25 Common Business English Idioms & Phrases
Do you want to sound more like a native speaker and improve your English fluency for work? It’s interesting how many idioms are used in the business world every day. In this post, you'll learn some of the most common business English idioms and expressions. Hopefully, this article will help you feel more confident in understanding some most commonly used English idioms and phrases.
List of business English idioms and phrases:
1. Ahead of the pack
2. Back to square one
3. Bring something to the table
4. By the book
5. Call it a day
6. Call the shots (also call the tune)
7. Corner the market
8. Cut corners
9. Cut-throat
10. Get (something) off the ground
11. Get/set/start the ball rolling
12. Go the extra mile
13. Hands are tied
14. In a nutshell
15. It’s not rocket science
16. Keep your eye on the ball
17. Know/learn the ropes
18. Put the cart before the horse
19. Red tape
20. The bottom line
21. The elephant in the room
22. Think outside the box
23. Twist someone’s arm
24. Up in the air
25. Uphill battle
25 Common Business English Idioms & Phrases
Business English Idioms |
1) Ahead of the pack
to be more successful than other people who are trying to acquire the same things as you.
Example:
Our new management system has kept the company far ahead of the pack in terms of product development.
2) Back to square one
If someone is back to square one, they have to start working on a plan from the beginning because their previous attempt failed completely.
Example:
If this idea doesn't work you're back to square one.
3) Bring something to the table
to provide or contribute something that will be a benefit
Example:
Dev was the right person to hire – he brings a lot of experience and some important skills to the table.
Keep reading: Love idioms
4) By the book
by following the official rules very strictly
Example:
Our boss insists on doing everything by the book.
5) Call it a day
to stop doing something because you do not want to do any more or think you have done enough
Example:
I've been studying hard – I think I should call it a day.
6) Call the shots (also call the tune)
to be in charge of what is happening and what should happen
Example:
Your staff has to do what you say because you're the boss, and you call all the shots here!
7) Corner the market
If a company corners the market in a specific product, it is more successful than any other company at selling that product.
Example:
The company quickly cornered the market on video games.
8) Cut corners
to not do a task as thoroughly as you should, especially because you want to finish it quickly or save money
Example:
You could finish this project early only if you cut corners.
9) Cut-throat
a cut-throat situation or activity is one in which people behave in an unfair or immoral way in order to get an advantage over other people
Example:
The competition is going to be cut-throat today.
Keep reading: Eye idioms
10) Get (something) off the ground
If an activity or plan gets off the ground or you get it off the ground, it starts or succeeds.
Example:
A lot more money will be required to get this plan off the ground.
11) Get/set/start the ball rolling
to begin an activity or process
Example:
At the meeting, he tried to get the ball rolling by asking a few questions.
12) Go the extra mile
to do more than you are required to do
Example:
She is a nice girl, always ready to go the extra mile for her friends.
13) Hands are tied
If someone says that their hands are tied, they mean that something is preventing them from acting in the way that they want to.
Example:
I'd like to help you, but my hands are tied.
14) In a nutshell
very briefly, giving only the main points
Example:
Just tell me the truth in a nutshell.
15) It’s not rocket science
used to say that someone doesn't think that something is very difficult to do or to understand
Example:
Our trainer always said, "Basketball is not rocket science. It's about putting the ball in the basket."
16) Keep your eye on the ball
to give your attention to what you are doing at the time
Example:
He really needs to keep his eye on the ball if he wants to win the election.
17) Know/learn the ropes
to know or learn how to do something, especially a job
Example:
It will take a few days for new employees to know the ropes.
18) Put the cart before the horse
to do things in the wrong order
Example:
Isn't she putting the cart before the horse by deciding what to wear for the wedding before she's even been invited to it?
19) Red tape
official rules, laws and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results
Example:
She couldn't get her passport in time because of red tape.
20) The bottom line
the final line in the accounts of an organisation or company, stating the total profit or loss that has been made
Example:
Kiara keeps a careful eye on the bottom line.
Keep reading: Idioms about time
21) The elephant in the room
a serious problem that everybody is aware of but no one wants to talk about
Example:
I do not want to ask the question, but it's the big elephant in the room.
22) Think outside the box
to find new ways of doing things, especially of solving problems
Example:
To solve this problem, you'll have to think outside the box.
23) Twist someone’s arm
(informal) to try to force somebody to do something
Example:
I didn't want to go but Nisha twisted my arm.
24) Up in the air
If a plan is up in the air, you haven't yet decided what will happen.
Example:
The whole future of our project is still up in the air.
25) Uphill battle
a very difficult struggle
Example:
Starting her own firm has proven to be an uphill battle.