Business English Idioms and Phrases.doc

Business English Idioms and Phrases1. a far cry fromnot close to, very different from 2. a fewmore than two, less than ten3. a finger in every pieto be involved in many activities4. a free handpermission to make your own decisions5. a lost causesomething that is not worth the effort to pursue, beyond repair 6. a must.has to be7. a run for their moneypresent strong competition where others expect to win 8. a series ofone after the other, (another)9. a stealsomething priced very, very cheap, perhaps below wholesale 10. above allmost important, highest priority 11. above and beyondmore than expected12. above boardopen, honest and legal13. across the boardinvolving everything 14. add up toresults, what something means15. after allanyway, anyhow 16. after all was said and doneafter everything possible is done 17. all of a suddensuddenly, unexpected 18. all the sameanyhow, anyway19. all things to all peoplesomething that provides everything to everyone 20. all systems goeverything ready to go, nothing left to be done21. all your eggs in one basketyou depend on one plan or one source of income 22. allow fortake into consideration23. ambulance chasera lawyer who gets his business by going to hospitals 24. and then someand more, more than expected 25. answer forexplain something26. answer toexplain something to someone27. apart fromother than, except for28. appears promisinglooks good, optimistic about results 29. (a)round the clock24/7, all the time, constantly30. as a matter of factactually, in fact31. as a result ofbecause of, thanks to32. as a rulemost of the time, usually, generally speaking33. as a token ofas a symbol of appreciation34. as far as I knowto the best or limit of my knowledge35. as followsinformation following, as listed below36. as forreferring to someone, something37. as good as goldauthentic, valuable38. as good as ones wordkeeping a promise, reliable39. as long asif, providing40. as of yetup until now41. asking for troublecausing problems (for yourself)42. asleep at the switchnot paying attention to your job, missing sth important 43. at a total loss for wordsnot knowing what to say, no explanation, speechless44. at a set timeassigned time, agreed on time, fixed time 45. at any/all cost(s)no matter what the costs are46. at all timesconstantly, every time, always47. at besthighest expectation, the most that can be expected48. at first sightfirst impression of something49. at handnearby, close by, with you 50. at intervals ofequal spaces of distance or time51. at lengthin great detail52. at mostthe maximum, no more than53. at no timenever, no way54. at onceimmediately, ASAP55. at present currently, presently56. at randomno order or qualification to choice 57. at the cost ofpay for one thing by giving up another58. at the end of the dayfinal result59. at the latestno later than60. at the momentright now61. at the eleventh hourvery close to a deadline62. at/from the outsetat/from the beginning63. at the very outsideat the absolute most64. at worstthe worst to expect, worst case65. at this junctureat this point66. at this rateat this speed, if we keep going like this67. at timesoccasionally, sometimes68. at willwhenever one wants 69. back downcompromise, give in70. back eastin the eastern part of the country71. back ordersomething ordered but not delivered yet72. back out of somethingbreak an agreement73. back someone upto support someone when needed74. back the wrong horsesupport someone that cant succeed75. back to backconsecutively, two things that happen close together76. back to square oneback to the beginning, no progress, start over77. back upgo backwards, go back in time or procedure78. bag of tricks(special techniques, solutions)79. bail outabandon a project80. bait and switchadvertise something you dont have then switch81. ball and chainboring job82. ball of fireenergetic employee83. bank on somethingrely on, or count on something84. barge in onrudely interrupt someone85. bark up the wrong treemake a wrong choice86. be in on somethingto have knowledge of something that few others do 87. bear fruitbe productive, yield results 88. bear in mindremember something, keep in mind89. bear marketreluctant investors, poor performing stock market90. beat around the bushto avoid getting to the point91. before longwithin a short period of time92. before you know italmost immediately93. behind the sceneprivately, unknown to others 94. beside the pointnot relevant to the topic95. beyond questionno doubt, unquestionable96. bite off more than you can chewtake on more than you can handle97. bitter medicineneeding to do something you really dont like98. black economyunderground cash, untaxed economy99. blame storming sessionstaff getting together to determine who is to blame100. blank chequeauthorizing sb to do what they think is best in a difficult situation 101. blue chip companya company with a solid reputation for growth and earnings102. bottom linefinal price you will accept, what you really mean103. bottom of the ladderthe lowest pay or level104. bounce sth off youpresent an idea or plan to someone to get their feedback105. bound tolegally committed to106. bound to happenhas to happen sooner or later107. bow out of somethingto stop doing something you have done on a regular basis108. brain storming sessionmany staff together discussing ideas109. break downgo into detail, fully explain110. break into errupt something or someone111. break offend or stop something112. break the iceend the silence, get people talking113. breathing down someones neckover-monitoring someones work114. bring aboutcause to happen115. bring forwardpresent a question or issue for discussion116. bring into operationstart up or begin117. bring it ontake up the challenge118. bring to the tablewhatever is offered119. brush up on somethingpractice old skills you may have neglected for awhile120. built into somethingalready existing within a framework121. bull marketeager investors, active, increasing stock market122. bullish on somethingeager to implement an idea or plan123. burned outphysically and mentally exhausted from your job124. by accidenta coincidence, not meant to happen125. by and bygradually, bit by bit126. by and largefor the most part, usually127. by farmuch more than128. by means ofusing something to accomplish something else129. by mistakeaccidentally130. by the wayalso, more information131. by virtue ofbecause of something, due to something132. by way ofvia, after going to/through133. call forask for, need, require134. call offstop something, cancel135. came/come acrossan unexpected find136. can lead tocan result in, develop into137. capable ofable to do138. carry offsuccessfully complete139. carry oncontinue140. carve out a nichefind a special market that you can control141. catch 22an action with results that prevent you from doing it142. catch onstart to understand 143. catch up with/tocome even with144. clean out your deskyoure fired145. clear as mudnot understood, unclear146. clear cutdefinite, absolute147. clear upexplain sufficiently148. clinch a dealreach agreement on a proposal or offer149. close callto come very close to having something bad happen150. close the salefinalize the sale151. cold feetto consider not doing someone you have said you would do 152. come acrossto be understood153. come/go into effecttake effect, begin154. come aroundagree with you155. come toend up, result156. come up againstencounter157. come up withoffer, present158. company turnoverthe amount of money by volume that a company makes159. compared with/tothis to that160. corner the marketto control the market regarding a certain product161. cosmetic changeschanges only to the appearance of something162. count onrely on, depend on163. cover for someoneto take someones place temporarily, substitute for sb164. cover uphide information or facts165. create a bottleneckdelay caused by too much of something166. cut back/downreduce something167. cut cornerstake shortcuts, eliminate steps168. cut outeliminate, get rid of169. cut out fornaturally talented or able to do something170. cut shortend early171. cut your lossesgive up on wasted money so you dont waste even more172. dead in the waterfinished, over, with no chance of success173. deal insell some particular product174. deal withhandle175. deep pocketshave a lot of money176. die down/out reduce or end slowly177. dish it outgive out a lot of criticism to people178. do away withget rid of, discontinue179. do the mathfigure it out yourself (involving numbers)180. do the spadeworkto do the preparatory work for something181. dog eat dogfierce competition182. donkey workthe unpleasant, boring parts of a job183. dont even think of itdont even consider it, absolutely not184. double digitthe numbers of 10-99185. down the drainmoney, time or effort that has been wasted or lost186. down timetime that you are not able to work187. due tobecause of, as a result of188. drag your feetunnecessarily delaying a decision which is important189. draw a line in the sandmake final conditions that can not be changed190. draw onto use a resource you have191. dry upSomething ends slowly or money eventually disappears192. easier said than doneeasy to say it but hard to actually do it193. eight hundred pound gorillamost powerful group or company194. etc. (etcetera)and so on, and so forth195. except (for)other than196. face to faceperson to person197. face up toconfront, deal with198. fade awaygo away or end slowly199. fall back onuse something you have in reserve200. fall behindlose ground to somebody 201. fall throughfailed deal202. far fromnot close to203. farm outwork that is sent out to be done by others204. few and far betweennot very often or common205. fifty/fiftyhalf and half, both sides equal206. fill someone inexplain to someone what they need to know207. find fault with somethingfind some problem with or disagree with something208. first ratethe best, excellent209. fly by the seat of your pantsdoing something intuitively210. forevera long time211. for goodpermanently212. for one thingfor example/instance213. for the betterimprovement214. for the worsedeteriorate215. for the momentfor now, presently216. for the sake ofto try to save something217. for the time beingfor now, presently218. free rideto get benefit at no cost219. from day onefrom the beginning220. from time to timeoccasionally221. getting atgetting to the point222. get acrossget somebody to understand you223. get away with somethingdo something without consequences224. get bymake do with the resources you have225. get down to brass tacks deal with the practical and important issues226. get evenseek revenge, retaliate227. get off the groundput something into operation after having organized it 228. get on with somethingcontinue229. get out from underto recover from a negative financial situation230. get out of lineto disobey or ignore normal procedures or rules231. get rid ofeliminate, discard232. get the better ofto gain an advantage over someone233. get the bugs outeliminate the remaining small problems234. get the hang of sthwhen you figure out how to do something correctly235. get the show on the roadputting a plan or idea into action236. get your foot in the doora chance to prove yourself237. get your hands dirtybecome involved in all aspects of your job 238. give and takeact of compromising in negotiating 239. give awayfree or very cheap240. give in/way/upchange your position241. give rise tocause something to happen242. go afterpursue243. go along with somethingcooperate with, agree to244. go back onchange your mind245. go big or go homedo something big enough to win or get out of the situation246. go for a songwhen something is sold at an unexpectedly low price247. go for itgo ahead and do it248. go off the deep endget very angry about something249. go overcheck over, review250. go through channelsto do something the normal acceptable way251. go through with itcarry something through to completion252. golden handcuffsa large sum of money given to sb to make sure they dont quit253. golden handshakea large sum of money given to someone when they retire254. golden parachutea large sum of money given if position is terminated255. hands on experienceexperience gained by doing something256. hard as nailsa tough minded person257. have a voicetake part in a discussion or give your opinion258. have an ace up your sleevesth in reserve that gives you an advantage259. have in mindto have a plan or idea260. have it out with someoneto have an intense argument with someone 261. have nothing to do with itto not be involved262. have your hands tiedto be unable to do sth because of an existing situation263. head forgo toward264. hear me outwait till Im finished talking265. hit the ground runningready to start work immediately on a new project266. hive of activitya place of activity where everyone is very busy267. hold all the acesin a strong position with advantages over others268. hold backwait269. hold outwait for a better deal270. Im all earslistening carefully, very interested271. I give you my wordI promise you272. I need it yesterdayinformal way to say it is needed immediately273. in accordance withaccording to274. in advancebefore, prior to275. in charge ofresponsible for276. in commontogether, similar277. in due courseeventually/in time278. in favor ofagree with279. in handunder control, well managed280. in line (with)according or similar to281. in no timevery soon, almost immediately282. in order that/toto be able to283. in other wordsto say something another way, to be more direct284. in over your headtake on something you are not qualified or able to do285. in partpartly286. in personface to face287. in place ofinstead of288. in proportion torelated, compared to something289. in questionconcerning what is being discussed290. in relation toconcerning291. in returnpay back, compensate292. in shortin brief, summarized293. in sightclose to achievement294. in spite ofeven though, despite295. in step within line with, at the same speed296. in the doldrumsthe situation is gloomy and nothing new is happening 297. in the endfinally, final result298. in the event ofif something happens299. in the face ofencountering opposition300. in the leastat all301. in the light ofknowing specific information302. in the long runeventually, after a long period of time303. in the pipelinein progress or being organized at the moment304. in the wayencountering a problem305. in timesomething happens at its own speed306. in touchinformed, connected307. in turnin proper order or sequence308. in vainunsuccessful effort309. it goes without saying. common sense, known without the need to mention 310. it will never flyit wont be successful311. its a jungle out therea difficult market with many tough competitors312. jump through hoopstry very hard to do what is required313. jump to conclusionsdecide on or judge something too quickly314. just a matter of timesomething that will happen eventually315. just nowvery recently, a short time ago316. keep an eye onwatch somebody or something317. keep pace withmatch, equal, keep up with318. keep track ofkeep a record of something, monitor319. keep your fingers crossed a superstitious sign of good luck320. keep your headstay calm321. keep your head above waterto survive by stayingout of debt322. keep your wordkeep your promise323. kick an idea arounddiscuss a new idea informally to see if it is feasible324. kind ofsort of, a little325. kiss assdoing whatever you think it will take to please someone326. lame ducka person or organization that is unable to manage without help 327. land a contractget or finally secure a signature on a contract328. land on your feetrecover safely with little loss from a bad situation329. large scalevery big330. last personlast person chosen for something, preferably avoided331. last strawthe last event in a series of unacceptable events332. late in the gamean element that happens or is introduced near the end of sth333. lay offlet someone go from their job334. learning curvetime needed to learn something new, rate of learning335. learn the hard waylearn through a negative experience rather than take advice336. learn the ropeslearn the correct way to do a particular job337. leave opendelay making a decision on something338. let something slideneglect something or not deal with it for awhile339. level playing fieldsame conditions existing for everyone340. license to print moneyan officially authorized activity that makes easy money341. lifts all boatssomething that benefits everyone342. likely as not50% chance of something happening 343. little by littlestep by step344. live up tomeet expectations345. look down oncrit