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Category: Business Idioms & Phrasal Verbs

  • A Wild Goose Chase

    🗓️ Idiom: A Wild Goose Chase (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • A search or effort that is a complete waste of time.
    • Chasing something that is very difficult or impossible to find or achieve.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The founder spent months looking for funding from the wrong investors—it was a wild goose chase.
    • Trying to find the perfect all-in-one tool was a wild goose chase that delayed the launch.
    • They went on a wild goose chase trying to locate a bug that didn’t actually exist.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from 16th-century England and originally referred to a type of horse race where riders followed a lead horse in a specific pattern—like wild geese flying in formation. Over time, it came to mean a confusing or pointless pursuit.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    We spent an entire week trying to fix a problem that wasn’t real—it was a __________.

    Answer

    wild goose chase

    2. Choose the correct meaning:
    What does “a wild goose chase” mean in business?
    A) A successful plan
    B) A pointless effort
    C) A group project

    Answer

    B) A pointless effort

    3. Change the sentence using “a wild goose chase”:
    “The team wasted days looking for a non-existent error in the code.”

    Answer

    The team went on a wild goose chase looking for a non-existent error in the code.

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  • A White Elephant

    🗓️ Idiom: A White Elephant (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • A costly project or asset that brings more trouble than it is worth.
    • Something expensive and difficult to maintain but with little real value.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The fancy office space turned out to be a white elephant that drained their budget.
    • Their custom-built software became a white elephant—too complex and no one wanted to use it.
    • The startup’s flagship product looked impressive but was a white elephant in the market.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from a tradition in Southeast Asia, where rare white elephants were considered sacred but extremely expensive to care for. Giving one as a gift could ruin the receiver financially—just like an unprofitable investment today.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Their new warehouse was a __________—huge, expensive, and totally unnecessary.

    Answer

    white elephant

    2. Choose the correct meaning:
    What does “a white elephant” mean in business?
    A) A profitable asset
    B) An expensive burden
    C) A valuable opportunity

    Answer

    B) An expensive burden

    3. Change the sentence using “a white elephant”:
    “Their new app looked great but was expensive and hardly anyone used it.”

    Answer

    Their new app was a white elephant.

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  • A Dead End

    🗓️ Idiom: A Dead End (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • A situation with no progress, success, or future potential.
    • A path that leads nowhere and wastes time or resources.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After months of development, they realised the app idea was a dead end.
    • The startup hit a dead end when they couldn’t find a sustainable revenue model.
    • Investing more money into that product line felt like chasing a dead end.

    🏛️ Origin

    The term “dead end” originally referred to a road or street with no exit. Over time, it started being used metaphorically for any situation with no way forward, especially in careers or business strategies.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    They stopped the project when it became clear it was a __________ with no future potential.

    Answer

    dead end

    2. Choose the correct meaning:
    What does “a dead end” mean in business?
    A) A creative idea
    B) A successful strategy
    C) A situation with no future

    Answer

    C) A situation with no future

    3. Change the sentence using “a dead end”:
    “Their marketing strategy wasn’t working and had no potential to improve.”

    Answer

    Their marketing strategy was a dead.

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  • A Flop

    🗓️ Idiom: A Flop (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • A business idea, product, or launch that fails badly.
    • Something that is not successful, especially after high expectations.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Their first product was a flop, but they learned a lot and improved the second version.
    • The launch event turned out to be a flop due to poor planning and low attendance.
    • Investors pulled out after the app became a flop within three months.

    🏛️ Origin

    The word “flop” has been used in the entertainment industry since the 1800s to describe failed plays or performances. Today, it’s commonly used for any major failure, especially in startups or product launches.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Their crowdfunding campaign was a total __________ and didn’t raise even half the target.

    Answer

    flop

    2. Choose the correct meaning:
    What does “a flop” mean in business?
    A) A fast-growing business
    B) A failed attempt
    C) A highly-rated product

    Answer

    B) A failed attempt

    3. Change the sentence using “a flop”:
    “The startup failed badly and didn’t get any traction in the market.”

    Answer

    The startup was a flop.

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  • A Money Pit

    🗓️ Idiom: A Money Pit (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • A business or project that keeps needing more money without giving good results.
    • Something that constantly drains financial resources.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The app looked promising, but it turned into a money pit after two years of constant updates and no revenue.
    • Their coworking space became a money pit because of high rent and low membership.
    • Without proper budgeting, that marketing campaign could become a money pit.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom originally referred to old houses that required endless repairs and costs. In business, it now describes any project that demands more and more investment without bringing returns.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The founder shut down the project because it had become __________.

    Answer

    a money pit

    2. Choose the correct meaning:
    What does “a money pit” refer to?
    A) A highly profitable business
    B) A company with strong investors
    C) A project that keeps using money without results

    Answer

    C) A project that keeps using money without results

    3. Change the sentence using “a money pit”:
    “The website redesign kept costing more and more with no clear benefit.”

    Answer

    The website redesign was a money pit.

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  • Play With Fire

    🗓️ Idiom: Play with Fire (V)

    💬 Meaning

    • Take a big risk that could lead to serious problems.
    • Do something dangerous or unwise, especially in business decisions.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Ignoring customer feedback while launching a new product is like playing with fire.
    • They were playing with fire by investing all their money into an untested idea.
    • Hiring a friend with no experience to run the startup’s finances felt like playing with fire.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the literal danger of handling fire. Over time, it became a metaphor for risky or dangerous behavior. In business, it refers to decisions that could easily go wrong and cause damage.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Quitting his stable job without a backup plan was like __________.

    Answer

    playing with fire

    2. Choose the correct meaning:
    What does “playing with fire” mean?
    A) Making a smart, careful choice
    B) Working hard to achieve goals
    C) Taking a risky or dangerous action

    Answer

    C) Taking a risky or dangerous action

    3. Change the sentence using “playing with fire”:
    “Starting a business without a clear plan or research is extremely risky.”

    Answer

    Starting a business without a clear plan or research is like playing with fire.

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  • A Disruptor

    🗓️ Idiom: A Disruptor (noun)

    💬 Meaning

    • A person or company that changes the way an industry works.
    • Someone who introduces a product or idea that creates a big shift in the market.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Her startup became a disruptor in the fashion world by using AI to design clothes.
    • The fintech app acted as a disruptor, forcing traditional banks to rethink their services.
    • They positioned themselves as a disruptor in the food delivery industry with their drone system.

    🏛️ Origin

    The term “disruptor” comes from the word “disrupt,” meaning to interrupt or change something. In business, it became popular through the idea of disruptive innovation, first introduced by Clayton Christensen in the 1990s. It refers to innovations that shake up established markets.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The company was seen as a __________ after launching a tool that replaced traditional accounting systems.

    Answer

    disruptor

    2. Choose the correct meaning:
    What is a “disruptor” in business?
    A) A person who follows traditional methods
    B) A company that causes big changes in an industry
    C) A product that fails in the market

    Answer

    B) A company that causes big changes in an industry

    3. Change the sentence using “a disruptor”:
    “Their technology completely changed the way people book holidays online.”

    Answer

    Their technology was a disruptor in the way people book holidays online.

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  • Hit A Home Run

    🗓️ Idiom: Hit A Home Run (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • To achieve great success with a task, plan, or project
    • To do something extremely well, often beyond expectations

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Their new app design hit a home run with early users and investors.
    • We hit a home run with our pitch—three venture capital firms contacted us the next day.
    • The product launch hit a home run, selling out in the first 48 hours.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from baseball. When a player hits a home run, they score by hitting the ball out of the field, which is seen as a major success. In business and everyday language, “hit a home run” means a big win or excellent performance.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    After months of pitching, their new app finally __________ when it went viral overnight.

    Answer

    hit a home run

    2. Choose the correct meaning:
    What does it mean if a startup “hits a home run”?
    A) They face a major legal challenge
    B) They achieve big success
    C) They receive minor feedback from investors

    Answer

    B) They achieve big success

    3. Change the sentence using “hit a home run”:
    “The startup achieved huge success with their first product launch.”

    Answer

    The startup hit a home run with their first product launch.

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  • Milk It

    🗓️ Idiom: Milk It (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Use a situation to get as much advantage or benefit as possible.
    • Keep gaining from something, even after the main benefit is over.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The founder milked it for all it was worth after the product went viral.
    • She kept milking the media attention long after the campaign had ended.
    • Some influencers know how to milk every opportunity for publicity.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from the act of milking a cow — drawing out milk repeatedly. It refers to getting the most out of a situation, often by continuing to take advantage of it for personal gain.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    He kept trying to _______ the success of his first viral video by posting follow-ups.

    Answer

    milk

    2. Multiple choice:
    If someone is “milking it,” what are they doing?
    a) Wasting a good opportunity
    b) Getting the most benefit from a situation
    c) Ignoring their responsibilities

    Answer

    b) Getting the most benefit from a situation

    3. Change the sentence using “milk it”:
    “The startup made as much money as they could from the initial excitement.”

    Answer

    The startup milked the initial excitement.

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  • Cash In

    🗓️ Idiom: Cash In (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Make money from a situation, often quickly or by taking advantage of an opportunity.
    • Benefit financially from something, sometimes in a way that seems opportunistic.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Several entrepreneurs tried to cash in on the popularity of the new fitness trend.
    • He cashed in on his startup by selling it just before the market crashed.
    • Some companies try to cash in on social movements without real commitment.

    🏛️ Origin

    Originally, “cash in” referred to exchanging something for money — like cashing in a winning lottery ticket. Over time, it gained a figurative meaning in business and everyday language, describing how people or companies take advantage of an opportunity to make a profit.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The company tried to _______ on the success of the new technology by launching a similar product.

    Answer

    cash in

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does it mean to “cash in” on a trend?
    a) Avoid it completely
    b) Lose money because of it
    c) Make money by taking advantage of it

    Answer

    c) Make money by taking advantage of it

    3. Change the sentence using “cash in”:
    “Many startups saw the chance to profit from the AI boom.”

    Answer

    Many startups saw the chance to cash in on the AI boom.

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