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Business English idioms



The predominant Business English idioms used in the business world are often terms that perplex many people because direct translation often does not make sense. Therefore, in this post we have prepared Business English idioms for you.


Read on and check out our list: Business English-related idioms



business english


But before we move on to idioms it is worth answering the question: what is an idiom


An idiom is a group of words (or a phrase) that is a single unit of vocabulary and has a specific meaning. The meaning may not be clear from interpreting individual words and we need to learn the whole phrase as a single element. Learning English business idioms helps develop fluency and better understanding of English native speakers.






 

go down to the wire

describes something that is not decided or certain until the last moment


"The contract negotiations went down to the wire, but we finally reached an agreement just before the deadline."






level the playing field

creation of fair and equal conditions for negotiations


"New regulations aim to level the playing field for small businesses by reducing some of the reporting burdens."






hit the ground running

immediate and efficient start of work


"The new sales team is hitting the ground running, exceeding their quotas right from the start."






move the needle

achieving significant progress towards the objective


"While these initial improvements are good, we still need to move the needle on overall customer satisfaction."






hit a snag

encounter an unexpected obstacle


"We hit a snag during negotiations, but we're confident we can find a solution that levels the playing field for both parties."






the ball is in your court

highlights who is responsible for taking the next decision


“After reviewing and submitting the proposal to the CEO, I believe the ball is in her court to decide.”






corner the market

controlling a sufficient quantity of a product or service to enable a voluntary change in the market price. It can also mean being the sole producer or supplier of a particular product or service


"By developing a revolutionary new battery technology, the company hopes to corner the market on electric vehicles."






between a rock and a hard place

describes a situation in which you are stuck between two equally difficult or unpleasant choices. Regardless of which you choose, you will be in a difficult situation


"The company is between a rock and a hard place - they can either lay off employees or cut back on benefits."






live within your means

spending money only on what we can afford


"A key part of financial planning is living within your means and not spending more than you earn."






nickel and dime (someone)

arguing over small amounts of money or being overly concerned about small details in negotiations


"The customer was nickeling and diming us over the price of the used car, even though it was already a great deal."









Want to learn more English idioms? Check out our ebook: "BUSINESS ENGLISH IDIOMS HANDBOOK"




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