1 Flashcards
to finally do something
about time (too)
“They’ve finally appointed a new chairman, and it’s ___.” [to finally do something]
about time (too)
legal
above board
“The tax loophole is all ___.” [legal]
above board
including everyone or everything
across the board
“The pay increases will be applied ___.”
[including everyone or everything]
across the board
a task that falls into normal daily work routines
all in a day’s work
“Dealing with emergencies is ___.”
[a task that falls into normal daily work routines]
all in a day’s work
normal, to be expected
(all) par for the course
“Delays of up to six months are par for the course.”
[normal, to be expected]
(all) par for the course
to disagree strongly with someone
at loggerheads
“The two managers were ___ over the expansion plans.”
[to disagree strongly with someone]
at loggerheads
in charge
at the helm (also “take the helm”)
“He decided to step down after 20 years ___ of the company he’d founded.”
[in charge]
at the helm (also “take the helm”)
withdraw your demands in a negotiation, or accept you’ve lost the argument
back down
“The union says that if we don’t ___ on our demands, they’ll call a strike.”
back down
a negative consequence or reaction after an action or event
backlash (Also, “a backlash against” something.)
“If we make further losses, we risk a ___ from our investors.”
backlash (Also, “a backlash against” something.)
people whose work is important but who don’t get much recognition
backroom boys
“___ in the R&D department are essential to our innovation strategy.”
[people whose work is important but who don’t get much recognition]
backroom boys
change your opinion or decision on something, often to dilute it or “water it down”
backtrack / backpedal
“The government is ___ on its proposals to increase inheritance tax.”
[change your opinion or decision on something, often to dilute it or “water it down”]
backtracking
given money to survive
(be) bailed out
a bailout
“Will Spain be the next Eurozone country to require a ___?”
[given money to survive]
bailout
an approximate amount
ball park figure / estimate
“Can you give me a ___ for the amount of tax we’ll have to pay this year?”
[an approximate amount]
ball park figure
get value for money
(get) bang for your buck
“I’m concerned we aren’t ___ with these investments.”
[get value for money]
getting much bang for our buck
Used as a business idiom, it means something that shows changes in market conditions, etc.
(be a) barometer
“The inflation rate is a useful ___ of the government’s economic policies.”
barometer
be very rich
be loaded
“Ask Daniel for a loan. He’s ___.”
[very rich]
loaded
to be in good (economic) shape
be on fighting form
“After the merger, the new company was ___.”
[to be in good (economic) shape]
on fighting form
do something which will probably be successful
be on to a winner
“You’re ___ with that website.”
[do something which will probably be successful]
on to a winner
be attacked or criticised
be / come under fire
“The Sales Manager has ___ for his average performance.”
[be attacked or criticised]
come under fire
“If you need to know the exact figures, go and ask the ___.”
[the accountants]
bean-counters
an accountant
bean-counter
lead to the result you expected
bear fruit
“We’re hoping that our efforts will ___.”
[lead to the result you expected]
bear fruit
have to face the worst part of something
bear the brunt
“Consumers will ___ of the increase in sales tax.”
[have to face the worst part of something]
bear the brunt
not get to the point
beat around the bush
“Don’t ___. How much have we lost, exactly?”
[not get to the point]
beat around the bush
the foundations
bedrock
“The ___ of the company’s wealth is its property holdings in central London.”
[the foundations]
bedrock
a small extra income for going out, etc
beer money
“He earns a little ___ from his weekend stall.”
[a small extra income for going out, etc]
beer money
secret, not in public
behind the closed doors
“The deal was done ___.”
[secret, not in public]
behind the closed doors
something happening in secret while other things are visible
behind the scenes
“____, both the unions and the management are trying to find a compromise.”
[something happening in secret while other things are visible]
behind the scenes
reducing expenses
belt-tightening
“The company’s going through a period of ___, which means we have less to spend on marketing.”
[reducing expenses]
belt-tightening
to be in a difficult position, with no obvious solutions
between a rock and a hard place
“We are ___. If we stay in the market, we risk making a loss, but if we leave, we’ll lose our investment.”
[to be in a difficult position, with no obvious solutions]
between a rock and a hard place
major players in a market
big boys
“The company are the ___ in academic publishing.”
[major players in a market]
big boys
an important person
big cheese / shot / wig
“Jake is a ___ in the video gaming industry.”
[an important person]
big cheese / shot / wig
a person / company with influence in a small sector or
sphere
big fish in a small pond
“He’s a ___. You should get to know him.”
[a person / company with influence in a small sector or
sphere]
big fish in a small pond
to make a tough decision
bite the bullet
“We’re going to have to ___ and lay off a few people if we’re going to survive.”
[to make a tough decision]
bite the bullet
to hold back from saying what you want
bite / hold your tongue
“I was sitting in that meeting ___.”
[to hold back from saying what you want]
biting my tongue
a large gap
black hole
“The new government has found a ___ in its finances.”
[a large gap]
black hole
to give someone complete control over something
blank check (US spelling)
“He’s got a ___ to restructure the whole section.”
[to give someone complete control over something]
blank check (US spelling)
to fail
bomb (to bomb)
“The new product ___.”
[to fail]
bombed
a time of great prosperity
boom time
“It’s ___ for house-owners right now, who are seeing the value of their properties soar.”
[a time of great prosperity]
boom time
delay or blockage (especially for credit, investment or procedures)
bottleneck
“Production problems have caused a ___ in order fulfilment.”
[delay or blockage (especially for credit, investment or procedures)]
bottleneck
“Strict credit terms are creating a ___ in business financing.”
[delay or blockage (especially for credit, investment or procedures)]
bottleneck
the final figure on the balance sheet / overall success or impact
bottom line
