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Category: Business Idioms & Phrasal Verbs

  • Bear Fruit

    🗓️ Idiom: Bear Fruit (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To produce successful or positive results after effort.
    • To achieve the intended outcome of work or planning.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The marketing strategy finally bore fruit after several months of testing.
    • His hard work on improving client relationships bore fruit when sales increased.
    • The mentorship program is beginning to bear fruit as more employees take on leadership roles.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from agriculture, where “bearing fruit” literally means a plant producing fruit after growth. By the 16th century, it was used in English to describe efforts or actions producing positive results.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The new employee training program has finally _______.

    Answer

    borne fruit

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “bear fruit” mean?
    a) To plant trees
    b) To produce successful results
    c) To start a project

    Answer

    b) To produce successful results

    3. Change the sentence using “bear fruit”:
    “After months of networking, his efforts led to a major business deal.”

    Answer

    After months of networking, his efforts bore fruit with a major business deal.

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  • Reap the Rewards

    🗓️ Idiom: Reap the Rewards (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To receive benefits or advantages as a result of hard work.
    • To enjoy success after effort or investment.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After months of hard work on the project, the team finally reaped the rewards.
    • Employees who invest in learning new skills often reap the rewards in promotions.
    • She stayed late every day to finish the report and reaped the rewards when her manager praised her work.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from agriculture. “Reap” refers to harvesting crops once they are fully grown. By the 16th century, it was used metaphorically in English to mean enjoying the results of one’s labor or efforts — in business, work, or life in general.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    After months of preparation for the conference, the team finally _______.

    Answer

    reaped the rewards

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “reap the rewards” mean?
    a) To plant seeds
    b) To receive benefits from hard work
    c) To start a new project

    Answer

    b) To receive benefits from hard work

    3. Change the sentence using “reap the rewards”:
    “After finishing the training program, he got a well-deserved promotion.”

    Answer

    After finishing the training program, he reaped the rewards with a well-deserved promotion.

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  • Hit a Ceiling

    🗓️ Idiom: Hit a Ceiling (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To reach a limit in your career or progress.
    • To stop moving forward because there are no more opportunities for growth.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After ten years in the same position, she felt she had hit a ceiling in her company.
    • Many employees hit a ceiling when there are no higher roles available.
    • He hit a ceiling in his current job and decided to look for new challenges elsewhere.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom likely comes from the image of a ceiling as the highest point you can reach in a room. In business, it began to be used in the mid-1900s to describe a situation where someone cannot progress further. The related phrase “glass ceiling” later became popular to describe hidden limits on promotion, especially for women in the workplace.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    After five years in the same role, I feel like I’ve _______ in this company.

    Answer

    hit a ceiling

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “hit a ceiling” mean?
    a) To break a record
    b) To reach a limit in progress or growth
    c) To start a new career

    Answer

    b) To reach a limit in progress or growth

    3. Change the sentence using “hit a ceiling”:
    She realised there were no more chances for promotion in her department.

    Answer

    She realised she had hit a ceiling in her department.

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  • Reach for the Stars

    🗓️ Idiom: Reach for the Stars (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To try to achieve something very ambitious or impressive.
    • To set high goals and work hard to achieve them.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Our manager always encourages the team to reach for the stars and think beyond their limits.
    • If you want to grow in your career, don’t settle for less — reach for the stars.
    • Young entrepreneurs are told to reach for the stars and believe that success is possible.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the image of literally trying to touch or reach the stars in the sky — something far away and difficult to achieve. It has been used since the early 1900s to inspire people to aim high in life, work, or personal goals. The stars represent big dreams and high ambitions, much like “shoot for the moon.”

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Don’t be afraid to _______ — you might achieve more than you expect.

    Answer

    reach for the stars

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “reach for the stars” mean?
    a) To set very high goals
    b) To relax and take it easy
    c) To follow someone else’s plan

    Answer

    a) To set very high goals

    3. Change the sentence using “reach for the stars”:
    He decided to apply for a global position at the company to test his potential.

    Answer

    He decided to reach for the stars and apply for a global position at the company.

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  • Shoot for the Moon

    🗓️ Idiom: Shoot for the Moon (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To aim for something very ambitious or difficult to achieve.
    • To set high goals, even if success is not guaranteed.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Don’t be afraid to shoot for the moon — apply for that leadership role even if it feels out of reach.
    • Our CEO always tells new employees to shoot for the moon when setting their career goals.
    • If you shoot for the moon and miss, you’ll still land among the stars.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from the literal image of aiming for the moon — something that once seemed impossible. It became popular in the mid-20th century, especially during the space race of the 1960s, when the moon represented the ultimate challenge. Over time, “shoot for the moon” came to mean striving for extraordinary success in any field, including business and career development.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Even if your idea seems risky, it’s good to _______ and try something bold.

    Answer

    shoot for the moon

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “shoot for the moon” mean?
    a) To try something small and easy
    b) To aim for something ambitious
    c) To relax and avoid challenges

    Answer

    b) To aim for something ambitious

    3. Change the sentence using “shoot for the moon”:
    “She decided to apply for the top management position even though it was a long shot.”

    Answer

    She decided to shoot for the moon and apply for the top management position.

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  • Go Up in the World

    🗓️ Idiom: Go Up in the World (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To become more successful, especially in career or social status.
    • To improve your position or reputation over time.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After starting her own company, Maria has really gone up in the world.
    • When people saw him featured in a business magazine, they knew he’d gone up in the world.
    • He used to work in customer service, but now he’s managing the entire sales division — he’s definitely gone up in the world.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase dates back to the 1500s and comes from the idea of moving physically upward to represent progress or improvement. In earlier English society, people who gained wealth or higher social standing were said to have “gone up,” just as townspeople would travel “up to London” for better opportunities. Over time, it came to describe career and status advancement more generally.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Since her promotion to director, everyone agrees that she has _______.

    Answer

    gone up in the world

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “go up in the world” mean?
    a) To move to a different country
    b) To become more successful or respected
    c) To travel more often

    Answer

    b) To become more successful or respected

    3. Change the sentence using “go up in the world”:
    “After years of hard work, he finally achieved a senior position.”

    Answer

    After years of hard work, he finally went up in the world.

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  • Going Places

    🗓️ Idiom: Going Places (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • Showing strong potential for success or advancement.
    • Likely to achieve great things in a career or future.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After her impressive presentation, everyone agreed that Emma is really going places in the company.
    • With his leadership skills and work ethic, it’s clear he’s going places in the industry.
    • The new intern has already made a big impact — she’s definitely going places.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from the idea of someone literally moving forward or traveling. By the early 1900s, it began to be used metaphorically to describe people who were advancing quickly in life or career — as if their success was taking them to new destinations.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Everyone in the office says that Jason is _______ after his recent promotion.

    Answer

    going places

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “going places” mean?
    a) Traveling for business
    b) Showing great potential for future success
    c) Changing jobs frequently

    Answer

    b) Showing great potential for future success

    3. Change the sentence using “going places”:
    “She has a bright future ahead in marketing.”

    Answer

    She’s really going places in marketing.

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  • Rise Through the Ranks

    🗓️ Idiom: Rise Through the Ranks (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To advance step by step in a company or organization.
    • To earn promotions over time through hard work and experience.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • She started as an intern and rose through the ranks to become a senior manager.
    • Many CEOs have risen through the ranks after years of dedication.
    • He hopes to rise through the ranks by showing strong leadership skills.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the military, where “ranks” refer to levels of position or authority. Soldiers who performed well could “rise through the ranks,” meaning they were promoted to higher levels. The phrase was later adopted by businesses and other organizations.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    After ten years at the company, Maria finally _______ and became a director.

    Answer

    rose through the ranks

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “rise through the ranks” mean?
    a) To leave a company suddenly
    b) To move up step by step in an organization
    c) To start a new business alone

    Answer

    b) To move up step by step in an organization

    3. Change the sentence using “rise through the ranks”:
    “He became a manager after many years of hard work and promotions.”

    Answer

    He rose through the ranks after many years of hard work.

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  • Get a Leg Up

    🗓️ Idiom: Get a Leg Up (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To get an advantage or head start over others.
    • To receive help that improves your position or progress.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Her internship gave her a leg up when she applied for full-time roles at the same company.
    • Networking at industry events can help you get a leg up in your career.
    • Employees who take extra training often get a leg up on promotions.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from the act of helping someone get on a horse by giving them a physical “leg up.” It eventually developed into a figurative meaning — helping someone to rise or gain an advantage in a situation, such as in their career. It has been used this way since the early 1800s.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Extra language training can help you _______ a leg up when applying for international positions.

    Answer

    get

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “get a leg up” mean?
    a) To exercise your legs
    b) To get an advantage or help
    c) To climb stairs faster

    Answer

    b) To get an advantage or help

    3. Change the sentence using “get a leg up”:
    “She received support from her mentor, which helped her advance in her career.”

    Answer

    The support from her mentor gave her a leg up in her career.

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  • Climb the Corporate Ladder

    🗓️ Idiom: Climb the Corporate Ladder (verb)

    💬 Meaning

    • To move up to higher positions in a company.
    • To progress in one’s career through effort and success.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • She started as an intern and climbed the corporate ladder to become the company’s marketing director.
    • Many young professionals work long hours to climb the corporate ladder quickly.
    • He focused on building strong relationships to help him climb the corporate ladder.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase uses the image of a ladder to represent career progression — each rung symbolising a higher level of responsibility and status. It became popular in the 20th century as office work and large organisations grew, reflecting the structure of modern corporate life.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    She worked hard for years to _______ the corporate ladder and reach a management position.

    Answer

    climb

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “climb the corporate ladder” mean?
    a) To take a break from work
    b) To move up to higher positions in a company
    c) To start a new business

    Answer

    b) To move up to higher positions in a company

    3. Change the sentence using “climb the corporate ladder”:
    “He aimed to advance his career by taking on more leadership roles.”

    Answer

    He aimed to climb the corporate ladder by taking on more leadership roles.

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