Build lasting business relationships! Partnerships, colleagues, small and large business enterprises alike revolve around effective communication.
The key to your success in the business world can improve with better communication! Improve your communication with business idioms.
To help you navigate the English-speaking business world with EASE, we have gathered a list of common English idioms to impress your boss. In this article, we give you the definition for each idiom and an example.
Game plan
Meaning: A business strategy
Example: They are meeting with a client tomorrow to talk about the new real estate enterprise. They will present their game plan for marketing to potential investors.
Back to square one
Meaning: To start over after failing
Example: The authorities had not accepted the proper documents and we were back at square one.
Cut-throat
Meaning: Ruthless
Example: The saltwater crocodile is the most ruthless animal on Earth.
Learn the ropes
Meaning: To learn the tasks of a job
Example: He looked back on his career as a coach and remembered himself as a young man, ten years ago starting out and learning the ropes. He has come a long way since then. He is now an expert in his profession.
Up in the air
Meaning: Something that is unresolved
Example: The case is still up in the air after three days of deliberation.
A learning curve
Meaning: A decline in progress due to learning
Example: During the third year while the school was rewriting subject curriculum, the students and teachers had undergone a learning curve due to new textbooks and technologies.
To get down to business
Meaning: To start the steps needed to proceed in a business goal or endeavor
Example: We started our meeting with formal greetings over coffee. After fifteen minutes of talking, we got down to business and started planning the project.
The bottom line
Meaning: A final total on a balance sheet
Example: The accountant is usually busy in the months of December, January, and February as they must have reports of the company’s bottom line for the year.
To get up to speed
Meaning: To gain all the information needed for a job or task
Example: Recent technology was introduced into the work force and employees had to get up to speed.
On the same page
Meaning: mutual understanding
Example: After the monthly meeting, the entire team was on the same page about the content calendar and deadlines for the coming quarter.
Let's talk shop
Meaning: To talk about work related topics- particularly in the same field or trade
Example: The carpenter's guild comes together once a year to talk shop.
It's not rocket science
Meaning: It's not complicated
Example: Learn how to edit your video. It is not rocket science!
Bring to the table
Meaning: To give something beneficial to the team
Example: He’s got many skills including leading docent tours, but he has taken on the lucrative business of breeding cats and is bringing the widely desired Siamese cat to the table.
Put all of your eggs in one basket
Meaning: To risk everything on one project
Example: The Gramalan agricultural ministry planned to export all the seasons produce to one city in the north. When that city shut down, sales plummeted, and the produce went bad. This is what happens when you put all of your eggs in one basket.
Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: To deal with a difficult situation decisively
Example: In the winter months, there is uncertainty about were to move, work and live since the people of the region are nomadic. To create a wool production site for export, you will need to take the bull by the horns and develop a team of nomads, secure a site, and build a wool processing line.
Touch base
Meaning: to quickly meet with someone
Example: The plans for the new site has been progressing for the last eight months. Let’s touch base with the rest of the team in our meeting this coming Tuesday.
Think outside of the box
Meaning: To explore creative ideas
Example: A lot of things must be accomplished. At the same time, there are no guarantees and no assurances that the schedules will remain the same. To make sure this project goes through, you will have to think outside of the box!