50 COMMON BUSINESS IDIOMS
Idioms are a collection of words or phrases which have a
figurative meaning that is generally well established and known. So,
these words can't be taken at their literal meanings since they would sound
absurd. Idioms are often used in stories, poems and even in the
spoken words.
Examples:
Beat around the bush: Trying to avoid a subject...
Have a blast: To enjoy oneself, have a good time
Idiom Meaning Example
Ahead of the To be more If we want to stay ahead of the pack,
pack successful than we’ll have to increase our marketing
the competition budget.
Back to square To start something To make this software finally work,
one over again we have to go back to square one.
because a
previous attempt
failed
Ballpark A very inexact A manager cannot give ballpark
number/figure estimate figures when presenting the budget to
the top management.
Big picture Not just focussing It is important to look at the big
on the smallest picture before taking important
details. It is decisions.
important to look
at the larger
impact and overall
plan of
the organization.
By the book To do things We told our auditors that we do
exactly according everything by the book.
to the rules or the
law
Corner the To dominate a Amazon more or less corners the
market particular market market in online retailing.
Cut-throat Very intense, There is cut-throat competition in the
aggressive, and food retailing business.
merciless
competition
Game plan A strategy or plan The top management of the company
for achieving devised a game plan for dealing with
success the competitors.
Get down to Stop making small Now that everyone’s here, let’s get
business talk and start down to business and start with the
talking about presentation.
serious business
topics
Get something To start something Now that we have finished the
off the ground (e.g. a project or a planning phase, we’re eager the get
business) the project off the ground.
Go down the Something is All our efforts in entering this
drain wasted or lost new market went down the drain.
Go the extra To do more than To give our customers the best
mile what people shopping experience, we go the extra
expect mile.
Hands are tied Not being free to “I would like to help you, but my
behave in the way hands are tied”, said the service
that you would like engineer to the customer.
In a nutshell To say something To tell you in a nutshell, the company
briefly will run out of cash in three months
time.
In full swing The stage when Construction of our new production
the level of activity site is in full swing now.
is at its highest
In the driver’s To be in charge or Being offered the position of
seat in control of a managing director, I’ll soon be in the
situation driver’s seat.
Keep one’s eye To give something We should keep our eyes on the ball
on the ball one’s full attention by not diversifying our product
and not lose focus offering too much.
Learn the ropes Learn the basics I’m learning the ropes in my new
of something (e.g. position as a Marketing Manager.
a job)
Long shot Something that The company hopes to double its
has a very low profit in the next two years which is a
probability of long shot.
happening
No-brainer Something that is Deciding who to give the
really obvious or 'Salesperson of the Year Award' to
easy was a no-brainer.
No strings Something is They will let you try the product for
attached given without free with no strings attached.
involving special
demands
Not going to fly Something isn’t This product is definitely not going to
expected to work fly.
out
On the same To be in Let’s go over the contract details
page agreement about once more to make sure we’re on the
something same page.
Out in the open Something that is The employees who wanted a bonus
made public wanted the truth out in the open when
knowledge and not they were told that the company was
secret anymore facing problems.
Put all eggs in To rely on only It is important for investors to diversify
one basket one thing to bring the risk so care must be taken not to
success put all eggs in one basket.
Put the cart To do or think Trying to find an investor without
before the horse about things in the having a business plan is like putting
wrong order the cart before the horse.
Raise the bar To set standards The iPhone raised the bar for
or expectations smartphone makers.
higher
Red tape Official rules and The new law is going to decrease the
processes that red tape and make the system more
seem unnecessary efficient.
and cause delay
Rock the boat To do or say Don’t rock the boat until the
something that will negotiations are finished.
upset people or
cause problems
Safe bet Something that is It’s a safe bet that computer
certain to happen processor speed will more than triple
within the next 10 years.
Same boat To be in the same The companies are all in the same
difficult situation boat due to severe financial
as someone else problems.
See eye to eye To agree with My boss doesn’t see eye to eye with
somebody me about our marketing campaign.
See something To continue until I want to see this project through
through something is before taking on another one.
finished
Sever ties To end a We had to sever ties with several
relationship suppliers due to poor raw material
quality supplied by them.
Shoot something To reject The top management shouldn’t shoot
down something (e.g. an down co-workers ideas during a
idea or a proposal) brainstorming session.
Smooth sailing A situation where Once our largest competitor went out
success is of business, it was smooth sailing.
achieved without
difficulties
Stand one’s To not change They tried to cut my travel budget, but
ground one’s opinion or I stood my ground.
position
Take the bull by To directly My mid-level managers constantly
the horns confront a difficult delayed projects, so I decided to take
situation in a brave the bull by the horns and fired several
and determined of them.
way
Talk someone To convince I was reluctant to redesign our
into something someone to do website, but my employees talked me
something into it.
Talk someone To convince We wanted to expand our business,
out of something someone not to do but our CFO talked us out of it.
something
The elephant in An obvious We should have discussed our
the room problem or pending litigation, but no one wanted
controversial issue to talk about the elephant in the room.
that no one wants
to discuss.
Think outside To think of Our current approach will get us
the box creative, nowhere. We have to think outside
unconventional the box.
solutions instead
of common ones.
Time’s up Time for I think his time’s up as the CEO.
something or
someone has
ended.
Touch base To make contact I will touch base with you later today.
with someone.
Twist someone’s To convince My boss thought the budget was a
arm someone to do little high, so I had to twist his arm to
something that he get him to agree to it.
or she does not
want to do.
Up in the air Something is Our international expansion plan is
undecided or still up in the air.
uncertain
Uphill battle Something that is Gaining market share in this time of
difficult to achieve Covid pandemic will be an uphill
because of battle for the company.
obstacles and
difficulties
Upper hand To have more The Board of Directors have an upper
power than hand in the decision making
anyone else
Word of mouth Spoken We get a lot of
communication as our business through word of
a means of mouth recommendation.
transmitting
information.
