer in one second, that is a rapid response. It is perfect for performance reviews or LinkedIn recommendations. It shows you value time and efficiency. Use it to impress your boss or show gratitude to a helpful customer service agent.

When NOT To Use It

Do not use it for slow, thoughtful processes. You would not call a three-week deep-dive research project a rapid response. Avoid it in very romantic or slow emotional moments. Telling your partner they had a rapid response to your marriage proposal sounds like you are grading them. It can feel a bit robotic if used in a cozy, slow-paced environment. If someone takes five hours to reply, calling it a rapid response is just sarcasm.

Cultural Background

This phrase grew out of military and emergency service jargon. In the 20th century, 'Rapid Response Units' were elite teams sent to hotspots. Today, it has migrated into our digital lives. We live in an 'on-demand' culture where we expect everything instantly. Because of smartphones, the expectation for a rapid response has skyrocketed. It reflects the modern Western obsession with efficiency and 'real-time' communication.

Common Variations

You might hear quick response, which is a bit more casual. Real-time response is common in tech circles. Immediate action is a stronger, more forceful version. In the UK, you might hear prompt reply in formal emails. If you are talking about a person, you can say they are a rapid responder. These all circle the same idea: don't make me wait!

Notes d'usage

This is a versatile collocation that fits perfectly in professional emails, news reports, and urgent text conversations. It carries a tone of efficiency and reliability.

💡

The 'Email' Trick

If you want to sound professional but friendly, start your email with 'Thank you for your rapid response.' It makes the other person feel like a hero.

⚠️

Avoid Sarcasm

Be careful using this if someone was actually slow. Saying 'Thanks for the rapid response' after a week of waiting sounds very passive-aggressive!

💬

The QR Code Connection

Did you know 'QR' in QR Code stands for 'Quick Response'? It's the digital cousin of the phrase 'rapid response'!

Exemples

6
#1 Praising a coworker
💼

Thanks for the rapid response on those files; you saved the meeting!

Thanks for the rapid response on those files; you saved the meeting!

Used here to show professional appreciation for speed.

#2 Texting a friend about a crisis
😊

I need a rapid response: which dress should I wear for the interview?

I need a rapid response: which dress should I wear for the interview?

A slightly dramatic, playful use in a casual setting.

#3 Formal business report
👔

The company's rapid response to the data breach minimized the damage.

The company's rapid response to the data breach minimized the damage.

Standard formal usage describing a corporate action.

#4 Humorous social media post
😄

My cat has a rapid response whenever he hears the treat bag open.

My cat has a rapid response whenever he hears the treat bag open.

Applying a serious term to a funny animal behavior.

#5 Emotional support
💭

I'm so grateful for your rapid response when I called you crying last night.

I'm so grateful for your rapid response when I called you crying last night.

Used to show deep gratitude for someone being there quickly.

#6 Customer service feedback
🤝

I was impressed by the support team's rapid response to my ticket.

I was impressed by the support team's rapid response to my ticket.

Standard way to compliment a service's efficiency.

Teste-toi

Choose the best word to complete the professional compliment.

The IT department provided a ___ response to the server outage.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : rapid

`Rapid` is the standard collocation used with `response` to indicate speed in a professional context.

Complete the sentence to show urgency.

This is an emergency; we need a ___ response team on site now.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : rapid

A `rapid response team` is a specific term for a group trained to handle emergencies immediately.

🎉 Score : /2

Aides visuelles

Formality of 'Rapid Response'

Casual

Used jokingly with friends.

Rapid response needed: pizza or tacos?

Neutral

Standard daily use.

Thanks for the rapid response to my email.

Formal

Emergency or corporate use.

The rapid response team has been deployed.

Where to use Rapid Response

Rapid Response
🎧

Customer Support

Fixing a bug quickly.

🚑

Medical

Ambulance arrival.

📱

Texting

Replying in seconds.

💼

Business

Handling a PR crisis.

Questions fréquentes

11 questions

It means reacting or replying very quickly to a situation or message. For example, The police had a rapid response to the alarm.

Yes, rapid response sounds a bit more formal and organized. Quick reply is usually just about texting or emailing.

Absolutely! You can say, I pride myself on my rapid response to client needs. It sounds very professional.

No, while it started in emergencies, we use it for business and even casual texts now. It just implies urgency.

You place it before a noun, like rapid response team or rapid response protocol. It describes the type of system you have.

It is always rapid response. 'Rapid' describes the 'response' (noun), so you use the adjective form.

It is a group of experts who are ready to jump into action the moment a crisis happens, like in a hospital or a tech company.

No, that would be confusing. Only use it when the action happens almost immediately.

Yes, it is widely used and understood in all English-speaking countries, especially in business.

In a very casual setting, it might sound a bit formal. You can use fast reply instead if you're worried about sounding too 'corporate'.

A delayed response or a slow reaction would be the opposites.

Expressions liées

at the drop of a hat

Doing something immediately without hesitation.

promptly

Doing something at the right time or without delay.

quick on the uptake

Understanding something very quickly.

in no time

Very quickly or almost instantly.

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