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Category: business english idioms

  • Hear it Through the Grapevine

    hear it through the grapevine meaning – illustration showing office colleagues gossiping at the water cooler

    🗓️ Idiom: Hear It Through the Grapevine (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To learn news or information informally, often by gossip.
    • To hear something from other people, not directly from the main source.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • I heard through the grapevine that the company is planning a merger.
    • She heard through the grapevine that her colleague was leaving.
    • We heard through the grapevine about the changes before management told us.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the 19th century in the United States, where the telegraph system was sometimes called the “grapevine telegraph” because the wires looked like vines. People also used “grapevine” for informal communication, and it became linked with hearing rumors.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “I __________ through the grapevine that our office might be moving to a new building.”

    Answer

    heard it

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “hear it through the grapevine” mean?
    a) To listen to music at a vineyard
    b) To hear news from unofficial or informal sources
    c) To read official company announcements

    Answer

    b) To hear news from unofficial or informal sources

    3. Change the sentence using “hear it through the grapevine”:
    I found out informally that our manager is getting promoted.

    Answer

    I heard it through the grapevine that our manager is getting promoted.

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  • Keep Someone in the Loop

    Work email update being sent to keep team members in the loop.

    🗓️ Idiom: Keep Someone in the Loop (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To include someone in communication or updates.
    • To make sure someone has the latest information.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Please keep me in the loop about any changes to the schedule.
    • The manager kept the whole team in the loop during the negotiations.
    • It is important to keep clients in the loop so they feel informed.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from the idea of being inside a circle, or “loop,” where information is shared. If someone is kept in the loop, they are included and not left out of communication.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “Can you __________ me in the loop about the new project details?”

    Answer

    keep

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “keep someone in the loop” mean?
    a) To teach someone how to draw a circle
    b) To keep someone updated with information
    c) To make someone repeat a task

    Answer

    b) To keep someone updated with information

    3. Change the sentence using “keep someone in the loop”:
    I will update you about any changes in the contract.

    Answer

    I will keep you in the loop about any changes in the contract.

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  • Bring Someone up to Speed

    Illustration of colleagues explaining a project to bring a teammate up to speed at work.

    🗓️ Idiom: Bring Someone Up to Speed (verb phrase)

    💬 Meaning

    • To give someone the most recent information.
    • To help someone understand the current situation.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The manager brought the new team member up to speed on the project.
    • Can you bring me up to speed on what was discussed in the last meeting?
    • The report will bring the board up to speed on the latest market changes.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from racing, where “up to speed” meant reaching the right pace. Over time, it became a saing for getting someone updated so they are working at the same level as others.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “Before we start, let me __________ you up to speed on the client’s feedback.”

    Answer

    bring

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “bring someone up to speed” mean?
    a) To teach someone how to drive fast
    b) To update someone with the latest information
    c) To slow someone down at work

    Answer

    b) To update someone with the latest information

    3. Change the sentence using “bring someone up to speed”:
    I will update you about the changes in company policy.

    Answer

    I will bring you up to speed on the changes in company policy.

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  • Keep / Stay In Touch

    Stay in Touch / Keep in Touch meaning

    🗓️ Idiom: Keep/Stay in Touch (verb phrase)

    💬 Meaning

    • To continue communicating with someone.
    • To maintain contact after a meeting, event, or separation.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Let’s stay in touch after the conference ends.
    • She moved abroad but kept in touch with her old colleagues.
    • Please stay in touch so we can work together again in the future.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from the physical idea of touch, meaning connection or closeness. Over time, it became a metaphor for keeping a personal or professional relationship active through communication.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “Even after graduation, many students try to ______ in touch with their professors.”

    Answer

    stay

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “keep/stay in touch” mean?
    a) To physically hold someone’s hand
    b) To continue communicating with someone
    c) To follow someone on social media only

    Answer

    b) To continue communicating with someone

    3. Change the sentence using “keep/stay in touch”:
    Let’s continue to communicate after the project is finished.

    Answer

    Let’s stay in touch after the project is finished.

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  • Keep Someone Posted

    Keep someone posted Meaning

    🗓️ Idiom: Keep Someone Posted (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To give someone regular updates.
    • To inform someone about new developments.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Please keep me posted on the progress of the negotiations.
    • She kept her boss posted about every step of the project.
    • They promised to keep the team posted on any schedule changes.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from the old use of “posted” meaning “informed” or “up to date.” It was connected to the postal system, where regular updates came by post, and later was used more broadly for any kind of communication.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “Can you __________ me posted about the client’s decision?”

    Answer

    keep

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “keep someone posted” mean?
    a) To mail someone a letter
    b) To keep someone informed with updates
    c) To post a message online

    Answer

    b) To keep someone informed with updates

    3. Change the sentence using “keep someone posted”:
    I will update you if anything changes with the delivery schedule.

    Answer

    I will keep you posted if anything changes with the delivery schedule.

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  • Touch Base

    To touch base Meaning

    🗓️ Idiom: To Touch Base (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To make brief contact with someone.
    • To check in or update each other quickly.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Let’s touch base after the meeting to review the details.
    • She touched base with her manager before sending the report.
    • We need to touch base with the client to confirm the schedule.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from baseball, where players must touch each base while running. In the 20th century, it began to be used in business English to mean making brief contact or checking in.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “Let’s __________ tomorrow to finalize the project plan.”

    Answer

    touch base

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does the idiom “to touch base” mean?
    a) To make brief contact with someone
    b) To run around a field
    c) To avoid giving information

    Answer

    a) To make brief contact with someone

    3. Change the sentence using “to touch base”:
    I will contact you later this week to give you an update.

    Answer

    I will touch base with you later this week.

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  • Play Phone Tag

    Two colleagues missing each other’s calls while playing phone tag at work.

    🗓️ Idiom: Play Phone Tag (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To repeatedly try to call someone while they are unavailable.
    • A situation where two people keep missing each other on the phone.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • I have been playing phone tag with the client all week.
    • She kept playing phone tag with her manager before the meeting was confirmed.
    • They played phone tag until finally connecting to discuss the project.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from the game “tag,” where players chase each other. In the 20th century, it was applied metaphorically to phone calls when people keep missing each other, creating a back-and-forth chase.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “After three attempts, we are still __________ with the supplier.”

    Answer

    playing phone tag

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does the idiom “play phone tag” mean?
    a) To repeatedly try to call someone while they are unavailable
    b) To answer a phone quickly
    c) To make a prank call

    Answer

    a) To repeatedly try to call someone while they are unavailable

    3. Change the sentence using “play phone tag”:
    We kept calling each other but never managed to speak directly.

    Answer

    We kept playing phone tag.

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  • Get Ahold of Someone

    Get Ahold of someone meaning. Man successful at getting ahold of someone on the phone with a colleague standing beside him.

    🗓️ Idiom: Get Ahold of Someone (verb ph)

    💬 Meaning

    • To successfully contact someone, usually by phone, email, or message.
    • To reach someone when trying to communicate.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • I tried to get ahold of the manager to discuss the contract.
    • She finally got ahold of the client after several emails.
    • We need to get ahold of the supplier before placing the order.

    🏛️ Origin

    “Ahold” is an American English variation of “hold,” used since the 19th century. The phrase “get ahold of someone” became common in the early 20th century, meaning to physically or verbally reach someone for communication.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “I need to __________ the manager before the meeting tomorrow.”

    Answer

    get ahold of

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does the idiom “get ahold of someone” mean?
    a) To successfully contact someone
    b) To take something by force
    c) To ignore someone intentionally

    Answer

    a) To successfully contact someone

    3. Change the sentence using “get ahold of someone”:
    “I finally managed to reach the project lead after several attempts.”

    Answer

    I finally got ahold of the project lead after several attempts.

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  • Drop Someone a Line

    Two business people have just met. They are exchanging business cards. This shows drop someone a line Meaning.

    🗓️ Idiom: Drop Someone a Line (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To send someone a short message, usually by email or letter.
    • To contact someone briefly to say hello or share information.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • I will drop her a line to confirm the meeting time.
    • He dropped me a line to thank me for my help with the project.
    • Don’t forget to drop the client a line after the presentation.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from the early days of letter writing, where “line” referred to a line of text on paper. By the 19th century, “drop someone a line” became a common way to say sending a short note or message.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “After the conference, I should __________ to say thank you.”

    Answer

    drop someone a line

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does the idiom “drop someone a line” mean?
    a) To send a short message or note to someone
    b) To avoid contacting someone
    c) To write a long report or letter

    Answer

    a) To send a short message or note to someone

    3. Change the sentence using “drop someone a line”:
    I will email her quickly to check how she is.

    Answer

    I will drop her a line to check how she is.

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  • End on a High Note

    A women fishing her speech and the audience is standing up and clapping. End on a High Note Meaning

    🗓️ Idiom: End on a High Note (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To finish something in a very successful or positive way.
    • To conclude with the best or most impressive part.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The conference ended on a high note with an inspiring speech from the keynote speaker.
    • She ended her presentation on a high note by sharing a powerful success story.
    • The team ended on a high note after winning the final project approval.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from music, where a “high note” is often used to end a performance with energy and impact. By the mid-20th century, it began to be used figuratively in English to describe finishing any activity with a strong or positive ending.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    “The speaker wanted to __________ by telling a funny and motivating story.”

    Answer

    end on a high note

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does the idiom “end on a high note” mean?
    a) To finish something in a very successful or positive way
    b) To stop doing something suddenly
    c) To complete a task quietly and without notice

    Answer

    a) To finish something in a very successful or positive way

    3. Change the sentence using “end on a high note”:
    She finished her presentation with a strong and positive message.

    Answer

    She ended her presentation on a high note.

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