Business Idioms: Deck 3 of 4 Flashcards
no strings attached
If something is given without expecting anything in return, it is given with “no strings attached.”
no time to lose
If there is “no time to lose,” it means that there is a lot of pressure to finish something quickly.
not going to fly
If a solution isn’t effective, we can say that it “isn’t going to fly.”
off the top of one’s head
If someone says something “off the top of their head,” it means that they give a response without thinking about it much or doing any research on the subject.
on a roll
If someone is “on a roll,” it means that he or she has had several successes in a row.
on the ball
To be “on the ball” means to be alert and aware of things.
on the same page
If two people are “on the same page,” they are in agreement about something.
on top of something
To be “on top of something” means to be in control of a situation and aware of changes.
on your toes
To be “on your toes” means to be alert.
out in the open
If something is “out in the open,” it is public knowledge and not hidden from people.
out of the loop (opposite: in the loop)
To be “out of the loop” means to not know something that a select group of people knows. The opposite, to be “in the loop,” means to be part of a select group with knowledge that others do not have.
pink slip
Someone who gets the “pink slip,” has been fired by their employer.
play hardball
To “play hardball” means to be competitive in a cruel and merciless way. Playing hardball means doing anything possible to win.
put all one’s eggs in one basket
To “put all one’s eggs in one basket,” means to rely on only one thing to bring success.
put the cart before the horse
To “put the cart before the horse” means to do or think about things in the wrong order.
raise the bar
To “raise the bar” means to set the standards or expectations higher, usually by achieving or creating something better than what had previously existed.
read between the lines
To “read between the lines” means to understand something that isn’t communicated directly. Reading between the lines involves understanding what someone is implying or suggesting but not saying directly.
red tape
“Red tape” refers to excessive rules, procedures, and regulations that make it difficult to accomplish something. We usually use “red tape” to talk about government requirements that create difficult, time-consuming barriers for people and businesses.
rock the boat
To “rock the boat” means to cause problems or disrupt a peaceful situation
round-the-clock
“Round the clock” means 24 hours a day.
run/go around in circles
To “run (or go) around in circles” means to do the same thing over and over again without getting any results.
safe bet
A “safe bet” means something that will probably happen.
same boat
If people are in the same situation, they are in the “same boat.”
second nature
When someone does something so well that it seems like they were born knowing how to do it, we say that the activity is “second nature” to that person.
see eye to eye
To “see eye to eye” with someone means to agree with that person.
see something through
To “see something through” means to do something until it is finished.
sever ties
To “sever ties” means to end a relationship.
shoot something down
To “shoot something down” means to reject something, such as a proposal or idea.
sky’s the limit
“The sky’s the limit” if there is no limit to what can be achieved.
small talk
“Small talk” is conversation about unimportant topics that do not offend people (the weather, for example).
