Business English Booster

Bite Sized Business English

Tag: Entrepreneur and Startups

  • Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

    🗓️ Idiom: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Try something new or challenging that feels unfamiliar.
    • Move beyond what you usually do in order to grow or improve.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Starting his own company forced Alex to step outside his comfort zone and take real risks.
    • Pitching to investors was scary, but it helped Mia step outside her comfort zone.
    • Entrepreneurs often need to step outside their comfort zones to discover new opportunities.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the idea of a “comfort zone”—a psychological space where someone feels safe and in control. To “step outside” that zone means to push into situations that are uncertain or challenging, often leading to personal or professional growth.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    To grow as a founder, you sometimes need to __________ and face new challenges.

    Answer

    step outside your comfort zone


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “step outside your comfort zone”:

    A) Avoid risky decisions
    B) Do something familiar
    C) Try something challenging or new

    Answer

    C) Try something challenging or new


    3. Change the sentence using “step outside your comfort zone”:
    “Launching a startup required her to do many things she wasn’t used to.”

    Answer

    Launching a startup required her to step outside her comfort zone.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    📚 Learning Resources

    👉 Entrepreneur and Startup Idioms
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  • Start up And Entrepreneur Vocabulary

    Starting a business takes vision. My Start-Up and Entrepreneur vocabulary list gives you the most important Business English terms and expressions to talk about launching, funding, and growing a new business.

    You’ll find 60 useful words and phrases, divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Use them to discuss business ideas, investors, pitches, and innovation with clarity and confidence.

    👉 Beginner

    👉 Intermediate

    👉 Advanced

    Beginner – Start up And Entrepreneur Vocabulary

    WordMeaningExample Sentence
    IdeaA thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action.She had a great idea for a new app.
    StartTo begin or initiate.They want to start a small business.
    NewRecently made, discovered, or invented.This is a new product on the market.
    WorkActivity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.They work hard to make their business successful.
    MoneyA current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes.They need money to fund their startup.
    TeamA group of people with a common purpose.A strong team is essential for a successful startup.
    SellTo exchange a product or service for money.They hope to sell their products online.
    GrowTo increase in size or number.They want to grow their business quickly.
    LearnTo gain knowledge or skill by studying, experience, or being taught.Entrepreneurs must learn from their mistakes.
    TryTo make an attempt or effort to do something.They will try different marketing strategies.
    Beginner Start up And Entrepreneur Vocabulary

    Intermediate Start up And Entrepreneur Vocabulary

    WordMeaningExample Sentence
    VentureA risky or daring journey or undertaking.Starting a business is a risky venture.
    PrototypeA first or preliminary version of a device or vehicle from which other forms are developed.They created a prototype of their new product.
    PitchA persuasive presentation of an idea.She gave a compelling pitch to investors.
    FundingFinancial resources provided to support an enterprise.They are seeking funding for their startup.
    Market ResearchThe activity of gathering information about consumers’ needs and preferences.They conducted thorough market research before launching.
    Business PlanA formal document outlining a company’s goals and strategies.A solid business plan is crucial for success.
    NetworkingInteracting with others to exchange information and develop professional contacts.Networking is important for finding potential partners.
    InnovationThe introduction of something new or a new idea, method, or device.Their startup is focused on technological innovation.
    ScalableCapable of being easily expanded or enlarged.They developed a scalable business model.
    BootstrappingStarting a business with minimal financial resources.They started the company by bootstrapping.
    Intermediate Start up And Entrepreneur Vocabulary

    Advanced Start up And Entrepreneur Vocabulary

    WordMeaningExample Sentence
    Disruptive InnovationAn innovation that creates a new market and value network, eventually displacing established market-leading firms.Their technology represents disruptive innovation in the industry.
    Venture CapitalCapital invested in a project in which there is a substantial element of risk, typically a new or expanding business.They secured venture capital to expand their operations.
    Angel InvestorA wealthy individual who provides capital for a business startup, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity.They2 found an angel investor who believed in their vision.
    Lean StartupA methodology for developing businesses and products that aims to shorten product development cycles and rapidly discover if a proposed business model is viable.They followed the lean startup methodology to validate their concept.
    Minimum Viable Product (MVP)A version of a product with just enough features to be usable by early customers who can then provide feedback for future product development.They launched an MVP to gather user feedback.
    PivotA structured course correction designed to test a new fundamental hypothesis about the product, strategy, and engine of growth.They decided to pivot their business model.
    IncubatorAn organization that helps startup companies to develop by providing services such as management training or office space.They joined a startup incubator to gain mentorship.
    Exit StrategyA contingency plan that is executed by an investor, trader, venture capitalist or business owner to liquidate a position in a financial asset or dispose of tangible business assets once certain predetermined criteria are met or exceeded.They developed a clear exit strategy for their investors.
    Due DiligenceThorough investigation before making a decision.Investors conducted due diligence before funding the startup.
    Intellectual Property (IP)Intangible property resulting from creations of the mind.They protected their intellectual property with patents.
    Advanced Start up And Entrepreneur Vocabulary

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    📚 Learning Resources

    👉 Business English Vocabulary List
    👉 Business English Idioms List

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    We hope you enjoyed learning Start up And Entrepreneur Vocabulary.

    Remember: “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t—you’re right” Henry Ford.

  • Startup Idioms For Success

    🏎️ 21 Entrepreneur & Startup Idioms for Success

    Hey there! 👋

    Have you ever been in a startup meeting and heard phrases like “get the ball rolling” or “pivot the business” and thought, “What does that really mean?”

    You’re definitely not alone. 😁

    That’s exactly why I’ve created this hub page for Startup Idioms for Success.

    It brings together the expressions my students ask about most.

    These startup idioms for success are used all the time when entrepreneurs talk about:

    • launching ideas
    • scaling fast
    • taking risks
    • building momentum

    Once you understand them, startup conversations become much better.

    You’ll follow discussions with far more confidence.

    Each idiom on this page includes:

    • a clear explanation
    • a realistic example
    • a quiz to help you practice
    • a link to a full idiom page

    You can use this page as:

    • a reference
    • a place to explore the idioms below
    • A resource to understand startup language and entrepreneurial conversations more naturally in English.

    Happy learning, and I hope to see you in the next lesson!

    Teacher Rob 🙋‍♂️

    🚀 Getting Started & Taking the Leap

    1. 👉 Step Outside Your Comfort Zone (v)

    Meaning: To do something new or different that is challenging.
    Example: Starting a business requires stepping outside your comfort zone and taking risks.

    2. 👉 Take the Plunge (v)

    Meaning: Make a bold decision or commitment.
    Example: After years of planning, the entrepreneur finally took the plunge and launched their startup.

    3. 👉 Dive Headfirst Into Something (v)

    Meaning: To start doing something with great enthusiasm and commitment.
    Example: The founders dove headfirst into their new venture, working long hours to get it off the ground.

    4. 👉 Jump In With Both Feet (v)

    Meaning: To start doing something with full commitment.
    Example: The startup jumped in with both feet, investing heavily in marketing and sales.

    5. 👉 Jump on the Bandwagon (v)

    Meaning: To follow a trend or popular activity.
    Example: Many entrepreneurs jumped on the bandwagon of the tech startup boom.

    💪 Hard Work, Commitment & Momentum

    6. 👉 Roll Up Your Sleeves (v)

    Meaning: To get to work and start doing something.
    Example: The team rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly to develop the new product.

    7. 👉 Go the Extra Mile (v)

    Meaning: To make a special effort to achieve something.
    Example: The startup went the extra mile to provide excellent customer service.

    8. 👉 Put Your Heart Into Something (v)

    Meaning: To be passionate about something and give it your best effort.
    Example: The entrepreneurs put their hearts into their startup.

    9. 👉 Thrown in at the Deep End (exp)

    Meaning: To be put in a difficult situation suddenly.
    Example: The young entrepreneur was thrown in at the deep end when their co-founder quit.

    10. 👉 Gain Traction (v)

    Meaning: Become more popular or successful.
    Example: The startup gained traction after positive customer feedback.

    📈 Growth, Success & Big Wins

    11. 👉 Scale Up (v)

    Meaning: Expand a business or operation.
    Example: After launch, the startup focused on scaling up.

    12. 👉 Hit a Home Run (v)

    Meaning: A complete success.
    Example: The startup’s IPO was a home run.

    13. 👉 Cash In (v)

    Meaning: Make a lot of money.
    Example: The founders cashed in after a successful exit.

    14. 👉 A Disruptor (n)

    Meaning: A company or individual that challenges the status quo.
    Example: The startup aimed to be a disruptor in its industry.

    15. 👉 Milk It (v)

    Meaning: Exploit a situation for maximum benefit.
    Example: The startup milked its early success.

    ⚠️ Risks, Mistakes & Failure

    16. 👉 Play With Fire (v)

    Meaning: Take a risky or dangerous action.
    Example: Entering a crowded market is like playing with fire.

    17. 👉 A Money Pit (n)

    Meaning: A project that drains money without returns.
    Example: The new product became a money pit.

    18. 👉 A Flop (n)

    Meaning: A complete failure.
    Example: The marketing campaign was a flop.

    19. 👉 A Dead End (n)

    Meaning: A hopeless situation with no way forward.
    Example: The startup hit a dead end after funding fell through.

    20. 👉 A White Elephant (n)

    Meaning: A costly and unprofitable project.
    Example: The oversized office was a white elephant.

    21. 👉 A Wild Goose Chase (n)

    Meaning: A pointless or fruitless pursuit.
    Example: Competing in a saturated market became a wild goose chase.

    Did you get 100%?

    There you go – a practical collection of 20 Startup Idioms for Success you can start recognising and using right away.

    You’ll soon notice these idioms in pitch meetings, founder chats, investor updates, and growth discussions. Now you’ll understand exactly what they mean and how to use them naturally.

    Which one stood out to you the most? My personal favourite is “play with fire” because it shows the danger of taking risks. 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 entrepreneurship, innovation, business strategy, and growth.

    👉 Visit my A-Z idiom category page to see more.

    Happy learning,

    Teacher Rob 🙋‍♂️

    Need help learning the idioms?

    Check out my 👉 Best Way to Learn Idioms Quickly Page

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    📚 Learning Resources

    👉 Business English Idioms List

    👥 Support Spaces

    👉 Student Space
    👉 Tutor Toolkit

    ⭐️ Extras

    📫 Get a Daily Idiom

    We hope you enjoyed our Startup Idioms For Success.