Idioms

Question 1

In over your head: “Can you give Sue a bit of help with her big report? I fear she’s in over her head on this one.”

Answer 1

involved in something that is too difficult to handle

Question 2

When the chips are down: “When the chips are down, you can always call Charlie to work your out of the crisis!”

Answer 2

when a very difficult situation happens

Question 3

Wet behind the ears: “I don’t think Mandy can actually lead this project, since she’s still pretty wet behind the ears.”

Answer 3

new and inexperienced at something

Question 4

Dead in water: Our new development plan will be dead in the water if we don’t get the city government to approve it.”

Answer 4

not able to function effectively

Question 5

To dodge a bullet: “Looks like we really dodged the bullet by getting our shipment out just before gas prices went up.”

Answer 5

to avoid a big problem

Question 6

To grasp a straw: “Cutting all our employee benefits is just grasping at straws.”

Answer 6

to try anything to resolve a difficult situation

Question 7

To blow up in your face: “This whole project blew up in our face when the client decided they wanted it done three months sooner.”

Answer 7

to unexpectedly go very wrong

Question 8

To kick something around: “I think HR is kicking around a 4-day work week.”

Answer 8

to think something over; discuss with others

Question 9

To come out of left field: “Can you believe Sherry quit? That totally came out of left field!”

Answer 9

to be surprising

Question 10

To bring on: “What brought on this change in policy?”

Answer 10

to cause something to happen

Question 11

On the sideline: “I can’t stand on the sidelines and watch you destroy your career.”

Answer 11

outside the main area of activity

Question 12

To kick it into touch: “This approach isn’t working. We need to kick it into touch and try something else.”

Answer 12

to stop doing something; cancel something

Question 13

In the same league: “Since we’re such a small operation, we’re not in the same league as our competitors.”

Answer 13

at the same level

Question 14

To move the goalposts: “The last time Connie was in charge, she kept moving the goalposts. Deadlines were always changing without warning.”

Answer 14

to make unreasonable changes

Question 15

To know the score: “You can’t fool Ricardo. He’s been an analyst for 40 years; he knows the score.”

Answer 15

to know the truth about something

Question 16

To carry the ball: “Francine will carry the ball while I’m away.”

Answer 16

to lead; to see that something gets done properly

Question 17

To scout out: “Lars is going to Istanbul next month to scout out some office space.”

Answer 17

to look for

Question 18

On the ball: “Simon hasn’t been on the ball lately. I wonder if he’s having trouble at home.”

Answer 18

alert and focused

Question 19

Offside: I’m not sure that Tony did the right thing. Seems a bit offside to me.”

Answer 19

not completely legitimate or acceptable

Question 20

To score an own goal: “I never knew that Betty was so unreliable. I scored an own goal when I asked her to help me.”

Answer 20

to cause problems for yourself

Question 21

To give something your best shot: “You gave it your best shot. That’s al anyone could ask for.”

Answer 21

to make your best effort

Question 22

First out of the gate: “Amazon is hoping to be first out of the gate in delivering products by drone.”

Answer 22

the first to do something that many are trying to do

Question 23

To get something off the ground: “We love your idea Frank, but we just feel it will require far too much money to get it off the ground.”

Answer 23

to successfully start something, such as a project, plan, or idea

Question 24

Pie in the sky: Yeah, we might be able to visit the moon, but the idea of entire cities up there is just pie in the sky.”

Answer 24

a nice idea, hope, or plan that will never happen

Question 25

A given: “Come on Dave, global warming is a given, and every energy company needs to figure out how to deal with it.”

Answer 25

a fact or truth that can’t be denied

Question 26

Ahead of the pack: “With great improvements in battery technology, Tesla is clearly ahead of the pack when it comes to electric cars.”

Answer 26

leading or more successful than others you are competing against

Question 27

To fast-track something: “Listen, if this new app is going to do great things for our brand recognition, let’s fast-track it and launch by summer.”

Answer 27

to speed up the development of an idea or product

Question 28

To go through the roof: Since the media went crazy about our new line of toys, I’m glad to see that sales have gone through the roof.”

Answer 28

to increase to a very high level

Question 29

To blaze a trail: While IBM blazed a trail in personal computers, other companies have since taken over the market.”

Answer 29

to be the first to do something that is new or different

Question 30

Will never fly: “Seriously Gus? I know trucks are popular in North America, but such a big vehicle will never fly in Europe.”

Answer 30

won’t be successful or accepted

Question 31

To pick up stream: “After a slow summer, our big software project really started to pick up stream in September.”

Answer 31

to become faster or more active

Question 32

To talk through something: “I think we should have a meeting to talk through this new policy with the whole staff.”

Answer 32

to discuss something in detail

Question 33

out of hand: “Because we’re so busy, Marion rejected my vacation request out of hand.”

Answer 33

immediately, or without even thinking about it

Question 34

To nose around: “I’m going downstairs to nose around in the R&D department and see if I can find out what they’re working on.”

Answer 34

to try to get information

Question 35

To step on toes: “I’m supposed to be leading this team, but Tanis keeps stepping on my toes by telling the others what they should be doing.”

Answer 35

to upset someone by doing things that are their responsibility or supposed to be under their control

Question 36

To play for time: “There’s no way we’ll finish this proposal today. You’d better call the client and play for time.”

Answer 36

to delay or ask for more time

Question 37

A race against time: “It was a race against time to finish the audit, but we did it.”

Answer 37

to hurry to meet a deadline or finish something on time

Question 38

To work against the clock: “We’re really working against the clock because the report needs to be done by 5:00 today.”

Answer 38

to work under pressure, particularly when a deadline is approaching

Question 39

To put something on ice: “We had to put the project on ice while we waited for funding.”

Answer 39

to delay or postpone doing something

Question 40

Crunch time:
“Jonas is usually a good employee, but whenever it’s crunch time on a project he seems to lose focus.”
“With only three days left to finish, it was definitely crunch time.”

Answer 40

a very important moment or period when decisive action is required

Question 41

Down to the wire:
“With so little time to prepare for the event, we all worked right down to the wire.”
The negotiation went down to the wire, with an agreement just before midnight.”

Answer 41

until the last possible moment

Question 42

High time:
“I really think it’s high time Wayne started helping us out here.”
“With interest rates so low, it’s high time we invested in new machinery.”

Answer 42

the appropriate time, or past the appropriate time

Question 43

Just in the nick of time:
“I arrived at the conference just in the nick of time to hear Tiger Woods speak.”
“Our team submitted our proposal just in the nick of time, three minutes before the deadline.”

Answer 43

to achieve something just before the deadline; at the last possible moment

Question 44

To do a bang-up job:

“Well Brian, because you did such a bang-up job on our Atlanta stores, how about redesigning our New York locations?”

Answer 44

to do excellent work, informally

Question 45

To bet bogged down:
“Okay folks, let’s not get bogged down with personal arguments here and just focus on how to improve things for next time.”

Answer 45

to get stuck on or involved with something that slows down a process

Question 46

To get on board: “Management was keen to move to an open office plan, but staff couldn’t get on board with the idea.”

Answer 46

to agree with and support an idea or plan

Question 47

Sticking point:

“The client agreed to most of our terms, but the price was a huge sticking point.”

Answer 47

a point of disagreement that stops discussion or negotiation

Question 48

To work through:

“The company psychologist helped Todd work through his anxiety about his work performance.”

Answer 48

to deal with or solve a problem through discussion and consideration

Question 49

To bring someone up to speed:

“I’d like to have a staff meeting to bring everyone up to speed on the changes to the tax code.”

Answer 49

to give someone the latest news or information about something that is happening

Question 50

To play out:

“Our lawyer told us things might not play out well in court if we refuse their offer of a settlement.”

Answer 50

to end or develop in a certain way

Question 51

To cover your butt:

“Liability insurance alone won’t cover the board of directors’ butts; they still need to demonstrate

Answer 51

to protect yourself from blame or legal responsibility

Question 52

Hash out:

“We can hash out some ideas on what we might have done differently later on.”

Answer 52

discuss in detail

Question 53

Major takeaways:

“I think one of the major takeaways on this is that we have to get the client’s approval in writing.”

Answer 53

main or important lessons that should be remembered from a discussion, meeting, or project

Question 54

Deciding factor:

“North Technologies’experience was the deciding factor in awarding them the project.”

Answer 54

the most important factor that affects a decision