business idioms Flashcards
Idioms for Making Decisions | Business Idioms
List of common business sayings and idioms for making decisions:
(Give Someone) Carte Blanche: Allow someone complete freedom; entrust a decision to someone: [ + to infinitive ] The landlord has given her carte blanche to redecorate the living room.
All Things Being Equal: In the event that all aspects of a situation remain the same
Up for Grabs: Available
On the Bubble: US informal: not certain to get a place in a team, keep your job, win an election, etc.: Those who had not gained their paramedic certification were “on the bubble” with regard to keeping their jobs.
All Things Considered (All Told): Taking all factors into consideration
Up in the Air: Not yet decided
Raise Red Flags: Warn of trouble ahead
Take It or Leave It (command): You must decide now whether you will accept this proposal
Out of the Loop: Not part of a group that’s kept informed about something
On the Same Page: Understanding a situation in the same way
do/make a Flip-Flop/U-turn (n.): a sudden and complete change of plans or opinion:They did a complete flip-flop by deciding to have a large wedding rather than getting married secretly.
Fish or Cut Bait (usually an exclamation): Make a decision or give someone else a chance/used to tell someone to take action or to stop saying that they will: “ Are you going to go back to medical school or not? It’s time to fish or cut bait.
(Have One’s) Back Against/to the Wall: to have very serious problems that limit the ways in which you can act: He owes money to everyone - he really has his back to the wall now.
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Jobs Idioms | Business Idioms
List of useful business phrases and idioms about jobs in English:
Learn/know the Ropes: Become more familiar with a job or field of endeavor; be trained: This job is difficult at first, but once you know the ropes, you will be OK.
hit the sack/ hay :infml to go to bed in order to sleep:I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, so I think I’ll hit the sack.
Get the Sack, Be Sacked: To be fired: She got the sack for always being late.
Off the Hook: Free from blame or responsibility to do something
1/ If you leave the phone off the hook, you do not put it back correctly and it will not ring.
2/ If you are off the hook, you have escaped from a difficult situation:: John’s agreed to go to the meeting in my place so that gets/lets me off the hook.
3/ informal: extremely good:That party was off the hook!/The next series is going to be off the hook.
off the top of your head- idiom: from the knowledge you have in your memory: “What’s the capital of Mauritania?” “I don’t know off the top of my head, but I could go and look it up.”
Hanging by a Thread: In great danger of elimination or failure: The mayor’s political future has been hanging by a thread since the fraud scandal.
Burn the Candle at Both Ends: Work very long hours: “we have been working long hours, burning the candle at both ends to meet the needs of people”
Rank and File: the ordinary workers in a company or the ordinary members of an organization, and not the leaders:
1/The party’s rank and file are beginning to question the prime minister’s choice of advisers.
2/ adj: [ before noun ] rank-and-file police officers
Pink Slip: A layoff notice; loss of a job, typically because of layoffs: Management started issuing pink slips yesterday.
Out of Work: Unemployed
go/come/Move Up in the World: Become more successful: Roger and Ann have gone up in the world - these days they only ever travel first-class.
Give Someone The Old Heave-Ho: Fire someone, remove someone from a group or team
All In A Day’s Work (Excl.): That’s what I’m here for; although I have accomplished something, it is part of what I’m expected to do
Heads Will/ Are Going to Roll: People will be fired: When the boss finds out about the mistake, heads will roll.
Finance Idioms | Business Idioms
List of business expressions and idioms about finance in English:
Banner Year: A year marked by strong successes: It was a banner year for Mexico’s tourist industry.
In the Red: Losing money; (of a market index) below a specified starting point: The company has been in the red for the last three quarters.
Nest Egg: an amount of money that has been saved or kept for a special purpose: Regular investment of small amounts of money is an excellent way of building a nest egg.
Crunch (the) Numbers: Do calculations before making a decision or prediction: Start by crunching the numbers to find out exactly how many projects you need to complete to meet your financial goals.
crunch time: noun [ S ] a point at which something difficult must be done: : We have now reached the crunch time, when we have to cut back.
You Can Take It to the Bank: I absolutely guarantee this: I heard from a very reliable source that this company is about to close—you can take it to the bank.
Have Skin in the Game: Be risking something in an undertaking
Poison Pill: A provision or feature added to a measure or an entity to make it less attractive, an undesirable add-on: If the potential acquirer triggers a poison pill by accumulating more than the threshold level of shares, it risks discriminatory dilution in the target company.
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Money Idioms | Business Idioms
List of important business phrases and idioms about money in English:
A Penny Saved is A Penny Earned: Every small amount helps to build one’s savings
Pinch Pennies – v : To be careful with money, to be thrify: to spend as little money as possible: When we were first married we had to pinch pennies just to get by.
penny-pincher :noun [ C ]: a person who is unwilling to spend money: He takes offense at the notion he’s a penny-pincher, insisting all his workers are paid above minimum wage.
penny-pinching adjective: unwilling to spend money: Workers decided to take a stand against management’s penny-pinching approach to resources.
penny-pinching -noun [ U ] :an unwillingness to spend money: Local residents have accused the council of penny-pinching.
cost someone a pretty penny - idiom: to be very expensive: That coat must have cost you a pretty penny!
for a song -idiom -very cheaply: She bought the bed for a song at an auction.
Blank Check: permission or authority to do something that is necessary in a particular situation: The President was given a blank check by Congress to continue the war.
Turn on a Dime: Quickly reverse direction or position: He’s usually a nice guy, but his temper can turn on a dime sometimes.
At stake: idiom C2: If something that is valuable is at stake, it is in a situation where it might be lost: Thousands of lives will be at stake if emergency aid does not arrive in the city soon.
A Nice/big Chunk of Change: A large amount of money: Lurie risked a pretty big chunk of change on the race.
Honor System: If a service such as an arrangement for buying something is based on an honor system, people are trusted to use the service honestly and without cheating or lying.: Customers take products and pay via credit card, check or cash on the honor system. / Until now, those guns have been sold primarily on an honor system, wherein the purchasers ensure the sellers they are legally entitled to buy firearms.
Bang for Your Buck: Value for your money
Make Ends Meet: Have enough money to cover basic expenses: “they were finding it hard to make ends meet”
feather your (own) nest – idiom: to make yourself rich, esp. by taking unfair advantage of others: He used the classified information to feather his own nest.
Take a Flyer: take a chance: He took a flier in politics soon after getting his degree.
Be two/Ten a Penny = be a dime a dozen: not valuable or interesting because they are very common and easy to find.: Leggy blondes are two a penny in Hollywood.
Pay Through the Nose (For Something): Pay a large amount of money: We paid through the nose to get the car fixed.
A Penny for Your Thoughts: What are you thinking?
pick up the tab/bill (for something) : idiom : to pay for something, esp. for what someone else has bought or used: The company will pick up the tab for this trip.
Pass the Buck: to blame someone or make them responsible for a problem that you should deal with: She’s always trying to pass the buck and I’m sick of it!
rags-to-riches : adj: involving a change from being poor to becoming rich: : her rags-to-riches success story
Flat Broke: Having no money at all: I’m just flat broke right now.
Deep Pockets: The new owner has deep pockets, so fans are hoping the football team will improve next year with new players
(A) Day Late and a Dollar Short: [Too little, too late]; both late and insufficient: I’m sorry but your business proposal is a day late and a dollar short. You promised it two weeks ago and now we’ve already hired another firm.
Bet One’s Bottom Dollar (On Something): Be certain that something will happen: A police insider was quoted as saying of the crime: `You can bet your bottom dollar Sinclair was involved.’
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Sales & Marketing Idioms | Business Idioms
List of common business phrases and idioms about sale and marketing in English:
not all it’s cracked up to be - idiom (also not everything/what it’s cracked up to be): to not be as good as people have said: This software isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Deliver/come up with the Goods: Provide what is expected: — They are bright young executives with bright ideas, but it is doubtful if can they deliver the goods
In the Pipeline: Being prepared for the marketplace, being worked on: The theatre company has several new productions in the pipeline for next season.
Out the Door: With everything included (said of a price): “That car will cost you $8,600 out the door.”
Price Yourself Out of the Market: Try to sell goods or services at such a high price that nobody buys them.: They’ve really priced themselves out of the market by selling the new model at such a high price.
Sell (Someone) a Bill of Goods: Trick someone; be deceptive: He said he would sell my bike and bring me back the profits, but he sold me a bill of goods—I never heard from him again!
Selling Point: An attractive feature of something for sale: Its best selling point is the price - it’s the cheapest on the market.
Be Sold On (Something): to be enthusiastic about: I’m sold on the idea of a holiday in Canada.
TLC: Tender Loving Care: considerate and kindly care, as of someone who is ill, upset, etc What he needs is some tender loving care.
come/go/turn full circle –idiom: If something or someone has come full circle after changing a lot, things are now the same as they were in the beginning: Things have come full circle now that long skirts are back in fashion.
now (that)…: B2 used to give an explanation of a new situation: Of course, now that she’s eighteen, she can make these decisions for herself.
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Negotiation Idioms | Business Idioms
List of English business expressions and idioms for negotiation:
Agreement In Principle: In a negotiation, an agreement in which not all details have been worked out:
An Offer One Can’t Refuse: An extremely attractive offer
Back And Forth: Dialogue, negotiations
Come to Terms With (Something) = (put up with sth): Feel acceptance toward something bad that has happened: • George and Elizabeth had come to terms with the fact that they would always be childless.
Draw a Line in the Sand: means to establish limits, going beyond these limits will bring consequences: It needs to draw a line in the sand and decide what kind of people they want representing the game.
Drive/strike a Hard Bargain: they argue with determination in order to achieve a deal which is favourable to themselves.: …a law firm with a reputation for driving a hard bargain
Give and Take: Negotiations, the process of compromise: A give-and-take is also the willingness to accept some of another person’s ideas and give up some of your own:It’s natural (là điều tự nhiên) for couples to argue (cãi nhau) once in a while. But whether those two people will have a long future together depends on how well they work out (giải quyết) their differences (bất đồng). Conflicts shouldn’t always be about one person being right and the other wrong. There has to be a healthy (tốt đẹp) give and take. Without that ability to negotiate, couples can’t survive.
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Stand One’s Ground: Refuse to back down; insist on one’s position: to refuse to change your opinion or give in to an argument: I kept trying to get my grandmother to find a smaller house, but she stood her ground.
back down (on/from something) (North American English also back off): to take back a demand, an opinion, etc. that other people are strongly opposed to; to admit defeat : She refused to back down on a point of principle.
Sweeten the Deal: Add something to an offer during a negotiation
Trial Balloon: A test of someone’s or the public’s reaction: Politicians float trial balloons to see how the public reacts to their ideas.
Big Deal: An important event or accomplishment
Yes Man: The idiom “yes man” refers to a person who always agrees with others, especially with his or her boss.
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Problem Idioms | Business Idioms
List of business sayings and idioms for problems and difficulties:
(An) Uphill Climb: A difficult process: Winning back our trust after stealing is going to be an uphill climb, but we think you can do it if you’re careful to act with honesty.”
(The) Last/final Straw: the last in a series of unpleasant events that finally makes you feel that you cannot continue to accept a bad situation: Losing my job was bad enough, but being evicted was the final straw. (sb be evicted= force sb to leave somewhere)
keep your head Above Water: to just be able to manage, especially when you have financial difficulties: The business is in trouble, but we are just about keeping our heads above water.
it will (all) come Out in the Wash: informal -used to tell someone that problems will be solved in the end: We’ve certainly had some problems but I think, in the end, it will all come out in the wash.
Cut Corners (disapproving): to save money or time when doing something by not including some parts, actions, or details, so that the result is not as good as it could be :There were concerns that airport security staff under pressure might be tempted to cut corners.
In (a bit of) a Jam: In need of help, in a difficult spot: I’m in a bit of a jam—I accidentally made plans with two different men tonight!
as a going concern: noun [ C ] FINANCE: if a company is sold as a going concern, it is sold when it is operating normally: They will get a better price if they sell the restaurant as a going concern rather than closing it down.
Cut the Gordian Knot: To solve a complex problem in a simple way: The president hoped that his bold new anti-inflation plan would cut the Gordian knot.
come/Get To Grips With sth: to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation:The president has failed to come to grips with the two most important social issues of our time.
Head (Go) South: Decline, get worse: The project proceeded well for the first two months, but then it headed south.
be In Hot Water: In need of help; in trouble: “he is in hot water for insensitive remarks he made”
Red Tape (disapproving): Bureaucracy; difficult bureaucratic or governmental requirements: cut/cut through/reduce red tape: He promised to reform and cut red tape. | bureaucratic/excessive/government red tape
(Start) with a Clean Slate: To start (something) again with a fresh beginning; to work on a problem without thinking about what has been done before: The previous negotiations did not go anywhere, and we intend to start them again next week with a clean slate.
Stumbling Block (n- C): An obstacle, physical or abstract: Lack of willingness to compromise on both sides is the main/major stumbling block to reaching a settlement.
Think Outside the Box: Try to solve a problem in an original way; think creatively: “you have to give him credit for thinking outside the box”
Finger-Pointing [U]: Blame; a situation within a group where each member attempts to blame others: There’s the usual finger-pointing when mistakes are made.
Take the lead (in doing sth): : to take the winning position in a race or competition : Their company has taken the lead in developing this new technology.
tap into something: to manage to use something in a way that brings good results: If only we could tap into all that energy and creativity.(If only :1/I wish: If only I had more money.; 2/ If only also means that doing something simple would have made it possible to avoid something unpleasant: If only she had listened to me, she wouldn’t be in this mess.
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Review Idioms | Business Idioms
List of common business expressions and idioms for review in English:
All Over The Place: Everywhere; in many different locations: “we’ve been all over the place looking for you”
All Over The Board: Everywhere, in many different locations: We have problems all over the board.
Read Between the Lines: Perceive what is not explicitly stated: “reading between the lines, I think Clare needs money”
Across The Board: applying to all : “the cutbacks might be across the board”
All Over The Map: in a disorganized or confused state.”they both have economic policies that are all over the map”
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Schedule Idioms | Business Idioms
List of essential business phrases and idioms for scheduling in English:
Pencil Something In: Make tentative arrangements (the time or date may need to be changed): Let’s pencil a meeting in for next Thursday at 11.
In the Works: Under development; coming soon: “a major consolidation of companies was in the works”
(Do Something) By the Book: According to established procedure: If you’re looking for someone to approve an exception, don’t go to Ted—he does everything by the book.
Cut It/things Fine: To do something at the last moment: She got to the gate ten minutes before her flight, so she was cutting it very fine.
After The Fact: Too late; after something is completed or finalized: “he said he was informed about the ceremony only after the fact”
Sit On (Something): Delay revealing or acting on something: The company has been sitting on my letter for weeks without dealing with my complaint.
Back to the Salt Mines: It’s time for me (us) to go back to work: I’m not excited to go back to the salt mines on Monday.
Take Five (Ten): Take a short break of five (ten) minutes
Thank God It’s Friday (TGIF): Let’s be happy that the workweek is over!
Kick the Can Down the Road: Postpone an important decision: “I appreciate that he doesn’t want to raise taxes, but sooner or later you have to stop kicking the can down the road”
in the fullness of time: idiom: If you say something will happen in the fullness of time, you mean that it will happen if you wait long enough: Everything will become clear in the fullness of time.
Call It a Day: Decide that one has worked enough on something for the day
Burn the Candle at Both Ends: To work too hard, with possible bad consequences for one’s health
Sneak Peek: an opportunity to see something before it is officially available:: The pilot was broadcast as a sneak peek before the regular series run began./ The company is offering a sneak peek at the new software.
Ahead Of The Game: Making faster progress than anticipated; ahead of schedule
Crunch Time: A period of high pressure when one has to work hard to finish something
Business as Usual: A normal situation (whether related to business or not), typically restored after some change
You Snooze, You Lose: If you delay or are not alert, you will miss opportunities: You have to take advantage of those deals while you can. It’s a case of “you snooze you lose” in the current market.
you can’t win ‘em all - idiom informal (also you win some, you lose some): something you say that means it is not possible to succeed at everything you do: It would have been great to get the job but I suppose you can’t win ‘em all.
On the Spur of the Moment: Without advance planning, spontaneously, on impulse: “I don’t generally do things on the spur of the moment”
Elevator Pitch: A brief presentation of an idea, one short enough to be delivered in an elevator
be/get Back to Square One: Forced to begin something again: If this doesn’t work we’re back to square one.
Right-Hand Man: Chief assistant, someone who helps and supports you the most, especially at work:: How will he cope without his right-hand man?
Ahead Of One’s Time: Offering ideas not yet in general circulation; highly creative: That show was really ahead of its time tackling issues like that.
Think Tank (also think tanker):: a group of experts who are brought together to develop ideas and give advice on a particular subject: corporate/economic/political think tank Investor confidence in Japan dropped to its lowest level in 16 months, according to a leading economic think tank.
Leadership Idioms | Business Idioms
List of commonly used business expressions and idioms about leadership in English:
Call the Shots: Make the important decisions in an organization: You’re the boss here – you get to call the shots.
Changing of the Guard: A change in leadership at an organization: In the interview he said it was time for change and fresh leadership and that a generational changing of the guard was needed.
Movers and Shakers: Influential people, especially in a particular field: It’s a play that’s attracted the attention of the Broadway movers and shakers.
On Point: informal: as good as it could be; perfect: My hair was on point.
Light a Fire Under Someone: Inspire someone to work very hard: The coach tried to light a fire under the team in his halftime speech.
Put Someone on the Spot [usually negative]: to deliberately ask someone a question that is difficult or embarrassing to answer: • You shouldn’t put friends on the spot by asking them to hire your family members.
Ahead Of The Curve: Offering ideas not yet in general circulation; highly creative: In equipping its vehicles with mobile WiFi, the company was ahead of the curve.
Cut to the Chase: Get to the point; explain the most important part of something quickly; skip the preliminaries: I didn’t have long to talk so I cut to the chase and asked whether he was still married.
Da Man (Slang): An accomplished or skillful person. Generally used in the compliment “”You da man!””
The Powers That Be: People in charge, often used when the speaker does not want to identify them.: It’s up to the powers that be to decide what should be done next.
(To) Cross All Your T’s And Dot All Your I’s: To take care of every detail, including the minor ones
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Deadline Idioms | Business Idioms
a race against time/the clock: a situation in which something has to be done very quickly:It’s a race against time to get the building finished before the rainy season sets in.
Burn the midnight oil: Doctors are known for burning the midnight oil to ensure that their patients receive the best possible care
Meeting Idioms | Business Idioms
hit the nail on the head idiom: to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem:I think Mick hit the nail on the head when he said that what’s lacking in this company is a feeling of confidence.
take the edge off something idiom: to make something unpleasant have less of an effect on someone: Have an apple - it’ll take the edge off your hunger./ His apology took the edge off her anger.
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