In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of business, effective communication is essential for success. One powerful tool in your communication arsenal is the use of idioms—expressions that convey complex ideas in a concise and relatable manner. This blog serves as a comprehensive guide to essential business idioms commonly used in the workplace, complete with meanings and practical examples.
From phrases that help you express urgency, like “get the ball rolling,” to those that emphasize collaboration, such as “on the same page,” mastering these idioms will empower you to navigate professional interactions with confidence. Whether you’re drafting emails, participating in meetings, or negotiating deals, understanding these idiomatic expressions will elevate your communication skills and enable you to connect more effectively with colleagues and clients.
Join us as we explore these valuable idioms designed for every occasion in the business world, ensuring you are well-equipped to articulate your thoughts persuasively and professionally.
1. Do a Roaring Trade
Meaning: Sell something quickly.
Example: “He’s doing a roaring trade in reconditioned cell phones.”
2. Do Brisk Business
Meaning: Sell something well.
Example: “They do brisk business in printer cartridges.”
3. Do Sterling Work
Meaning: Do very good work.
Example: “He has done sterling work in the department.”
4. Dog-Eat-Dog
Meaning: Competitive.
Example: “Sorry you didn’t get the promotion, but it’s a dog-eat-dog environment here.”
5. Dole Out
Meaning: Distribute money (the dole = unemployment benefit).
Example: “The government is doling out subsidies for alternative energy start-ups.”
6. Done Deal
Meaning: An agreement which has already been made.
Example: “John will get the promotion. It’s a done deal.”
7. Donkey Work
Meaning: Difficult or less glamorous parts of the job.
Example: “I do all the donkey work around here.”
8. Dot Your I’s and Cross Your T’s
Meaning: Pay attention to the small details.
Example: “We dotted all our i’s and crossed all our t’s when we went into business with them.”
9. Double-Dip Recession
Meaning: When the economy falls into recession, recovers slightly, then falls back into recession again.
Example: “The company is the latest to be affected by the double-dip recession.”
10. Down the Drain
Meaning: Be wasted (money, time, effort, etc.).
Example: “The funding cuts meant that three years of research went down the drain.”
11. Drag On
Meaning: Continue slowly and without result.
Example: “Talks between the company and its lenders are dragging on.”
12. Drag Your Feet
Meaning: Delay making a decision.
Example: “The government has been dragging its feet over the bailout conditions.”
13. Draw a Line Under Something
Meaning: Put an end to something.
Example: “His resignation drew a line under the scandal.”
14. Drive a Hard Bargain
Meaning: Negotiate tough conditions.
Example: “The customer drove a hard bargain and got an extra discount.”
15. Drop-Off
Meaning: Reduction in something (i.e., demand).
Example: “There’s been a drop-off in sales of luxury items.”
16. Earn Brownie Points
Meaning: Make someone else have a better impression of you.
Example: “He earned brownie points by producing the figures when the sales manager needed them.”
17. At the Eleventh Hour
Meaning: The last moment.
Example: “The announcement that the merger was off came at the eleventh hour.”
18. Face the Music
Meaning: Face a problem and not deny that it exists.
Example: “I’m afraid we’ll have to face the music: this company won’t exist beyond September unless we increase sales.”
19. Fall on Deaf Ears
Meaning: Not be listened to / be ignored.
Example: “His proposal fell on deaf ears.”
20. Fall on Hard Times
Meaning: Be experiencing difficult times.
Example: “Although the company was once great, it has now fallen on hard times.”
21. Fall Short
Meaning: Fail to reach targets.
Example: “We fell slightly short of our estimated revenues last year.”
22. Fall Through
Meaning: Collapse / fail (deals / negotiations).
Example: “The deal fell through after the review.”
23. Fast-Track a Project/Person
Meaning: To make something go quicker / to help a person progress quicker.
Example: “They’re fast-tracking the expansion project.” “Graduates are fast-tracked onto the scheme.”
24. Fat Cats
Meaning: Top people in a company who earn a lot of money.
Example: “The fat cats have done well out of the merger.”
25. Feather Your Nest
Meaning: Make sure you have or make enough money to have a good life (also “featherbed”).
Example: “He spent five years feathering his nest instead of doing what was best for the company.” “Certain Eurozone countries have been feather bedded for years.”
26. Fill/Boost the Coffers
Meaning: Increase revenue or money available.
Example: “Our new luxury range should help us fill the coffers this year.”
27. Fire Sale
Meaning: Selling goods or assets at a much lower price.
Example: “Greece is widely expected to hold a fire sale of national assets to reduce its debt.”
28. Fired
Meaning: Lose your job.
Example: “It was the first time she’d been fired for lateness, and she was worried that it would affect her chances of getting another job.”
29. Fiscal Cliff
Meaning: The combination of a reduction in the budget deficit and an economic slowdown.
Example: “The government is trying to avoid the fiscal cliff by implementing austerity measures.”
30. Get on the Right Side of Someone
Meaning: Find a way to be liked by someone.
Example: “If you want a promotion, you’ll need to get on the right side of your line manager.”
31. Get Right/ Straight to the Point
Meaning: Talk about an issue directly.
Example: “Let me get right to the point. Unless we find extra funding of £1m, we will go under in six months.”
32. Get the Hang of Something
Meaning: Start to understand how to do something.
Example: “I finally got the hang of Powerpoint. It’s easy once you know how.”
33. Get the Sack
Meaning: Be fired from a job.
Example: “He got the sack after three written warnings.”
34. Get the Show on the Road
Meaning: Get started (often used in meetings).
Example: “OK, let’s get the show on the road. Sarah, where are we in orders this month?”
35. Get the Wrong End of the Stick
Meaning: Misunderstand something.
Example: “I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick. We need to hire people, not lay them off.”
36. Get Your Act Together
Meaning: Start working in a better or more efficient way.
Example: “You’ll need to get your act together if you want a promotion this year.”
37. Get Your Feet Under the Table
Meaning: Feel more comfortable in a new job.
Example: “You’ll need a few months to settle in and get your feet under the table.”
38. Get Your Foot in the Door
Meaning: Get an opening in a company or on the career ladder.
Example: “Once you get your foot in the door, you’ll be able to prove yourself.”
39. Get Your Wires Crossed
Meaning: Misunderstand information.
Example: “I think I got my wires crossed. You’re talking about the Spanish market rather than the German one, aren’t you?”
40. Give Someone a Run for Their Money
Meaning: Not make it easy for another company to be successful.
Example: “Although they’re market leaders, we’re giving them a good run for their money.”
41. Give Someone a Tongue-Lashing
Meaning: Severely reprimand someone.
Example: “He gave the sales rep a tongue lashing for misleading the customer.”
42. Give Someone the Low-Down
Meaning: Give someone the most important facts.
Example: “Can you give me the low-down on our sales figures?”
43. Lost Generation
Meaning: Generation of young people expected to do worse than their parents over a number of indicators, including employment, wealth, and housing.
Example: “The number of Europeans belonging to the lost generation has doubled in the last few years.”
44. Magic Bullet
Meaning: An easy solution to a difficult problem.
Example: “He’s hoping that expansion into new markets will be the magic bullet to the company’s problems.”
45. Make a Clean Break
Meaning: End a relationship with someone / something.
Example: “The company made a clean break with its founders.”
46. Make a Comeback
Meaning: Do well again after a difficult period.
Example: “After five years of losses, they seem to have made a comeback.”
47. Make a Foray Into
Meaning: Enter the market.
Example: “Looking to branch out of print publishing, they are making a foray into e-book publishing.”
48. Make a Killing
Meaning: Make a great deal of money.
Example: “He made a killing on the stock exchange, then retired to the south of France.”
49. Make a Mint
Meaning: Make a lot of money.
Example: “They made a mint selling aircraft parts, then branched out into farm vehicles.”
50. Make a Go of
Meaning: Work hard at something.
Example: “He’s made a really good go at the business and is now beginning to see results.”
51. Make Headway
Meaning: Make progress.
Example: “We’re struggling to make headway in the electrical goods market.”
52. Make It Up As You Go Along
Meaning: Improvise.
Example: “With no clear strategy in place, it’s ‘make-it-up-as-you-go-along’ time.”
53. Make It Your Business
Meaning: Take responsibility for something.
Example: “He made it his business to drive the sustainability agenda in the company.”
54. Make Money Hand Over Fist
Meaning: Make a lot of money.
Example: “Web hosting companies are making money hand over fist.”
55. Make Small Talk
Meaning: Talk about trivial things before getting down to business.
Example: “You’ll need to make small talk first when doing business with Italian clients.”
56. Make Strides
Meaning: Improve or develop.
Example: “Technology firms have made great strides in green energy.”
57. Make the Grade
Meaning: Achieve the necessary standard for something.
Example: “Very few countries make the grade for a triple A credit rating.”
58. Make Up for
Meaning: Compensate.
Example: “We can’t offer you a 10% salary increase, but we can make up for it in other ways…”
59. Make Up the Lost Ground
Meaning: Recover in order to return to previous position.
Example: “We estimate it will take us another 18 months to make up the lost ground.”
60. Make Your Mark
Meaning: Become successful.
Example: “He made his mark as a tax specialist.”
61. Make-or-Break
Meaning: Something that will either be successful or a failure.
Example: “Their merger is make-or-break time for them.”
62. Marching Orders
Meaning: Be fired.
Example: “He was given his marching orders after the company restructured.”
63. Market Jitters
Meaning: Market uncertainty.
Example: “Market jitters over the Eurozone crisis have increased our borrowing costs.”
64. Mean Business
Meaning: Be serious.
Example: “Don’t underestimate them. They mean business and they’ll stop at nothing until they corner the market.”
65. Millstone
Meaning: Something heavy that weighs down something (such as the economy).
Example: “Sluggish growth has been a millstone on the economy.”
66. Mix Business with Pleasure
Meaning: Combine work and fun.
Example: “I don’t think it’s a good idea to mix business with pleasure.”
67. Money for Old Rope
Meaning: Money which is easily earned.
Example: “With our experience of selling solar panels, selling the cleaning equipment for them should be money for old rope.”
68. Money-Laundering
Meaning: Putting money earned illegally into the legal system.
Example: “Banks are tightening their procedures to prevent money-laundering.”
69. Money Spinner
Meaning: Something that makes a lot of money.
Example: “The new stationery items are a great money spinner.”
70. Move the Goalposts
Meaning: Change the rules.
Example: “The government has just moved the goalposts to make it more difficult to get work visas.”
71. Movers and Shakers
Meaning: Industry or company leaders who have a lot of influence.
Example: “If you can get connected to the movers and shakers, you’ll have a good chance of finding work in the industry.”
72. Mushroom
Meaning: Rapid proliferation in something.
Example: “The mushrooming of discount supermarkets is taking place around the country.”
73. New Broom
Meaning: Chance to change the way things are done.
Example: “After the MD resigned, the board had an opportunity to bring in a new broom.”
74. No-Frills
Meaning: Basic, without extra luxuries or add-ons.
Example: “Ryanair, the no-frills airline, announced record profits last year.”
75. Not Worth the Paper It’s Written On
Meaning: Have no real or enforceable value.
Example: “These contracts aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.”
76. Not Up to Scratch
Meaning: Not as good as it should be.
Example: “Your performance isn’t up to scratch, I’m afraid.”
77. Number Crunching
Meaning: Working with numbers.
Example: “He’s done all the number crunching and thinks we can take on two more people.”
78. Nuts and Bolts
Meaning: Detailed facts and the practical aspects.
Example: “Let’s look at the nuts and bolts of this idea. What are the minimum production costs?”
79. Off Course/Off Track
Meaning: Not on schedule (vs “on track”).
Example: “Endless delays mean that the reforms are now off track.”
80. On a Shoestring
Meaning: Operate on very little money.
Example: “They run the company on a shoestring.”
81. On a Tight Budget
Meaning: Not having much money to spend.
Example: “We’re on a tight budget and don’t have much money to spend on publicity.”
82. On an Even Keel
Meaning: Going smoothly.
Example: “The business is on an even keel after months of uncertainty.”
83. On Course (also “On Track”)
Meaning: On schedule (vs “off track”).
Example: “Our sales are on course to grow by 5% next year.”
84. On Someone’s Watch
Meaning: While someone was in charge.
Example: “The losses occurred on his watch, which was why he was sacked.”
85. On Strike
Meaning: Take industrial action / refuse to work.
Example: “Members of the teaching unions are threatening to go on strike.”
86. Ramp Up
Meaning: Increase speed or business activity.
Example: “We’ll need to ramp up production of novelty toys for the Christmas period.”
87. Read Between the Lines
Meaning: Understand something even if it isn’t communicated directly.
Example: “Reading between the lines of this report, I’d say that the company is in deep financial trouble.”
88. Read the Small Print
Meaning: Read every part of a contract.
Example: “Before you sign, make sure you read the small print – especially the terms and conditions. You don’t want any nasty surprises in the future.”
89. Red Tape
Meaning: Rules and bureaucracy.
Example: “The government has pledged to cut the red tape for setting up a business.”
90. Rein In
Meaning: Keep control of / reduce something.
Example: “The CEO told us we’d need to rein in spending.”
91. Ride Something Out/Ride Out Something
Meaning: Survive a difficult situation.
Example: “The government is hoping that most companies will be able to ride out the recession.”
92. Right-Hand Man
Meaning: Person who supports the boss, or is second in command.
Example: “Although he’s the MD’s right-hand man, he has ambitions to succeed him.”
93. Ring-Fence
Meaning: Financially separating part of a company’s assets in order to protect them.
Example: “The banking commission has called for a ‘ring-fence’ to protect retail banks from their investment bank operations.”
94. Rip-Off
Meaning: So expensive that it’s almost like stealing your money.
Example: “These prices are a rip-off.” “The train
95. Spark a Frenzy
Meaning: Create lots of excitement.
Example: “News of the takeover sparked a frenzy among investors.”
96. Speak Out of Both Sides of Your Mouth
Meaning: Say one thing but do another.
Example: “The politician was accused of speaking out of both sides of his mouth on the issue.”
97. Spend Like There’s No Tomorrow
Meaning: Spend money without worrying about the future.
Example: “The company spent like there was no tomorrow on the new marketing campaign.”
98. Spread the Word
Meaning: Tell people about something.
Example: “We need to spread the word about the new product launch.”
99. Stake Your Claim
Meaning: Assert your rights or interests.
Example: “The company staked its claim on the new market by launching a targeted advertising campaign.”
100. Stand by Someone
Meaning: Support someone.
Example: “The company stood by its employees during the economic downturn.”
101. Stand Out from the Crowd
Meaning: Be different from others.
Example: “The new product stood out from the crowd with its innovative design.”
102. Stand on Shaky Ground
Meaning: Be uncertain or unstable.
Example: “The company’s financial situation stands on shaky ground after the recent losses.”
103. Start from Scratch
Meaning: Begin again from the beginning.
Example: “After the company went bankrupt, they had to start from scratch.”
104. Start the Ball Rolling
Meaning: Begin a process or project.
Example: “The new CEO started the ball rolling on the company’s restructuring plan.”
105. Steal the Show
Meaning: Be the most impressive or attention-grabbing part of something.
Example: “The new product stole the show at the trade fair.”
106. Step Up to the Plate
Meaning: Take responsibility or action.
Example: “The company stepped up to the plate by investing in new technology.”
107. Stir Up Trouble
Meaning: Cause problems or conflict.
Example: “The company’s new policy stirred up trouble among its employees.”
108. Strike a Balance
Meaning: Find a middle ground or compromise.
Example: “The company struck a balance between cost-cutting and maintaining quality.”
109. Strike While the Iron Is Hot
Meaning: Take advantage of an opportunity while it is available.
Example: “The company struck while the iron was hot by launching a new product during the holiday season.”
110. Take a Backseat
Meaning: Give up control or leadership.
Example: “The CEO took a backseat after the company’s restructuring.”
111. Take a Chance
Meaning: Risk something.
Example: “The company took a chance on the new market by investing in a new product.”
112. Take a Hit
Meaning: Suffer a loss or setback.
Example: “The company took a hit after the economic downturn.”
113. Take a Stand
Meaning: Make a decision or take a position.
Example: “The company took a stand against the new regulations.”
114. Take a Step Back
Meaning: Reconsider or withdraw from something.
Example: “The company took a step back from its plans to expand into new markets.”
115. Take a Toll
Meaning: Have a negative impact.
Example: “The economic downturn took a toll on the company’s profits.”
116. Take a Turn for the Better
Meaning: Improve or get better.
Example: “The company’s fortunes took a turn for the better after the new CEO took over.”
117. Take a Walk
Meaning: Leave or quit.
Example: “The employee took a walk after being fired.”
118. Take a Wide View
Meaning: Consider all aspects of something.
Example: “The company took a wide view of the market before launching its new product.”
119. Take Advantage of
Meaning: Use an opportunity to your benefit.
Example: “The company took advantage of the government’s incentives to invest in new technology.”
120. Take It Easy
Meaning: Relax or not work too hard.
Example: “The company took it easy during the holiday season.”
121. Take It on the Chin
Meaning: Accept a setback or criticism.
Example: “The company took it on the chin after the negative reviews.”
122. Take It to the Bank
Meaning: Be certain or confident about something.
Example: “The company can take it to the bank that their new product will be a success.”
123. Take the Bull by the Horns
Meaning: Take control or responsibility.
Example: “The CEO took the bull by the horns and led the company’s restructuring efforts.”
124. Take the Initiative
Meaning: Start something or take the first step.
Example: “The company took the initiative by launching a new product before its competitors.”
125. Take the Leap
Meaning: Make a significant change or decision.
Example: “The company took the leap and invested in new technology.”
126. Take the Plunge
Meaning: Make a significant change or decision.
Example: “The company took the plunge and expanded into new markets.”
127. Take the Reins
Meaning: Take control or leadership.
Example: “The new CEO took the reins and led the company’s restructuring efforts.”
128. Take the Road Less Traveled
Meaning: Choose a less common or unconventional path.
Example: “The company took the road less traveled by investing in new technology.”
129. Take the Reins
Meaning: Take control or leadership.
Example: “The new CEO took the reins and led the company’s restructuring efforts.”
130. Talk the Talk
Meaning: Say something but not necessarily do it.
Example: “The company talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk on sustainability.”
131. Team Player
Meaning: Someone who works well with others.
Example: “The new employee is a team player and has already contributed to the company’s success.”
132. Think Outside the Box
Meaning: Be creative and think differently.
Example: “The company thinks outside the box by launching innovative products.”
133. Think on Your Feet
Meaning: Be able to respond quickly and effectively.
Example: “The CEO thinks on his feet and is able to handle unexpected situations.”
134. Think Twice
Meaning: Consider something carefully.
Example: “The company should think twice before investing in the new market.”
135. Think You’re Above the Law
Meaning: Believe you are exempt from rules or regulations.
Example: “The company thinks it’s above the law and doesn’t follow the regulations.”
136. Think You’re the Only Game in Town
Meaning: Believe you are the only option or choice.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only game in town and doesn’t need to innovate.”
137. Think You’re Too Big to Fail
Meaning: Believe you are too important or powerful to fail.
Example: “The company thinks it’s too big to fail and doesn’t need to worry about its financial situation.”
138. Think You’re Untouchable
Meaning: Believe you are invincible or immune to criticism.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s untouchable and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
139. Think You’re the Best
Meaning: Believe you are the best or superior.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
140. Think You’re the Only One
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
141. Think You’re the Smartest
Meaning: Believe you are the most intelligent or knowledgeable.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the smartest and doesn’t need to listen to others’ ideas.”
142. Think You’re the Top Dog
Meaning: Believe you are the most important or powerful.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the top dog and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
143. Think You’re the Only One Who Can Do It
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who can do something.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only one who can do it and doesn’t need to collaborate with others.”
144. Think You’re the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Meaning: Believe you are the best or most impressive.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
145. Think You’re the Only One Who Understands
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
146. Think You’re the Smartest Person in the Room
Meaning: Believe you are the most intelligent or knowledgeable.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the smartest person in the room and doesn’t need to listen to others’ ideas.”
147. Think You’re the Top Dog
Meaning: Believe you are the most important or powerful.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the top dog and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
148. Think You’re the Only One Who Can Do It
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who can do something.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only one who can do it and doesn’t need to collaborate with others.”
149. Think You’re the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Meaning: Believe you are the best or most impressive.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
150. Think You’re the Only One Who Understands
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
151. Think You’re the Smartest Person in the Room
Meaning: Believe you are the most intelligent or knowledgeable.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the smartest person in the room and doesn’t need to listen to others’ ideas.”
152. Think You’re the Top Dog
Meaning: Believe you are the most important or powerful.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the top dog and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
153. Think You’re the Only One Who Can Do It
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who can do something.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only one who can do it and doesn’t need to collaborate with others.”
154. Think You’re the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Meaning: Believe you are the best or most impressive.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
155. Think You’re the Only One Who Understands
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
156. Think You’re the Smartest Person in the Room
Meaning: Believe you are the most intelligent or knowledgeable.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the smartest person in the room and doesn’t need to listen to others’ ideas.”
157. Think You’re the Top Dog
Meaning: Believe you are the most important or powerful.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the top dog and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
158. Think You’re the Only One Who Can Do It
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who can do something.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only one who can do it and doesn’t need to collaborate with others.”
159. Think You’re the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Meaning: Believe you are the best or most impressive.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
160. Think You’re the Only One Who Understands
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
161. Think You’re the Smartest Person in the Room
Meaning: Believe you are the most intelligent or knowledgeable.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the smartest person in the room and doesn’t need to listen to others’ ideas.”
162. Think You’re the Top Dog
Meaning: Believe you are the most important or powerful.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the top dog and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
163. Think You’re the Only One Who Can Do It
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who can do something.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only one who can do it and doesn’t need to collaborate with others.”
164. Think You’re the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Meaning: Believe you are the best or most impressive.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
165. Think You’re the Only One Who Understands
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
166. Think You’re the Smartest Person in the Room
Meaning: Believe you are the most intelligent or knowledgeable.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the smartest person in the room and doesn’t need to listen to others’ ideas.”
167. Think You’re the Top Dog
Meaning: Believe you are the most important or powerful.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the top dog and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
168. Think You’re the Only One Who Can Do It
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who can do something.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only one who can do it and doesn’t need to collaborate with others.”
169. Think You’re the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Meaning: Believe you are the best or most impressive.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
170. Think You’re the Only One Who Understands
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
171. Think You’re the Smartest Person in the Room
Meaning: Believe you are the most intelligent or knowledgeable.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the smartest person in the room and doesn’t need to listen to others’ ideas.”
172. Think You’re the Top Dog
Meaning: Believe you are the most important or powerful.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the top dog and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
173. Think You’re the Only One Who Can Do It
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who can do something.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only one who can do it and doesn’t need to collaborate with others.”
174. Think You’re the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Meaning: Believe you are the best or most impressive.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
175. Think You’re the Only One Who Understands
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
176. Think You’re the Smartest Person in the Room
Meaning: Believe you are the most intelligent or knowledgeable.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the smartest person in the room and doesn’t need to listen to others’ ideas.”
177. Think You’re the Top Dog
Meaning: Believe you are the most important or powerful.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the top dog and doesn’t need to listen to his employees’ concerns.”
178. Think You’re the Only One Who Can Do It
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who can do something.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the only one who can do it and doesn’t need to collaborate with others.”
179. Think You’re the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Meaning: Believe you are the best or most impressive.
Example: “The company thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread and doesn’t need to improve its products.”
180. Think You’re the Only One Who Understands
Meaning: Believe you are the only one who understands something.
Example: “The CEO thinks he’s the only one who understands the company’s financial situation.”
181. Gravy Train
Meaning: A structure or business from which people can make money easily.
Example: “The public sector is viewed as a gravy train, but this has long ceased to be the case.”
182. Grease Somebody’s Palm
Meaning: Give money to someone as a bribe.
Example: “We suspect that they got the contract after greasing someone’s palm.”
183. Give Someone the Green Light
Meaning: Allow someone to start a project.
Example: “The MD gave her the green light to launch a new product line.”
184. Green Shoots of Recovery
Meaning: Signs that the economy is recovering.
Example: “We’ve yet to see the green shoots of recovery, although initial signs are good.”
185. Hammer Out a Deal
Meaning: Take a long time to agree on all the terms and conditions.
Example: “Leaders finally hammered out a deal last night.”
186. Hang Out Your Shingle
Meaning: Start your own business.
Example: “There are no legal obstacles to hanging out your shingle as a job coach.”
187. Hard-Nosed
Meaning: Business-minded.
Example: “He’s a hard-nosed businessman, and I doubt he’ll extend the loan by another month.”
188. Hard-Pressed
Meaning: Facing problems and not having enough money.
Example: “Hard-pressed retailers have felt the pinch of the recession most acutely.”
189. Hard Sell
Meaning: An aggressive way of selling (contrast with “soft sell”).
Example: “He adopted a hard sell approach to reach his sales target.”
190. Haul Someone Over the Coals
Meaning: Make strong criticism of someone / a company.
Example: “The industry regulators have twice hauled the company over the coals.”
191. Have a Finger in Every Pie
Meaning: Be involved in many different things.
Example: “She sits on a number of committees and boards – she has a finger in every pie.”
192. Have a lot on your plate
Meaning: Have a lot of work to do.
Example: “I’ve got a lot on my plate this week. Meetings, a conference and the accounts to prepare.”
193. Have a quick word
Meaning: Talk to someone briefly.
Example: “Josh – can I have a quick word?”
194. Have / Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Only have one plan or strategy.
Example: “It’s not a good idea to have all our eggs in one basket. We need other revenue streams.”
195. Have an / the edge over
Meaning: Have a competitive advantage.
Example: “Multinationals have the edge over smaller companies when it comes to their advertising spend.”
196. Have deep pockets
Meaning: Have a lot of money.
Example: “Our competitors have deep pockets and can easily cope with the economic crisis.”
197. Have (something / tricks) up your sleeve
Meaning: Have a secret plan or advantage that you can use.
Example: “The Minister of Finance has a few more tricks up his sleeve.”
198. Have your hand in the till
Meaning: Steal from the company (Be caught with your hand in the till).
Example: “She was caught with her hand in the till and was fired immediately.”
199. Have your hands tied
Meaning: Be prevented from doing something.
Example: “I wish I could help you, but my hands are tied.”
200. Heads to / will roll
Meaning: Someone is likely to lose their job.
Example: “The Board won’t like this at all. Heads will roll.” “After the recent banking scandals, people want heads to roll.”
201. Hear something on the grapevine
Meaning: Hear something informally.
Example: “I heard on the grapevine that you’ve been offered another job.”
202. Jump ship
Meaning: Leave a company because you think you have better chances elsewhere.
Example: “The MD jumped ship when he was offered a better deal.”
203. Jump the gun
Meaning: Start something too early.
Example: “They’ve jumped the gun rolling out 4G phones before the networks are available.”
204. Jump through hoops
Meaning: Go through many obstacles (usually bureaucratic).
Example: “If you want to start a business here, you’ll have to jump through hoops first.”
205. Keep a lid on
Meaning: Contain.
Example: “The government will need to keep a lid on house prices to avoid another bubble.”
206. Keep a low profile / Keep your head down
Meaning: Not draw attention to yourself.
Example: “If you suspect a round of redundancies, keep a low profile and hope the axe will fall somewhere else.”
207. Keep pace with / Keep up with
Meaning: Maintain value or parity.
Example: “Wages have not kept pace with energy prices.”
208. Keep someone in the dark
Meaning: Not let someone know what is happening.
Example: “I wish top management wouldn’t keep us in the dark about the proposed merger.”
209. Keep someone in the loop
Meaning: Keep someone informed.
Example: “Can you keep me in the loop? I’d like to know how everything progresses.”
210. Keep something afloat
Meaning: Keep something going.
Example: “Extra funds will keep us afloat for another few months.”
211. Keep something under wraps
Meaning: Keep something secret.
Example: “Fiat have been keeping their new model under wraps.”
212. Keep tabs on
Meaning: Monitor someone or something.
Example: “We’ll need to keep tabs on the situation for a few months.”
213. Keep your eye on the ball
Meaning: Stay focused on the objective.
Example: “Don’t get sidetracked by office politics. Keep your eye on the ball and work towards your promotion.”
214. Keep your eyes / ears open
Meaning: Be alert to something.
Example: “Please keep your ears open for any jobs that might be going.”
215. Keep your head above water
Meaning: Try to survive.
Example: “If we manage to keep our heads above water this year, we should be in a better position next year.”
216. Keep your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: Someone who works hard and steadily.
Example: “If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you’ll get a pay rise next year.”
217. Kick in
Meaning: Have an effect.
Example: “The bank’s new interest rates won’t kick in until next month.”
218. Kick-start (economy / growth)
Meaning: Stimulate.
Example: “We’re hoping that these incentives will kick-start interest in our products.”
219. Knock-on effect
Meaning: Cause something else to happen.
Example: “Higher prices will have a knock-on effect on our sales.”
220. Knock out of the park (US)
Meaning: Do much better than expected.
Example: “The IPO knocked expectations out of the park.”
221. Lay off
Meaning: Make redundant.
Example: “The plant had to lay off more than 2000 workers.”
222. Lay the groundwork
Meaning: Do work in preparation for something to be successful.
Example: “They laid the groundwork with a complete marketing plan.”
223. Learn the ropes
Meaning: Learn how to do a particular job correctly.
Example: “It’ll take you a few months to really learn the ropes, but then you’ll find the job a lot easier.”
224. Leave someone out in the cold
Meaning: Exclude someone.
Example: “We were left out in the cold while the management meeting went ahead.”
225. Let fly
Meaning: Start shouting or criticizing.
Example: “He let fly at the management team during the shareholders’ meeting.”
226. Let someone go
Meaning: Fire someone.
Example: “I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go.”
227. License (license) to print money
Meaning: A means of making a lot of money.
Example: “You’re on to a winner with your property-investment business. It’s a license to print money.”
228. Make a comeback
Meaning: Do well again after a difficult period.
Example: “After five years of losses, they seem to have made a comeback.”
229. Make a foray into
Meaning: Enter the market.
Example: “Looking to branch out of print publishing, they are making a foray into ebook publishing.”
230. Make a killing
Meaning: Make a great deal of money.
Example: “He made a killing on the stock exchange, then retired to the south of France.”
231. Make a mint
Meaning: Make a lot of money.
Example: “They made a mint selling aircraft parts, then branched out into farm vehicles.”
232. Make a go of
Meaning: Work hard at something.
Example: “He’s made a really good go at the business and is now beginning to see results.”
233. Make headway
Meaning: Make progress.
Example: “We’re struggling to make headway in the electrical goods market.”
234. Make it up as you go along
Meaning: Improvise.
Example: “With no clear strategy in place, it’s ‘make-it-up-as-you-go-along’ time.”
235. Make it your business
Meaning: Take responsibility for something.
Example: “He made it his business to drive the sustainability agenda in the company.”
236. Make money hand over fist
Meaning: Make a lot of money.
Example: “Web hosting companies are making money hand over fist.”
237. Make small talk
Meaning: Talk about trivial things before getting down to business.
Example: “You’ll need to make small talk first when doing business with Italian clients.”
238. Make strides
Meaning: Improve or develop.
Example: “Technology firms have made great strides in green energy.”
239. Make the grade
Meaning: Achieve the necessary standard for something.
Example: “Very few countries make the grade for a triple A credit rating.”
240. Make up for
Meaning: Compensate.
Example: “We can’t offer you a 10% salary increase, but we can make up for it in other ways…”
241. Make up the lost ground
Meaning: Recover in order to return to previous position.
Example: “We estimate it will take us another 18 months to make up the lost ground.”
242. Make your mark
Meaning: Become successful.
Example: “He made his mark as a tax specialist.”
243. Make-or-break
Meaning: Something that will either be successful or a failure.
Example: “Their merger is make-or-break time for them.”
244. (Give someone / Get your) Marching orders
Meaning: Be fired.
Example: “He was given his marching orders after the company restructured.”
245. Market jitters
Meaning: Market uncertainty.
Example: “Market jitters over the Eurozone crisis have increased our borrowing costs.”
246. Mean business
Meaning: Be serious.
Example: “Don’t underestimate them. They mean business and they’ll stop at nothing until they corner the market.”
247. Millstone
Meaning: Something heavy that weighs down something (such as the economy).
Example: “Sluggish growth has been a millstone on the economy.”
248. Mix business with pleasure
Meaning: Combine work and fun.
Example: “I don’t think it’s a good idea to mix business with pleasure.”
249. Money for old rope
Meaning: Money which is easily earned.
Example: “With our experience of selling solar panels, selling the cleaning equipment for them should be money for old rope.”
250. Money-laundering
Meaning: Putting money earned illegally into the legal system.
Example: “Banks are tightening their procedures to prevent money-laundering.”
