Business Idioms: Deck 3 of 4

Question 1

no strings attached

Answer 1

If something is given without expecting anything in return, it is given with “no strings attached.”

Question 2

no time to lose

Answer 2

If there is “no time to lose,” it means that there is a lot of pressure to finish something quickly.

Question 3

not going to fly

Answer 3

If a solution isn’t effective, we can say that it “isn’t going to fly.”

Question 4

off the top of one’s head

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

on a roll

Answer 5

If someone is “on a roll,” it means that he or she has had several successes in a row.

Question 6

on the ball

Answer 6

To be “on the ball” means to be alert and aware of things.

Question 7

on the same page

Answer 7

If two people are “on the same page,” they are in agreement about something.

Question 8

on top of something

Answer 8

To be “on top of something” means to be in control of a situation and aware of changes.

Question 9

on your toes

Answer 9

To be “on your toes” means to be alert.

Question 10

out in the open

Answer 10

If something is “out in the open,” it is public knowledge and not hidden from people.

Question 11

out of the loop (opposite: in the loop)

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

pink slip

Answer 12

Someone who gets the “pink slip,” has been fired by their employer.

Question 13

play hardball

Answer 13

To “play hardball” means to be competitive in a cruel and merciless way. Playing hardball means doing anything possible to win.

Question 14

put all one’s eggs in one basket

Answer 14

To “put all one’s eggs in one basket,” means to rely on only one thing to bring success.

Question 15

put the cart before the horse

Answer 15

To “put the cart before the horse” means to do or think about things in the wrong order.

Question 16

raise the bar

Answer 16

To “raise the bar” means to set the standards or expectations higher, usually by achieving or creating something better than what had previously existed.

Question 17

read between the lines

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

red tape

Answer 18

“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.

Question 19

rock the boat

Answer 19

To “rock the boat” means to cause problems or disrupt a peaceful situation

Question 20

round-the-clock

Answer 20

“Round the clock” means 24 hours a day.

Question 21

run/go around in circles

Answer 21

To “run (or go) around in circles” means to do the same thing over and over again without getting any results.

Question 22

safe bet

Answer 22

A “safe bet” means something that will probably happen.

Question 23

same boat

Answer 23

If people are in the same situation, they are in the “same boat.”

Question 24

second nature

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

see eye to eye

Answer 25

To “see eye to eye” with someone means to agree with that person.

Question 26

see something through

Answer 26

To “see something through” means to do something until it is finished.

Question 27

sever ties

Answer 27

To “sever ties” means to end a relationship.

Question 28

shoot something down

Answer 28

To “shoot something down” means to reject something, such as a proposal or idea.

Question 29

sky’s the limit

Answer 29

“The sky’s the limit” if there is no limit to what can be achieved.

Question 30

small talk

Answer 30

“Small talk” is conversation about unimportant topics that do not offend people (the weather, for example).