Business Idioms 1 Flashcards
It’s a LOSE-LOSE SITUATION
(Or NO-WIN SITUATION) when no choice is good
You can try the product for free with NO STRINGS ATTACHED
no special conditions or restrictions
OFF THE TOP OF ONE’S HEAD
I have no idea how many, off the top of my head I’d say about 20 (without thinking about it much or doing any research)
We are ON A ROLL
experience prolonged success/good luck
“estar en racha”
“24/7”
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
we want to stay AHEAD OF THE CURVE / AHEAD OF THE PACK
more advanced than the competition
ASAP
as soon as possible
AT STAKE
There’s a lot at stake. = there’s a lot at risk (en juego)
to give you a BALLPARK FIGURE..
A rough estimate
we mustn’t lose sight of THE BIG PICTURE
the situation as a whole
Let’s CALL IT A DAY
agree to stop doing something
BLUE COLLAR
A “blue collar worker” is someone who works with his hands (manufacturing, construction, maintenance, etc.). The opposite is a “white collar worker”, someone who works in an office.
It’s important that we do everything BY THE BOOK
According to the rules
Let’s GET DOWN TO BUSINESS
Stop making small talk and start talking about serious topics
GIVE THE THUMBS UP
GIVE THE THUMBS DOWN
Give approval
Deny approval
It’s not clear, it’s a GRAY AREA
Not easily categorized
The iPhone was a GROUND-BREAKING piece of technology
Innovative, pioneering
IN A NUTSHELL,
In the fewest possible words,
The company is IN THE BLACK / IN THE RED
making a profit / not making a profit
It’s the LAST STRAW
(“la gota que colma el vaso”)
We are ON THE SAME PAGE
in agreement
Keep me IN THE LOOP
aware of information about a particular matter.
The opposite “out of the loop”: unaware of information
The new law is going to create a lot of RED TAPE
Excessive bureaucracy
We don’t always SEE EYE TO EYE
to agree
SMALL TALK
Polite conversation about unimportant things.
E.g. we typically spend 5 minutes making small talk before the meetings.
we have STATE-OF-THE-ART facilities
modern, technologically advanced
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
think creatively, think of unconventional solutions
WORD OF MOUTH
personal recommendation (“el boca a boca”)
We are in the SAME BOAT
in the same circumstances
LEARN THE ROPES
Learn the basics of something
E.g. I like my new job, I’m starting to learn the ropes.
LOOPHOLE
Ambiguity in the law (“laguna legal”)
