Business Idioms: The English language has become an internationally recognised and desirable language in the modern world. Owing to the internet, the expansion of the English language has reached new horizons, and the field has gained a considerable amount of attention as time progressed. We are aware of the various components that make the English language comprehensive. Idioms are one of the vital and functional components that makes this language sound different from the regular or fundamental sentences we use every day.
Idioms are if multiple types ranging from workplace idioms to sales idioms to common idioms and much more.
In this article, we have revised a list of Business English expressions or idioms to aid people who want to solve Business Idioms Worksheets faster and have an easier time learning the language better.
Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.
Name of Business Idioms
List of Business Idioms
- A long shot
- A lot on my plate
- Ahead of the pack
- Back to square one
- Behind the scenes
- Bring something to the business
- Back to the drawing board
- Bang for the buck
- By the book
- Big picture
- Brain drain
- Corner of the market
- Cut one’s losses
- Call it a day
- Cash cow
- Cut to the chase
- Drop the ball
- Down to business
- Dead wood
- Eleventh hour
- Foot in the door
- Fine print
- Glass ceiling
- Grey Area
- Go down the drain
- Get the ball rolling
- Go behind one’s back
- Get off on the right foot
- Hot off the press
- Hold the fort
- In a nutshell
- In the nick of time
- In full swing
- Keep one’s eye on the ball
- Jack of all Trades
- Last straw
- Movers and shakers
- No strings attached
- No brainer
- On the back burner
- Round the clock
Meaning And Examples Of Some Commonly Used American Idioms
A long shot
Meaning: This idiom is utilized for defining the action of going on to achieve something seemingly hard to obtain but offers a positive result.
Example: Scoring the highest mark was a long shot, but it was worth it.
A lot on my plate
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe someone who has a lot to deal with presently.
Example: I cannot take up more assignments because I already have a lot on my plate for this month.
Ahead of the pack
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to define trying to advance forward from the others present in some kind of situation.
Example: If you want to be included in the group, stay ahead of the pack.
Back to square one
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe the action of trying to get around something but failing and returning to the starting point.
Example: No matter how good I tried to proceed in the game, I always went back to square one after this level.
Behind the scenes
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to indicate the act of performing something without revealing it to the public.
Example: The behind the scenes of the recent shoot will be revealed shortly.
Bring something to the business
Meaning: This idiom is utilized for the purpose of qualifying an item or person as beneficial to a particular project.
Example: The potential in him will surely bring something to the business.
Back to the drawing board
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to define that an individual has failed at a task and needs to go back to the starting point.
Example: You have failed thrice in a row, go back to the drawing board.
Bang for the buck
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to define any offer or any source of making a good amount of money for an individual’s personal profit in finance.
Example: Please hold on to this offer it is a bang for the buck.
By the book
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to define the action of doing something by following an official order.
Example: The teacher strictly wants us to do this project by the book.
Big picture
Meaning: This idiom describes the overall view of a bigger and more complex situation.
Example: Today, in the meeting we spoke about the big picture of our company progress.
Brain drain
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe the action of a large number of educated individuals of a specific country, immigrate to another third-world country.
Example: He had so much potential, but his decisions made the situation a brain drain.
Corner of the market
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe the act of producing or supplying plenty of sales to meet public demands and being more successful than the other companies in the same field.
Example: The new cake shop has cornered the market in confectionery.
Cut one’s losses
Meaning: This idiom describes the act of giving up a particular position that can make a social situation worse than its current state.
Example: He cut his losses by quitting his previous profession.
Call it a day
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to explain the act of concluding tasks for a particular day after a lot of work.
Example: We decided to call it a day after the party was over.
Cash cow
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe someone who makes a reasonable sum of money through business.
Example: The new shopping complex is a cash cow.
Cut to the chase
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe the act of quickly getting to the main points without wasting time on basics.
Example: You have been going over the unnecessary details; it’s time to cut to the chase.
Drop the ball
Meaning: This idiom describes the act of missing a great opportunity or making a severe mistake.
Example: I dropped the ball during our first sports tournament.
Down to business
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to explain the action of starting to do what one needs to do without waiting on it further.
Example: After having lunch at the new restaurant, we got down to business.
Dead wood
Meaning: This idiomatic expression indicates people or anything that has lost its original value in society.
Example: Much of society’s dead wood was removed by the starting of the new policy.
Eleventh hour
Meaning: This idiom describes the latest or last hour of doing things. It is an idiom of the time; in simple words, it means to wait until the last hour for completing things.
Example: Please complete the assignment faster, or you will rush at the eleventh hour.
Foot in the door
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe the action of putting one’s foot forward to show progress in a specific field.
Example: She said yes to the offer to put her foot in the door.
Fine print
Meaning: This idiom describes the vital points stated within a said document that is easily overlooked by people.
Example: If he had gone over the fine print, this case would be solved by now.
Glass ceiling
Meaning: This idiom is used as a metaphor to symbolize a particular barrier that comes in one’s way of rising or achieving a senior, more prestigious position.
Example: She broke through the glass ceiling and made all of us proud of her.
Grey area
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe a specific situation where one finds it difficult to distinguish between right and wrong.
Example: Although the case was progressing, a grey area still remained.
Go down the drain
Meaning: This idiom describes the failure of someone in achieving something.
Example: Even though she tried her best, her last decision made her efforts go down the drain.
Get the ball rolling
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to define the action of starting something off.
Example: Now that the fundamentals are noted, it’s time to get the ball rolling.
Go behind one’s back
Meaning: This idiom describes the act of betrayal towards someone who has helped an individual.
Example: After all, he did for you, will you still choose to go behind his back?
Get off on the right foot
Meaning: This idiom describes the start of any relationship or project on the right track.
Example: I’m glad he got off the right foot during their first meeting.
Hot off the press
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe something that is newly formed and sensational.
Example: The newly published book by the young author is hot in the press.
Hold the fort
Meaning: we use this idiom to describe the act of guarding or taking care of something while the actual person in charge is absent.
Example: I’m so thankful he held the fort when I was absent.
In a nutshell
Meaning: This idiom describes the action of making a log story or providing a lot of information in a shortcut way.
Example: He gave me the details of the company in a nutshell.
In the nick of time
Meaning: This idiom means to do something right in time, for saving or showing up in a particular moment of need.
Example: The fire brigade arrived right in the nick of time.
In full swing
Meaning: This idiom describes the act of something blooming or working out very well as per expectations.
Example: The party was in full swing once the music played.
Keep one’s eye on the ball
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe the act of keeping one’s eyes locked onto a target they set.
Example: To get past the opposing team’s tactics, keep your eye on the ball.
Jack of all Trades
Meaning: This idiom is widespread and used to describe someone who is talented in various fields or disciplines but doesn’t excel in any of them.
Example: He is the jack of all trades among everyone in the class.
Last straw
Meaning: This idiom refers to the last ray of hope left or the latest attempt at something
Example: Hold on to the last straw, do not let go.
Movers and shakers
Meaning: This idiom describes a person with authority who has the power to make a considerable change.
Example: Apparently, his father is a pretty big mover and shaker, so that he can do anything.
No strings attached
Meaning: This idiom symbolizes the idea of independence.
Example: I want to live my life in a place of my choice and have no strings attached to anyone.
No brainer
Meaning: This idiom is utilized to describe something or someone who is not much of a problem.
Example: The height difference is a no brainer to him.
On the back burner
Meaning: This idiom refers to someone or something that has been forgotten over time.
Example: He left those thoughts on the back burner.
Round the clock
Meaning: This idiom describes the action of working the whole day continuously without significant leisure time or breaks in between.
Example: I had to work around the clock to finish all my pending assignments for this month.
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