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Tag: communication

  • 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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  • English For Business Communication

    English for Business Communication: Speak Clearly and Build Strong Connections

    Good communication is at the heart of every successful business. Whether you’re writing emails, joining meetings, or speaking with clients, using the right English expressions makes a big difference.

    This post gives you 30 useful Business Communication words. They are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Please enjoy our English For Business Communication vocabulary.

    👉 Beginner

    👉 Intermediate

    👉 Advanced

    Beginner – English For Business Communication

    WordDefinitionExample Sentence
    email (n)A message sent through the internet. e.g. gmail, hotmail. I sent an email to my boss.
    message (n)Information sent from one person to another in text or voice.I sent a message for my colleague about the meeting.
    phone call (n)A conversation over the telephone.I had a phone call with a client.
    meeting (n)An event where people gather to discuss matters, often related to work or business.We had a meeting to discuss the project.
    letter (n)A written message on paper sent by mail.I wrote a letter to the customer.
    report (n)A description of a situation and its status. I sent a sales report to my manager.
    document (n)A piece of written, printed, or electronic information.I need to review the document.
    information (n)Facts or details about something.The email contains important information.
    communication (n)Speaking, writing or messaging between people. Good communication is essential for teamwork.
    contact (v)To speak, email, message someone to start a conversation. I will contact you soon to talk about the new project.
    Beginner – English for Business Communication

    Intermediate – English For Business Communication

    WordDefinitionExample Sentence
    articulate (v)To express clearly and effectively.I need to articulate my concerns about the project clearly in the email.
    concise (adj)Brief and to the point; avoiding unnecessary words.My email was concise and easy to read, getting straight to the point.
    clarity (adj)The quality of being easy to understand.Ensure clarity in your message to avoid misunderstandings.
    tone (n)The general attitude/feeling of a piece of writing. e.g. Formal, informal, funny, serious. Maintain a professional and respectful tone in all your business correspondence.
    formal (adj)Correct for business or important situations. Following proper rules or expectations. Use formal language in business emails and letters.
    informal (adj)Having a relaxed and casual style.Informal communication is appropriate for casual interactions with colleagues.
    ambiguity (n)Where the meaning is not obvious. The meaning could be understood in more than one way.Avoid ambiguity in your writing to prevent confusion.
    jargon (n)Special words or expressions used by a particular profession or group. e.g. Medical words. IT words.Minimize the use of industry jargon when communicating with clients.
    proofread (v)Read to check writing is correct. Always proofread your emails and documents before sending them.
    channel (n)The way a message is transmitted. e.g. email, text message, phone call.Choose the appropriate communication channel, such as email for new clients and messaging for colleagues.
    Intermediate – English for Business Communication

    Advanced – English For Business Communication

    WordDefinitionExample Sentence
    eloquence (n)Fluent or persuasive speaking or writing.The CEO’s email to shareholders was delivered with eloquence and conviction.
    brevity (n)Shortness; conciseness.Brevity is essential in executive summaries and board reports.
    nuance (n)A small, not obvious difference in meaning, expression, or sound.Understanding the nuances of intercultural communication is crucial for global businesses.
    discourse (n)Written or spoken communication or debate.The discourse on remote work has evolved significantly in recent years.
    articulation (n)The clear and precise pronunciation of words.Clear articulation of complex ideas is essential for effective presentations and negotiations.
    rhetoric (n)The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. The marketing team employed sophisticated rhetoric to promote the new product.
    subtlety (n)Being not too obvious but still making a point. Making a point in a soft, gentle way. Subtlety is often required when conveying criticism or addressing sensitive issues.
    cogent (adj)Forceful and convincing in argument.The cogent proposal convinced the board to all agree
    discern (v)To judge well. Assess a situation well. Take care to read the clients e-mails carefully so we can discern their needs .
    synergy (n)Two or more things working together to create something greater than their normal total. Effective communication fosters synergy within teams and across departments.
    Advanced – English for Business Communication

    That was our English for Business Communication. We hope it was useful for you.

    “Communication is the most important skill any leader can possess.”

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  • Common Business Communication Idioms

    20 Common Business Communication Idioms

    Hey there! 👋

    Have you ever been in a meeting or read an email and heard phrases like “touch base” or “read between the lines” and thought, “What does that really mean?” . You’re definitely not alone. 😀

    These Common Business Communication Idioms are used every day in emails, meetings, presentations, and workplace conversations. Once you understand them, messages become clearer, misunderstandings disappear, and you can communicate more confidently and naturally in professional settings.

    That’s exactly why I’ve created this hub page for Common Business Communication Idioms. It brings together the expressions my students ask about most, all in one place. Each idiom includes a clear explanation, a realistic workplace example, and practical guidance to help you recognise and use it correctly.

    You can use this page as a reference, explore the idioms below, and return to it whenever you want to improve your understanding of business communication in English.

    Teacher Rob 🙋‍♂️

    📌 Business Communication Idioms

    1–5: Making Contact & Staying Updated

    1. 👉 Drop Someone a Line (V)

    Meaning: Send a short message, usually by email or text.
    Example: I’ll drop the client a line to follow up on the proposal.

    2. 👉 Get Ahold of Someone (V)

    Meaning: Successfully contact someone.
    Example: I’ve been trying to get ahold of the IT department all morning.

    3. 👉 Play Phone Tag (V)

    Meaning: Miss each other repeatedly when calling.
    Example: I’ve been playing phone tag with the supplier all week.

    4. 👉 Touch Base (V)

    Meaning: Make brief contact to share updates.
    Example: Let’s touch base next week about the project.

    5. 👉 Keep Someone Posted (V)

    Meaning: Regularly update someone.
    Example: I’ll keep you posted on any changes.

    ✅ Quick Quiz

    1. If you “drop someone a line”, you:



    2. When you finally “get ahold of someone”, you:



    3. If two people are “playing phone tag”, they:



    4. To “touch base” with someone means to:



    5. If you “keep someone posted”, you:





    6–10: Sharing Information Clearly

    6. 👉 Bring Someone Up to Speed (V)

    Meaning: Give someone the latest information.
    Example: Can you bring me up to speed on what I missed?

    7. 👉 Keep Someone in the Loop (V)

    Meaning: Include someone in updates and decisions.
    Example: Please keep the finance team in the loop.

    8. 👉 Put Someone in the Picture (V)

    Meaning: Explain the full situation to someone.
    Example: Put me in the picture before we decide.

    9. 👉 Hear It Through the Grapevine (V)

    Meaning: Hear news informally or through rumours.
    Example: I heard through the grapevine there may be changes.

    10. 👉 Talk Shop (V)

    Meaning: Talk about work or industry topics.
    Example: After the meeting, they stayed to talk shop.

    ✅ Quick Quiz

    1. If you “bring someone up to speed”, you:



    2. To “keep someone in the loop” means to:



    3. If you “put someone in the picture”, you:



    4. If you hear news “through the grapevine”, you hear it:



    5. When people “talk shop”, they:





    11–15: Being Direct & Avoiding Confusion

    11. 👉 Beat Around the Bush (V)

    Meaning: Avoid speaking directly.
    Example: Don’t beat around the bush — what’s the issue?

    12. 👉 Get Straight to the Point (V)

    Meaning: Speak directly about the main issue.
    Example: Let’s get straight to the point.

    13. 👉 Cut to the Chase (V)

    Meaning: Skip details and focus on what matters.
    Example: Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the contract.

    14. 👉 Talk at Cross Purposes (V)

    Meaning: Misunderstand each other while talking.
    Example: We were talking at cross purposes earlier.

    15. 👉 Put Your Foot in Your Mouth (V)

    Meaning: Say something embarrassing by mistake.
    Example: I put my foot in my mouth during the call.

    ✅ Quick Quiz

    1. If someone “beats around the bush”, they:



    2. To “get straight to the point” means to:



    3. If someone says “let’s cut to the chase”, they want to:



    4. When people are “talking at cross purposes”, they:



    5. If you “put your foot in your mouth”, you:





    16–20: Understanding & Aligning with Others

    16. 👉 Read the Room (V)

    Meaning: Notice the mood of a group.
    Example: Read the room before sharing bad news.

    17. 👉 Speak the Same Language (V)

    Meaning: Understand each other clearly.
    Example: Teams must speak the same language to succeed.

    18. 👉 Be on the Same Wavelength (V)

    Meaning: Think or feel the same way.
    Example: We’re on the same wavelength about the plan.

    19. 👉 Hit the Nail on the Head (V)

    Meaning: Say something exactly right.
    Example: You hit the nail on the head with that comment.

    20. 👉 Be on the Same Page (V)

    Meaning: Share the same understanding or agreement.
    Example: Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page.

    ✅ Quick Quiz

    1. If you “read the room”, you:



    2. When teams “speak the same language”, they:



    3. If people are “on the same wavelength”, they:



    4. When someone “hits the nail on the head”, they:



    5. To be “on the same page” means to:





    Did you get 100%?

    There you go – a practical collection of Common Business Communication Idioms you can start recognising and using right away.

    You’ll soon notice these idioms in emails, meetings, calls, and presentations, and now you’ll understand exactly what they mean and how to use them naturally and professionally.

    Which did you like the most? My personal favourite is “touch base” because it’s simple, flexible, and extremely common in everyday business communication. Let me know your favourite in the comments below. I always enjoy hearing from you.

    Want to keep learning? Explore our other idiom guides covering meetings, teamwork, negotiation, and professional communication.

    Happy learning,

    Teacher Rob 🙋‍♂️

    Check out my 👉 Best Way to Learn Idioms Quickly Page

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    We hope you enjoyed our Idioms For Communication.