General Business Activities

Question 1

hectic

Answer 1

very busy

Business has been hectic recently.

Question 2

press the flesh

Answer 2

to shake hands with a lot of people

Politicians have to get out and about and press the flesh

Question 3

remit

/rɪˈmɪt/

Answer 3

work responsibilities
the area that a person or group of people in authority has responsibility for or control over

The remit of this official inquiry is to investigate the reasons for the accident.

Question 4

to sign off on

Answer 4

approve -
to approve or acknowledge something by or as if by a signature

Elliott’s office had signed off on a questionable lease

Question 5

free up

Answer 5

make available, for use.

I need to free up some time this weekend to finish the report.

Question 6

cold-call

Answer 6

contact without an appointment -
to call or visit a possible customer to try to sell them something without being asked by the customer to do so

In this job, you have to be prepared to cold-call.

Question 7

follow up

Answer 7

contact a client after meeting

This meeting is a follow-up to the one we had last month.

Question 8

throw in

Answer 8

to add (something extra) at no additional cost - an extra service

When I bought my new glasses, they threw in a free pair of prescription sunglasses

Question 9

break into

BUSINESS

Answer 9

sell products in a new market -
to begin working in a new business or a new area

Are there new markets you’d like to break into?

Question 10

come down

Answer 10

reduce a price -
If a price or a level comes down, it becomes lower

House prices have come down recently

Question 11

give ground

Answer 11

concede a point -

امتیاز دادن و کوتاه اومدن

In the North we had to give ground, but not before we had made the enemy pay ten times its value in killed and wounded.

Question 12

look into

Answer 12

investigate a possible deal -
to try to find out about something

We’re looking into the possibility of merging the two departments.

Question 13

before I took my business trip, I … renew my passport.
1. must
2. had to

Answer 13

before I took my business trip, I had to renew my passport.

Question 14

soar - sored (past)

Answer 14

to rise very quickly to a high level

sense of a better work-life balance soared

Question 15

novelty

Answer 15

the quality of being new or unusual

once the novelty wears off, the productivity will drop again.

Question 16

we’ll give you a coffee.and a cookie? ok. you’re on!

Answer 16

I accept!

Question 17

I’m a sucker for any new app

to be a sucker for

Answer 17

to be easily persuaded to buy

Question 18

to sit in

Answer 18

to be present in a meeting or class, watching it but not taking part in it

There will be a school inspector sitting in on your class this morning.

Question 19

DON’T GET ME WRONG

Answer 19

said when you think someone might not understand what you say, or be upset by it

Don’t get me wrong - I’d love to come, but I’m too busy next week.

Question 20

GO BELLY UP

Answer 20

If a company or plan goes belly up, it fails

The business went belly up after only six months.

Question 21

A BIG FISH

Answer 21

an important or powerful person

The four who were arrested here last September were described as really big fish by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Question 22

just in case

Answer 22

to protect against something bad that could happen

محض احتیاط

I’ll take my umbrella too, just in case.

Question 23

that’s settled

Answer 23

to reach a decision or an agreement about something, or to end a disagreement

Good, that’s all settled - you send out the invitations for the party, and I’ll organize the food

Question 24

slip it into conversation

Answer 24

introducing or mentioning something during a conversation

Maybe I’ll try to slip it into conversation today

Question 25

RAIN CHECK

Answer 25

deferring an invitation or offer for later acceptance

if someone can’t accept an invitation immediately but would like to do so later, they might say, “Can I take a rain check?”

Question 26

cut down

Answer 26

reduce -
to do or use less of something

I’m trying to cut down on caffeine