| Idiom | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A rocky road (n) | A difficult or challenging situation. | Implementing a new company-wide policy was a rocky road, filled with obstacles and resistance. |
| A bumpy ride (n) | A difficult or turbulent experience. | The merger process was a bumpy ride, with unexpected challenges and delays. |
| A bitter pill to swallow (n) | A difficult or unpleasant reality that must be accepted. | Laying off employees was a bitter pill to swallow, even though it was necessary for the company’s survival. |
| A tough sell (n) | A difficult or persuasive task. | Convincing the team to adopt a new work methodology was a tough sell, but we eventually got their buy-in. |
| Clean house (v) | To make significant changes or remove unnecessary elements. | After the merger, we decided to clean house and streamline our operations. |
| A baptism of fire (n) | A sudden and overwhelming introduction to a new and difficult situation. | The new CEO’s first week on the job was a baptism of fire, as he faced a major crisis. |
| A sea change (n) | A dramatic and far-reaching change. | The introduction of artificial intelligence into our industry has caused a sea change in how we do business. |
| A rough patch (n) | A period of difficulty or hardship. | Our company is going through a rough patch due to the economic downturn. |
| Facing headwinds (v) | Encountering obstacles or difficulties. | We’re facing headwinds in our efforts to expand into new markets. |
| Walking a tightrope (v) | Being in a difficult or delicate situation. Trying to keep two different parties happy. | The company is walking a tightrope between reducing costs and maintaining quality. |
| Uphill battle (n) | A difficult or challenging task. | Implementing a new company-wide policy was an uphill battle, but we eventually succeeded. |
| Go against the grain (v) | Do something that is contrary to what is expected or accepted. | Introducing flexible work arrangements went against the grain of our traditional company culture, but it proved to be a successful change. |
| Smooth/plain sailing (n) | A situation that is easy and without problems. | The transition to our new ERP system was smoother than expected. |
| A cakewalk (n) | A task that is very easy. | Implementing the new HR policy was a cakewalk compared to the last major change we made. |
| A breeze (n) | Something that is easy to do or accomplish. | The new project was a breeze for our experienced team. |
| A ripple effect (n) | A chain reaction or series of consequences. | The decision to downsize our workforce had a ripple effect throughout the company. |
| A domino effect (n) | A chain reaction where one event causes a series of other events. | The CEO’s resignation had a domino effect, leading to a number of other changes in the company. |
| A no-brainer (n) | A decision that is easy to make. | Implementing a remote work policy was a no-brainer during the pandemic. |
| A feather in one’s cap (n) | A source of pride or achievement. | Successfully launching our new product line was a feather in our cap. |
| A slam dunk (n) | A sure thing or a guaranteed success. | The merger with Company B was a slam dunk for both organizations. |
Bite Sized Business English
Leave a Reply