Communication is an integral part of everyday business. Communication can be easy or problematic. Here are 20 idioms for communication.
| Idiom | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Drop someone a line | To send someone a brief message or communication, usually through email or text. | “I’ll drop the client a line to follow up on the proposal.” |
| Get ahold of someone | To successfully contact or communicate with someone. | “I’ve been trying to get ahold of the IT department all morning, but no one is answering.” |
| Play phone tag | To engage in a series of missed phone calls or voicemails with someone. | “I’ve been playing phone tag with the supplier all week trying to schedule a meeting.” |
| Touch base | To make contact or connect with someone briefly, usually to exchange information. | “Let’s touch base next week to discuss the project’s progress.” |
| Keep someone posted | To inform or update someone regularly about a situation or development. | “I’ll keep you posted on any changes to the schedule.” |
| Keep/stay in touch | To keep contacting someone so you know what is happening. | I will be away on business for a few months but please keep in touch. |
| Bring someone up to speed | To update or inform someone about recent developments or changes. | “Can you bring me up to speed on what happened in the meeting while I was out?” |
| Keep someone in the loop | To include someone in the communication or decision-making process. | “Make sure to keep the finance team in the loop regarding the budget revisions.” |
| Hear it through the grapevine | To learn or hear information informally, often through rumours or gossip. | “I heard through the grapevine that there will be layoffs next month.” |
| Beat around the bush | To avoid addressing an issue directly; to speak evasively or indirectly. | “Stop beating around the bush and tell me what the problem is.” |
| Get straight to the point | To address or discuss the main issue or topic directly and without delay. | “Let’s get straight to the point and talk about our marketing strategy.” |
| Cut to the chase | To skip the preliminary steps and get to the main point or essential information. | “We don’t have time for small talk; let’s cut to the chase and discuss the contract details.” |
| Talk at cross purposes | To misunderstand each other due to talking about different things without realizing it. | “We were talking at cross purposes because we didn’t clarify our definitions beforehand.” |
| Put your foot in your mouth | To say something embarrassing, inappropriate, or tactless without intending to. | “I really put my foot in my mouth when I accidentally insulted the client during the presentation.” |
| Read the room | To assess the atmosphere or mood of a situation or group of people. | “Before making any announcements, it’s important to read the room and gauge the audience’s reactions.” |
| Speak the same language | To understand each other’s perspective or communicate effectively. | “To collaborate successfully, it’s essential for both teams to speak the same language and share their goals.” |
| Be on the same wavelength | To share similar thoughts, feelings, or understanding about a topic. | “We’re all on the same wavelength when it comes to our vision for the project.” |
| Hit the nail on the head | To describe or identify something accurately or precisely. | “You hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the market trends.” |
| Put someone in the picture | To provide someone with information or context about a situation or plan. | “Before making a decision, I need you to put me in the picture about the client’s requirements.” |
| Talk shop | To discuss work-related topics or industry-related matters. | “After the conference, the attendees gathered to talk shop and share insights from the keynote speakers.” |
| Be on the same page | To have a shared understanding or agreement about a particular topic. | “Before proceeding, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page regarding the budget allocations.” |
We hope you enjoyed our Idioms For Communication.