Making something look better on the surface but not on the inside.
Changing the appearance of a report, product, or action to hide problems or seem more responsible.
🧠 Example Sentences
The company’s CSR report looked good, but many said it was just window dressing.
Adding a few solar panels for the photo was seen as window dressing, not real change.
The charity event was more about window dressing than about helping people.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom comes from the practice of decorating shop windows to attract customers. Over time, it began to mean making something look good on the outside to hide the true inside. It is now often used in business and politics.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The company’s environmental ad campaign was just ________ to distract from its pollution record.
Answer
window dressing
2. Multiple choice:
What does “window dressing” mean?
a) Fixing real problems
b) Making something look better than it really is
c) Putting products in a shop window
Answer
b) Making something look better than it really is
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“They tried to make their actions look better than they really were.”
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
When a company or group makes a small public effort to look responsible or caring.
It shows a symbolic action that is not backed by real change or serious commitment.
🧠 Example Sentences
The company added a green logo, but without real action, it felt like tokenism.
Some businesses make a donation once a year as tokenism, but they do not engage with the community long-term.
Tokenism can happen when an organisation tries to look fair, but does not support real change in its policies.
🏛️ Origin
“Tokenism” comes from the word “token,” meaning a symbol or small sign. It began to be used in the mid-1900s to criticise organisations that made small, public actions to appear fair, caring, or responsible, without real effort behind them.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Adding a few eco-words to a product without changing how it is made may be seen as ________.
Answer
tokenism
2. Multiple choice:
What does “tokenism” mean?
a) Making deep and lasting changes
b) Doing nothing at all
c) Making a small or symbolic effort to appear responsible
Answer
c) Making a small or symbolic effort to appear responsible
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“The company was guilty of trying to look caring without any real action.”
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
Pretending to be environmentally friendly while doing little or nothing to help the environment.
Using marketing or public relations to give a false impression of sustainability or eco-responsibility.
🧠 Example Sentences
Some companies use greenwashing to attract customers without making real changes.
The advertisement was criticised for greenwashing because the product was not truly eco-friendly.
It’s important to check for real data and avoid falling for greenwashing claims.
🏛️ Origin
The term “greenwashing” was first used in the 1980s. It combines “green” (meaning environmentally friendly) with “whitewashing” (covering up the truth). It was originally used to describe hotels that claimed to be eco-friendly without actually reducing waste or saving energy.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The brand was accused of ________ because its actions didn’t match its green image.
Answer
greenwashing
2. Multiple choice:
What does “greenwashing” mean?
a) Cleaning something in a natural way
b) Making honest environmental improvements
c) Pretending to be eco-friendly without taking real action
Answer
c) Pretending to be eco-friendly without taking real action
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“The company tried to look eco-friendly.”
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
A situation where someone must manage competing demands or responsibilities carefully.
Trying to satisfy different goals or groups without failing in any area.
🧠 Example Sentences
Running a business and protecting the environment is a balancing act.
The company faces a balancing act between making profits and supporting social causes.
Working parents often perform a balancing act between their job and family life.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom comes from the world of physical performance, such as circus acts or tightrope walking. A “balancing act” is a performance that requires great skill to keep from falling — it now describes situations that need careful control to avoid failure.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Managing both financial success and ethical standards is often ________.
Answer
a balancing act
2. Multiple choice:
What does “a balancing act” mean?
a) A simple routine
b) A risky performance
c) A situation where different demands must be managed carefully
Answer
c) A situation where different demands must be managed carefully
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“The company must handle many responsibilities at the same time.”
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
A very small amount compared to what is needed or expected.
Something that seems helpful but is not enough to make a big difference on its own.
🧠 Example Sentences
Donating $100 may feel like a drop in the ocean, but every bit helps.
Planting a few trees is a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of climate change.
The company’s small donation was just a drop in the ocean, but it was a good start.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom dates back to the 1300s and originally appeared in religious texts. It compares a small action or amount (a drop) to something massive (an ocean), showing how little impact it seems to have by itself.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Our efforts to reduce plastic use felt like ________, but we kept going.
Answer
a drop in the ocean
2. Multiple choice:
What does “a drop in the ocean” mean?
a) A helpful amount
b) A very large amount
c) A very small and possibly ineffective amount
Answer
c) A very small and possibly ineffective amount
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“Our donation seemed tiny compared to the total need.”
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
Help someone because you were helped, not by repaying the original person but by helping someone new.
Create a chain of kindness or support by passing on good actions to others.
🧠 Example Sentences
After receiving a scholarship, she decided to pay it forward by mentoring new students.
Our CSR campaign encourages employees to pay it forward through community service.
He was helped during a tough time, and now he’s paying it forward by supporting others in need.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom became popular in the 20th century and was first recorded in a letter by Benjamin Franklin. It grew in use through books and movies, especially the 2000 film *Pay It Forward*, where a boy starts a movement of kindness by helping others who then help more people in return.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
After receiving help, she wanted to ________ by supporting a local charity.
Answer
pay it forward
2. Multiple choice:
What does “pay it forward” mean?
a) Pay money in advance
b) Help someone as a way of passing on help you received
c) Return a favour to the same person
Answer
b) Help someone as a way of passing on help you received
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“He showed kindness to others because he had received kindness in the past.”
Answer
He payed it forward after others were kind to him.
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
Return help, support, or value to a group, community, or society.
Contribute time, money, or effort to help others, especially after receiving success or benefits.
🧠 Example Sentences
The company gives back by funding clean water projects.
Many successful entrepreneurs choose to give back to their local communities.
As part of our CSR program, we give back through volunteering and donations.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom developed in American English in the mid-1900s. It began as a way to describe returning value to society, especially through charity or community service. It is now commonly used in business and nonprofit contexts.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Our company wants to ________ by supporting local education programs.
Answer
give back
2. Multiple choice:
What does “give back” mean?
a) Take more from others
b) Return support or help
c) Sell company products
Answer
b) Return support or help
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“The business helps the community as a way to show thanks.”
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
To have a positive effect or create meaningful change.
It shows that someone’s actions help people, the environment, or the community.
🧠 Example Sentences
Our company wants to make a difference by supporting local farmers.
Even small changes in packaging can make a difference to the environment.
Volunteering as a team helped us make a difference in our community.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom comes from everyday English in the late 1900s. It combines “make” (to create or cause) and “difference” (a change). It became popular in social and political movements to describe actions that bring real, positive change in the world.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The new recycling program will ________ in reducing waste.
Answer
make a difference
2. Multiple choice:
What does “make a difference” mean?
a) Do nothing important
b) Cause a positive change
c) Change your opinion
Answer
b) Cause a positive change
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“Their support had a big impact on the local school.”
Answer
Their support made a difference to the local school.
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
To make an honest, fair, or morally correct decision, even if it is difficult.
It shows acting with integrity, especially when choices affect other people.
🧠 Example Sentences
The company did the right thing by donating supplies to the local school.
In difficult times, strong leaders try to do the right thing.
Even though it cost more, they chose to do the right thing and use eco-friendly materials.
🏛️ Origin
This phrase is based on the idea of choosing what is morally or ethically correct. It has long been used in personal and business situations to describe actions that reflect honesty and care for others.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The manager decided to ________ and report the mistake honestly.
Answer
do the right thing
2. Multiple choice:
What does “do the right thing” mean?
a) Follow orders without thinking
b) Make a morally good choice
c) Take the easiest path
Answer
b) Make a morally good choice
3. Rewrite the sentence:
“The company acted responsibly, even when it was difficult.”
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
Modern businesses are expected to do more than make a profit; they’re expected to make a difference. This Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vocabulary list gives you a selection of words and phrases to talk about sustainability, community engagement, and ethical business practices.
You’ll find 60 useful terms and expressions, divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Please use them to discuss CSR projects, environmental goals, and social impact in meetings, reports, or presentations.
Beginner Corporate Social Responsibility Business English
Word
Meaning
Example Sentence
Help
To give assistance or support.
The company helps the local community through donations.
Give
To donate or contribute.
They give a portion of their profits to charity.
Care
To feel concern or interest.
The company cares about the environment.
Good
Morally excellent; beneficial.
The company does good work in the community.
Community
A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
The company is involved in several community projects.
Environment
The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
The company is committed to protecting the environment.
Fair
Impartial and just.
The company promotes fair labor practices.
Responsible
Accountable for something.
The company is a responsible corporate citizen.
Ethical
Morally good or correct.
The company follows ethical business practices.
Benefit
A good or helpful result or effect.
The community benefits from the company’s initiatives.
Beginner Corporate Social Responsibility Business English
Intermediate Corporate Social Responsibility Business English
Word
Meaning
Example Sentence
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future.
The company focuses on sustainability in its operations.
Impact
The effect or influence of something.
The company assesses its impact on the environment.
Stakeholder
A person or group with an interest in a business.
The company considers the needs of all its stakeholders.
Transparency
Openness and accountability.
The company believes in transparency in its reporting.
Accountability
The state of being answerable for one’s actions.
The company is committed to accountability in its CSR efforts.
Volunteer
Freely offer to do something.
Employees volunteer their time to support local charities.
Initiative
A new or original plan or program.
The company launched a new initiative to reduce its carbon footprint.
Donation
Something that is given to a charity or cause.
The company made a generous donation to the local food bank.
Partnership
A collaboration between two or more parties.
The company has a partnership with a local environmental organization.
Philanthropy
The desire to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.
The company engages in philanthropy through its charitable foundation.
Intermediate Corporate Social Responsibility Business English
Advanced Corporate Social Responsibility Business English
Word
Meaning
Example Sentence
Corporate Citizenship
A company’s responsibility to society.
The company demonstrates strong corporate citizenship.
Social Responsibility
A company’s obligation to act in a way that benefits society.
Social responsibility is a key part of the company’s mission.
Triple Bottom Line
A framework that measures a company’s performance in three areas: profit, people, and planet.
The company uses the triple bottom line to assess its overall success.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)
Criteria used to evaluate a company’s performance in sustainability and social impact.
Investors are increasingly focusing on ESG factors.
Materiality
The significance of an issue to a company and its stakeholders.
The company conducts a materiality assessment to identify its most important CSR issues.
Value Chain
The series of processes involved in producing and delivering a product or service.
The company examines its value chain to identify opportunities for improvement in sustainability.
Circular Economy
An economic system aimed at minimizing waste and making the most of resources.
The company is adopting principles of the circular economy.
Stakeholder Engagement
The process of involving stakeholders in decision-making.
The company prioritizes stakeholder engagement to understand their concerns.
Shared Value
Business policies and practices that enhance the competitiveness of a company while simultaneously advancing social and economic conditions in the communities in which it operates.
The company’s1 CSR strategy focuses on creating shared value.
Impact Investing
Investments made with the intention of generating social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.
The company is exploring impact investing opportunities.
Advanced Corporate Social Responsibility Business English
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
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