Idioms For Business English | Enhance Your Professional Communication

By watching this video lesson, you will learn 5 English idioms that will help you be more comfortable in business situations.

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ENGLISH IDIOMS

1. “Ballpark figure”
   1. Definition: An approximate or rough estimation.
   2. Example sentences:
      • Can you give me a ballpark figure of how much the project will cost?
      • The salesman gave me a ballpark figure for the price of the car.
      • We need a ballpark figure of the expenses before presenting the proposal.
2. “Cut corners”
   1. Definition: To do something in a cheaper or quicker way, often sacrificing quality.
   2. Example sentences:
      • Don’t cut corners when it comes to the safety of your employees.
      • The company decided to cut corners to meet its production deadline.
      • It’s important not to cut corners during the research phase of a project.
3. “Get down to business”
   1. Definition: To start focusing on the main topic or task at hand.
   2. Example sentences:
      • Let’s get down to business and discuss the details of the contract.
      • After some small talk, the team finally got down to business in the meeting.
      • We only have a limited amount of time, so let’s get down to business.
4. “Hit the ground running”
   1. Definition: To start a new project or job energetically and without any delays.
   2. Example sentences:
      • The new employee hit the ground running and quickly adapted to the company’s work environment.
      • We need someone who can hit the ground running in this fast-paced industry.
      • The team decided to hire an experienced consultant to hit the ground running on the project.
5. “Learn the ropes”
   1. Definition: To become familiar with the details and practical knowledge of a job or task.
   2. Example sentences:
      • The intern will spend the first few weeks learning the ropes of the company’s procedures.
      • It takes time to learn the ropes of managing a team effectively.
      • The new hire is still learning the ropes, so we need to provide guidance and support.
6. “Call the shots”
   1. Definition: To be in a position of control or have the authority to make decisions.
   2. Example sentences:
      • As the project manager, she calls the shots on all major decisions.
      • The CEO is the one who calls the shots in this company.
      • The team leader has the final say and calls the shots during team meetings.
7. “Cut to the chase”
   1. Definition: To get to the main point or important part without wasting time.
   2. Example sentences:
      • Let’s skip the small talk and cut to the chase. What’s the main issue we need to address?
      • The presenter decided to cut to the chase and focus on the key findings of the research.
      • The meeting was running behind schedule, so the manager asked everyone to cut to the chase.
8. “Think outside the box”
   1. Definition: To think creatively, unconventionally, or beyond traditional boundaries.
   2. Example sentences:
      • To solve this problem, we need to think outside the box and consider unusual solutions.
      • The creative team is known for its ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas.
      • The company encourages employees to think outside the box and propose new strategies.
9. “Keep someone in the loop”
   1. Definition: To inform someone and include them in the communication or decision-making process.
   2. Example sentences:
      • Please keep me in the loop about any updates or changes to the project timeline.
      • As the team leader, it is important to keep everyone in the loop regarding important decisions.
      • The manager kept the entire department in the loop about the upcoming changes.
10. “Stay on top of something”
    1. Definition: To stay informed and in control of a situation or task.
    2. Example sentences:
       • It’s important to stay on top of industry trends to remain competitive.
       • The project manager needs to stay on top of the project’s progress and deadlines.
       • I’m constantly checking my emails to ensure I stay on top of any urgent requests.