English lesson 5 - Business English
Phrases
English lesson 5 - Business English
Phrases
It was A TOUGH BREAK for us when Caroline quit. She was one of our top performers. - ANSWER When
something unfortunate happens, it can be called a "tough break."
We're investing a lot of money in research and development so we can stay AHEAD OF THE CURVE. -
ANSWER To be "ahead of the curve" means to be more advanced than the competition.
If we want to stay AHEAD OF THE PACK, we're going to have to work hard and continue to innovate. -
ANSWER To be "ahead of the pack" means to be better or more successful than the competition.
I'm a little nervous about giving this presentation. There's a lot AT STAKE. - ANSWER "At stake" means at
risk.
Our programmers identified what they thought the problem was with the software. After working for
several hours, it turns out that the problem is something different. We're BACK TO SQUARE ONE,
unfortunately. - ANSWER To go "back to square one" means to start something over again.
The prototype wasn't successful. We have to go BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. - ANSWER To go "back
to the drawing board" means to start something over and go back to the planning stage.
I think they got the government contract because of a BACKROOM DEAL. - ANSWER A "backroom deal"
is an agreement or decision that is made without the public knowing about it.
I'm not sure what a Super Bowl commercial costs, but to give you a BALLPARK NUMBER/FIGURE I'd say
about three million dollars. - ANSWER A "ballpark number" is a very inexact estimate.
They make it look so effortless, but they do a lot of hard work and planning BEHIND THE SCENES. -
ANSWER What happens in secret or not in front of the general public is said to happen "behind the
scenes."
, English lesson 5 - Business English
Phrases
Even though we all have very specific tasks to do, our manager makes sure we don't lose sight of the BIG
PICTURE. - ANSWER Everything that is involved with a particular situation is called "the big picture."
It's a BLUE COLLAR town with a lot of farmers and factory workers. - ANSWER A "blue collar worker" is
someone who works with his hands (manufacturing, construction, maintenance, etc.).
We are regularly audited by several regulatory agencies. It's important that we do everything BY THE
BOOK. - ANSWER To do things "by the book" means to do things according to company policy or the law.
Well, John, it's 7:00 and I'm getting hungry. How about we CALL IT A DAY? - ANSWER To "call it a day"
means to decide to stop working for the day.
Mike was CAUGHT OFF GUARD when they asked him to direct the meeting. - ANSWER To "catch
someone off guard" means to surprise someone by doing something that he or she was not expecting.
The employees complained about the change in policy, but the supervisor refused to CAVE IN. - ANSWER
To "cave" or "cave in" means to give in or agree to something that someone previously did not want to
accept.
It's nice to go on business trips because it's A CHANGE OF PACE. - ANSWER "A change of pace" is
something different from a normal routine or schedule.
The charity fund raiser was supposed to raise three million dollars, but we CAME UP SHORT. - ANSWER
To "come up short" means to try to achieve something but fail. We often say that someone has "come
up short" when someone fails to achieve a goal, but not completely.
Apple has CORNERED THE MARKET on mp3 players. They have a large percentage of market share. -
ANSWER To "corner a market" means to dominate a particular market.
We don't CUT CORNERS on our luxury products. - ANSWER To "cut corners" means to take shortcuts and
find an easier or cheaper way to do something.
Phrases
English lesson 5 - Business English
Phrases
It was A TOUGH BREAK for us when Caroline quit. She was one of our top performers. - ANSWER When
something unfortunate happens, it can be called a "tough break."
We're investing a lot of money in research and development so we can stay AHEAD OF THE CURVE. -
ANSWER To be "ahead of the curve" means to be more advanced than the competition.
If we want to stay AHEAD OF THE PACK, we're going to have to work hard and continue to innovate. -
ANSWER To be "ahead of the pack" means to be better or more successful than the competition.
I'm a little nervous about giving this presentation. There's a lot AT STAKE. - ANSWER "At stake" means at
risk.
Our programmers identified what they thought the problem was with the software. After working for
several hours, it turns out that the problem is something different. We're BACK TO SQUARE ONE,
unfortunately. - ANSWER To go "back to square one" means to start something over again.
The prototype wasn't successful. We have to go BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. - ANSWER To go "back
to the drawing board" means to start something over and go back to the planning stage.
I think they got the government contract because of a BACKROOM DEAL. - ANSWER A "backroom deal"
is an agreement or decision that is made without the public knowing about it.
I'm not sure what a Super Bowl commercial costs, but to give you a BALLPARK NUMBER/FIGURE I'd say
about three million dollars. - ANSWER A "ballpark number" is a very inexact estimate.
They make it look so effortless, but they do a lot of hard work and planning BEHIND THE SCENES. -
ANSWER What happens in secret or not in front of the general public is said to happen "behind the
scenes."
, English lesson 5 - Business English
Phrases
Even though we all have very specific tasks to do, our manager makes sure we don't lose sight of the BIG
PICTURE. - ANSWER Everything that is involved with a particular situation is called "the big picture."
It's a BLUE COLLAR town with a lot of farmers and factory workers. - ANSWER A "blue collar worker" is
someone who works with his hands (manufacturing, construction, maintenance, etc.).
We are regularly audited by several regulatory agencies. It's important that we do everything BY THE
BOOK. - ANSWER To do things "by the book" means to do things according to company policy or the law.
Well, John, it's 7:00 and I'm getting hungry. How about we CALL IT A DAY? - ANSWER To "call it a day"
means to decide to stop working for the day.
Mike was CAUGHT OFF GUARD when they asked him to direct the meeting. - ANSWER To "catch
someone off guard" means to surprise someone by doing something that he or she was not expecting.
The employees complained about the change in policy, but the supervisor refused to CAVE IN. - ANSWER
To "cave" or "cave in" means to give in or agree to something that someone previously did not want to
accept.
It's nice to go on business trips because it's A CHANGE OF PACE. - ANSWER "A change of pace" is
something different from a normal routine or schedule.
The charity fund raiser was supposed to raise three million dollars, but we CAME UP SHORT. - ANSWER
To "come up short" means to try to achieve something but fail. We often say that someone has "come
up short" when someone fails to achieve a goal, but not completely.
Apple has CORNERED THE MARKET on mp3 players. They have a large percentage of market share. -
ANSWER To "corner a market" means to dominate a particular market.
We don't CUT CORNERS on our luxury products. - ANSWER To "cut corners" means to take shortcuts and
find an easier or cheaper way to do something.
