Business Idioms 1-25

Question 1

24/7

Answer 1

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Question 2

A tough break

Answer 2

When something unfortunate happens

Question 3

Ahead of the curve

Answer 3

To be more advanced than the competition

Question 4

Ahead of the pack

Answer 4

To be better or more successful than the competition

Question 5

ASAP

Answer 5

As soon as possible

Question 6

At stake

Answer 6

At risk

Question 7

Back to square one

Answer 7

To start something over again

Question 8

Back to the drawing board

Answer 8

To start something over again, and go back to the planning stage of something

Question 9

Backroom deal

Answer 9

An agreement or decision that is made without the public knowing about it

Question 10

Ballpark number

Answer 10

A very inexact estimate

Question 11

Behind someone’s back

Answer 11

To do something without someone’s knowledge and in a way that is not fair

Question 12

Behind the scenes

Answer 12

What happens in secret or not in front of the general public

Question 13

Big picture

Answer 13

Everything that is involved with a particular situation

Question 14

Blue collar vs. white collar

Answer 14

Someone who works with his or her hands vs. someone who works in an office

Question 15

By the book

Answer 15

To follow the rules 100%

Question 16

Call it a day

Answer 16

To decide to stop working for the day

Question 17

Catch someone off guard

Answer 17

To suprise someone by doing something that he or she was not expecting

Question 18

Cave (or cave in)

Answer 18

To give in to something or to agree to something that you previously did not want to accept

Question 19

Change of pace

Answer 19

Something different from a normal routine or schedule

Question 20

Come up short

Answer 20

To try to achieve something but fail (often used a goal is failed to achieved, but not completely)

Question 21

Corner a market

Answer 21

To dominate a particular market

Question 22

Cut corners

Answer 22

To take shortcuts and find an easier or cheaper way to do something

Question 23

Cut one’s losses

Answer 23

To stop doing something that is unproductive and won’t ever generate results

Question 24

Cut-throat

Answer 24

Something that is very intense, agressive and merciless

Question 25

Diamond in the rough

Answer 25

Something or someone that has a lot of potential but first requires a lot of work