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Bite Sized Business English

Category: Business Idioms & Phrasal Verbs

  • Finance & Accounting Idioms

    IdiomDefinitionExample Sentence
    Cooking the booksFalsifying financial records or accounting information to make a company’s financial situation appear better than it is.The CEO was caught cooking the books to show higher profits than the company actually earned.
    Fudging the numbersManipulating figures or data in financial reports to deceive or mislead others about the true financial status.The company accountant was fudging the numbers to hide the extent of their financial losses.
    Balance the booksEnsuring that financial records are accurate and all accounts are settled correctly.The accountant worked tirelessly to balance the books before the end of the fiscal year.
    Paint a rosy picturePresenting financial information in a way that makes a situation seem more positive or favourable than it is.The CFO tried to paint a rosy picture of the company’s financial health during the shareholders’ meeting.
    Creative accountingUsing accounting methods or practices that may technically follow the rules but are misleading or unethical.The company resorted to creative accounting to inflate its reported earnings.
    In the redHaving financial losses or being in debt.The company has been in the red for the past two quarters due to declining sales.
    In the blackHaving financial gains or being profitable.Thanks to cost-cutting measures, the company finally ended the year in the black.
    Throw money down the drainWasting money on unnecessary or unproductive expenses.Investing in that failed marketing campaign was like throwing money down the drain.
    Bleed cashLose money at an alarming rate.The startup was bleeding cash faster than it could generate revenue.
    Take a hitSuffer financial losses or setbacks.The company’s stock took a hit after the announcement of the lawsuit.
    Fighting an uphill battleStruggling to overcome financial challenges or obstacles.With increasing competition, the small business was fighting an uphill battle to stay afloat.
    Cost an arm and a legExtremely expensive; costing a significant amount of money.The new machinery for the factory cost an arm and a leg, but it improved production efficiency.
    Make money hand over fistEarn money quickly and in large amounts.The online retailer was making money hand over fist during the holiday season.
    Rake it inMake a lot of money, especially effortlessly or easily.The real estate mogul was raking it in from property investments.
    Make a killingEarn a substantial amount of money, often from a single transaction or investment.The tech startup founders made a killing when their company went public.
    Cash cowA business, product, or investment that consistently generates a large profit.The company’s flagship product became a cash cow, providing steady revenue year after year.
    Nest eggA sum of money saved or invested for future use or emergencies.After years of saving, they built up a comfortable nest egg for retirement.
    Skeletons in the closetUndisclosed or hidden problems or issues, especially related to finances.Before acquiring the company, they conducted thorough due diligence to uncover any skeletons in the closet.
    Rainy day fundMoney set aside for unexpected expenses or emergencies.It’s wise to have a rainy day fund for unforeseen financial hardships.
    The bottom lineThe final or ultimate result or conclusion, especially in financial terms.Despite all the challenges, the bottom line is that the company is profitable.

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  • Idioms For Presentations and Speeches

    Speeches and presentations sound more professional and advanced with the right idioms. Please see our idioms which are about presentations and speeches.

    IdiomDefinitionExample Sentence
    Get your ducks in a rowTo organize or prepare things in advance for a particular purpose.“Before the big presentation, Jane made sure to get her ducks in a row by rehearsing and creating slides.”
    Steal the showTo attract the most attention or admiration in a performance or event.“During the conference, Mark’s amazing speech stole the show and left a lasting impression on the audience.”
    Hit a home runTo achieve great success or accomplish something impressively.“With his well-prepared presentation, Tom hit a home run and secured the new client’s approval.”
    Hit the right noteTo do or say something that is well-received or appropriate for the situation.“The speaker hit the right note by incorporating humor into his speech, making the audience laugh.”
    Keep the audience on the edge of their seatsTo keep the audience engaged and excited.“The suspenseful storytelling in the presentation kept the audience on the edge of their seats throughout.”
    Bring the house downTo impress or entertain an audience so much that they respond with loud applause or laughter.“The comedian’s hilarious jokes brought the house down at the comedy club.”
    Hold the floorTo have control of the attention or focus during a discussion or presentation.“Despite the interruptions, Sarah managed to hold the floor and finish her presentation smoothly.”
    Catch the audience’s eyeTo attract or seize the attention of the audience.“The colorful visuals in the presentation caught the audience’s eye and enhanced their understanding.”
    Paint a vivid pictureTo describe something in a way that creates a clear and detailed mental image.“The speaker used vivid language to paint a picture of the company’s future goals and aspirations.”
    Off the cuffSpoken or done without preparation; impromptu.“His off-the-cuff remarks during the Q&A session were surprisingly insightful and well-received.”
    Keep it under wrapsTo keep something secret or confidential.“The details of the upcoming product launch were kept under wraps until the official announcement.”
    Break new groundTo do something innovative or revolutionary; to pioneer a new approach.“The research team’s findings broke new ground in the field of renewable energy.”
    Fall flatTo fail to generate the expected or desired response; to be unsuccessful.“The presenter’s attempt at humor fell flat, and the audience remained unresponsive.”
    Go down like a lead balloonTo fail completely and be received with disapproval or indifference.“The proposal to cut employee benefits went down like a lead balloon in the staff meeting.”
    BombTo fail miserably; to perform very poorly.“Despite hours of preparation, the speaker bombed during the keynote address.”
    Raise eyebrowsTo cause surprise, shock, or mild disapproval.“The speaker’s controversial remarks raised eyebrows among the audience members.”
    Stick to the scriptTo follow a predetermined plan or set of instructions closely.“During the live broadcast, the news anchor tried to stick to the script despite technical difficulties.”
    Break the mouldTo do something in a new or unconventional way; to challenge established norms or conventions.“Franks’ creative and funny speech really broke the mould of the usual boring presentations. .”
    End on a high noteTo finish something in a positive or successful way.“The presenter ended the conference on a high note by announcing record-breaking sales figures.”
    Idioms for presentations and speeches

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  • Business Meeting Idioms

    Expressing yourself with business meeting idioms during a meeting is a great way to show off your grasp of English. They also make a point in a way that text book English can’t. Here is our list of 20 Idioms for business meetings.

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    1) Business Meeting Idioms

    Business Meeting Idioms

    IdiomDefinitionExample Sentence
    Set the stageTo get ready for something to happen. He set the stage for the presentation.
    Kick things offTo begin or start something.“I’ll kick things off by providing a summary of our agenda for today’s meeting.”
    Get the show on the roadTo start or begin a task or activity.“Now that everyone’s here, let’s get the show on the road and dive into our discussion.”
    Get down to businessTo focus on the main topic or purpose of a meeting.“Let’s finish the small talk and get down to business, shall we?”
    Get down to brass tacksTo focus on the most important or essential aspects of a topic.“Let’s get down to brass tacks and discuss the budget details.”
    Think outside the boxTo consider unconventional or creative ideas.“We need to think outside the box to come up with new solutions to our current challenges.”
    Put heads togetherTo collaborate or work together on a task or problem.“Let’s put our heads together and brainstorm some ideas for improving customer satisfaction.”
    Bounce ideas off each otherTo share ideas or suggestions with others for feedback or discussion.“Feel free to bounce ideas off each other—we’re here to collaborate and find the best solution.”
    Hash things outTo discuss and resolve issues or differences of opinion.“We need to hash things out and reach an agreement on the project timeline.”
    Cover all basesTo think about or plan for all possible outcomes.“Before finalising the proposal, let’s make sure we cover all bases to avoid any oversights.”
    Stay on trackTo remain focused on the intended goal or objective.“Let’s stay on track and not go off-topic during the presentation.”
    Dot the i’s and cross the t’sTo pay attention to the smallest details; to ensure thoroughness.“Before submitting the report, let’s make sure we dot the i’s and cross the t’s to avoid any errors.”
    Iron out the detailsTo discuss and solve small details. “We’ll need to iron out the details of the contract before finalizing the agreement.”
    Touch uponTo briefly mention or discuss a topic.“During the meeting, we’ll touch upon the upcoming changes to the project timeline.”
    Back to the drawing boardTo return to the beginning because a plan or idea has failed.“Our initial marketing strategy didn’t yield the expected results, so it’s back to the drawing board.”
    Circle backTo return to a previous point or topic for further discussion or consideration.“We’ll circle back to the budget discussion after addressing the immediate project concerns.”
    Get on board withTo agree to participate or support a plan or idea.“We need everyone to get on board with the new company policies for them to be effective.”
    Draw to a closeTo reach the end or conclusion of something.“As we draw to a close, I’d like to thank everyone for their contributions to today’s meeting.”
    Wind downTo gradually come to an end or relax after activity.“As the meeting winds down, we’ll take a moment to summarize our key takeaways.”
    Wrap things up
    		To conclude or finish something.“Before we wrap things up, does anyone have any final comments or questions?”
    Stay in syncTo maintain harmony or alignment with others.“It’s important for all team members to stay in sync to ensure project success.”
    Business Meeting Idioms

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  • Business English Idioms List

    “Master the Language of Business with Our Business English Idioms List”

    There is no better way to become fluent in business language than to get a firm grasp of Business English idioms. The average native speaker uses idioms as part of their natural speech daily. Business situations especially lend themselves well to the use of idioms.

    On this page you will see our extensive category list for our 500 Business English idioms. We have broken them down into categories which should hopefully make them easier to digest. We are currently working on an interactive course to help English learners mater these more than 500 idioms. Take a look at our Business English Idiom list.

    Learn How To

    • Express yourself more naturally: Idioms are commonly used in everyday business conversations, allowing you to sound more like a native speaker.
    • Understand native speakers better: Knowing common idioms will help you comprehend and respond to conversations more effectively.
    • Build stronger relationships: Idioms can be a great way to connect with others on a cultural level and foster stronger relationships.

    Business Meeting

    Presentations & Speeches

    Business Communication

    Leadership & Managemet

    Negotiation Idioms

    Relationships & Networking

    Finance & Accounting

    HR & Recruitment

    Marketing & Sales

    Supply Chain & Logistics

    Software & IT

    Decision Making & Problem Solving

    Innovation

    Business Change Management Process

    Project Management and Execution

    Competition and Risk Management

    Cross-cultural Communication

    Ethics Idioms For Business

    Corporate Social Responsibility Programs

    Regulation And Compliance Idioms

    Entrepreneur and Startup Idioms

    Sales & Customer Service Idioms

    Collaboration & Teamwork

    Motivation

    Career Development

    Productivity

    Time Management

    Work Life Balance

    Stress Management

    Work Styles

    Business Humour

    Complaints

    Conflict at work

    Job Interviews

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