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Tag: Marketing & Sales Idioms

  • A Piece of Cake

    🗓️ Idiom: A Piece of Cake (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • Something that is very easy to do.
    • A task or activity that requires little effort or skill.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Creating the presentation was a piece of cake with the new template.
    • For an experienced salesperson, that client pitch was a piece of cake.
    • Explaining our product benefits is a piece of cake once you know the script.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom likely originated from the idea of cake being something enjoyable and easy to consume, eventually evolving into a metaphor for simplicity.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    For our marketing team, preparing the launch was a __________.

    Answer

    piece of cake

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “a piece of cake”:

    A) Complicated task
    B) Very easy task
    C) Sweet business deal

    Answer

    B) Very easy task

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “Creating the ad was very easy.” → Change the sentence using: a piece of cake

    Answer

    Creating the ad was a piece of cake.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel

    🗓️ Idiom: Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To do something that is extremely easy or requires little effort.
    • Refers to a task or challenge that’s simple to complete or win.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • With demand so high, closing deals this month is like shooting fish in a barrel.
    • Convincing existing customers to upgrade has been like shooting fish in a barrel.
    • The market is so ready for our product, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel out there.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the idea that fish in a barrel would have nowhere to escape, making them easy targets. It implies a task so easy that success is almost guaranteed.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    With such a loyal audience, selling to them is like __________.

    Answer

    shooting fish in a barrel

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “like shooting fish in a barrel”:

    A) Extremely difficult to achieve
    B) Unpredictable or risky
    C) Very easy to do

    Answer

    C) Very easy to do

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “Selling this product in today’s market is incredibly easy.” → Change the sentence using: like shooting fish in a barrel

    Answer

    Selling this product in today’s market is like shooting fish in a barrel.

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  • Strike While the Iron’s Hot

    🗓️ Idiom: Strike While the Iron’s Hot (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To take advantage of a good opportunity before it disappears.
    • To act quickly when the conditions are right or favorable.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The campaign was trending, so the team struck while the iron was hot and launched their ad.
    • You need to strike while the iron’s hot if you want to close that big client.
    • We had great customer interest, so we struck while the iron was hot and expanded our services.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from blacksmithing. When iron is heated in a forge, it must be shaped while it is still hot and malleable (bendable). Once it cools, it’s much harder to work with. Hence, the importance of acting at the right moment.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    There’s a huge buzz around the product—let’s __________ and start the promotion today.

    Answer

    strike while the iron’s hot

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “strike while the iron’s hot”:

    A) Wait until things calm down
    B) Act quickly to take advantage of an opportunity
    C) Avoid risky decisions

    Answer

    B) Act quickly to take advantage of an opportunity

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “The timing is perfect, so let’s move forward immediately.” → Change the sentence using: strike while the iron’s hot

    Answer

    The timing is perfect, so let’s strike while the iron’s hot.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Pound the Pavement

    🗓️ Idiom: Pound the Pavement (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To go out and look for work, clients, or opportunities, especially by visiting places or approaching people in person.
    • To make an active effort to achieve something, especially in sales or job hunting.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After college, I spent weeks pounding the pavement trying to land a job.
    • Our sales reps pounded the pavement to introduce our product to local businesses.
    • She’s been pounding the pavement for months looking for investors for her startup.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from the image of someone walking extensively on city sidewalks (pavement), often wearing out their shoes, while looking for work or sales leads. It reflects persistence and effort in real-world settings.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    He was determined to find a job, so he got up early and started to __________.

    Answer

    pound the pavement

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “pound the pavement”:

    A) To walk aimlessly
    B) To search actively for work or opportunities
    C) To relax after a busy day

    Answer

    B) To search actively for work or opportunities

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “She visited many offices in person to apply for jobs.” → Change the sentence using: pound the pavement

    Answer

    She pounded the pavement to apply for jobs.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Knock on Doors

    🗓️ Idiom: Knock on Doors (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To actively seek opportunities or customers by approaching people directly, often without an invitation.
    • To make proactive efforts to promote or sell something, especially by visiting places or reaching out persistently.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Our team spent the whole day knocking on doors to pitch the new product.
    • In the early days of the startup, she knocked on doors to find her first few clients.
    • To land his first job in sales, he literally knocked on doors to offer insurance plans.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from traditional sales practices where representatives would go from house to house (door to door). They would knock on people’s doors to present offers or make sales. It now also applies more broadly to actively seeking new customers.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    When we launched the service, we had no leads, so we just started to __________.

    Answer

    knock on doors

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “knock on doors”:

    A) To wait passively for customers to contact you
    B) To actively seek opportunities by contacting people directly
    C) To close business deals over email

    Answer

    B) To actively seek opportunities by contacting people directly

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “They approached many companies directly in hopes of getting sales.” → Change the sentence using: knock on doors

    Answer

    They knocked on many doors in hopes of getting sales.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Cold Call

    🗓️ Idiom: Cold Call (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To contact a potential customer or client without any notice or appointment, typically to sell a product or service.
    • To reach out to someone, especially by phone, in hopes of beginning a business opportunity or sale.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The sales team spent the morning cold calling potential leads from a new list.
    • I used to dread cold calling until I built up more confidence.
    • She cold called several companies before finding one interested in her proposal.

    🏛️ Origin

    The term comes from sales and marketing, where “cold” implies a lack of prior contact or relationship. It contrasts with a “warm” or “hot” lead, where the prospect already knows or expects the communication.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    We didn’t have any appointments, so we just started to __________ local businesses.

    Answer

    cold call

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “cold call”:

    A) To respond to a customer’s inquiry
    B) To make a call to a previous client
    C) To contact a possible customer without any previous interaction

    Answer

    C) To contact a possible customer without any previous interaction

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “They contacted the company even though there had been no previous communication.” → Change the sentence using: cold call

    Answer

    They cold called the company.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Hit the Jackpot

    🗓️ Idiom: Hit the Jackpot (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To achieve great success or get an outstanding result, often unexpectedly.
    • To gain a large reward or benefit, usually after taking a chance or making an effort.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Their latest ad campaign hit the jackpot and brought in record sales.
    • We hit the jackpot with that influencer partnership, our product went viral overnight.
    • The marketing team hit the jackpot by targeting the perfect niche audience.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase “hit the jackpot” originally comes from gambling, where the “jackpot” refers to the top prize in a game. Over time, it became a popular idiom for any kind of major success or win, especially one that seems lucky or unexpected.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    We tried several strategies, but it was the giveaway contest that really __________.

    Answer

    hit the jackpot

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “hit the jackpot”:

    A) To take a big risk without reward
    B) To achieve great success or win something valuable
    C) To waste time on unimportant tasks

    Answer

    B) To achieve great success or win something valuable

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “The new sales strategy worked amazingly well and exceeded expectations.” → Change the sentence using: hit the jackpot

    Answer

    The new sales strategy hit the jackpot and exceeded expectations.

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  • Blaze a Trail

    🗓️ Idiom: Blaze a Trail (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To be the first to do something new or innovative, setting an example for others to follow.
    • To lead the way in a new area of activity or development.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Our company blazed a trail in eco-friendly packaging long before it became mainstream.
    • The bold marketing approach blazed a trail for other brands in the industry.
    • She blazed a trail in digital advertising by experimenting with new platforms.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom originates from early explorers who would literally blaze (cut) a path through forests or unknown areas to create a trail for others. Over time, it came to mean taking the lead in any new field or endeavour.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The startup __________ by using AI in a way no one had before.

    Answer

    blazed a trail

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “blaze a trail”:

    A) To abandon a strategy
    B) To follow someone’s lead
    C) To be the first to do something innovative

    Answer

    C) To be the first to do something innovative

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “They were the first to try this marketing strategy, and now others are copying them.” → Change the sentence using: blaze a trail

    Answer

    They blazed a trail with that marketing strategy, and now others are copying them.

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  • Make Waves

    🗓️ Idiom: Make Waves (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To cause a noticeable impact or attract attention, often by doing something new, different, or disruptive.
    • To create change, stir up strong reactions, or challenge the status quo.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The new marketing campaign really made waves across social media.
    • Her bold product launch strategy made waves in the industry.
    • Startups often make waves by offering something the big players haven’t considered.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom “make waves” comes from the idea of disturbing calm water, symbolising disruption or noticeable effects. In a figurative sense, it began appearing in the mid-20th century to describe people or actions that challenge norms or attract attention.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The influencer’s video campaign __________ and boosted the brand’s visibility overnight.

    Answer

    made waves

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “make waves”:

    A) To keep things quiet and unchanged
    B) To cause a noticeable impact or reaction
    C) To relax and take it easy

    Answer

    B) To cause a noticeable impact or reaction

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “Their new advertisement attracted a lot of attention and started conversations.” → Change the sentence using: make waves

    Answer

    Their new advertisement made waves and started conversations.

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  • Get (something) off the Ground

    🗓️ Idiom: Get (Something) Off the Ground

    💬 Meaning

    • To successfully start or launch something, such as a project, business, or campaign.
    • It suggests moving from the planning stage to actual execution or operation.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After months of planning, the team finally got the new ad campaign off the ground.
    • We’re still trying to get the website redesign off the ground.
    • Without enough funding, the startup couldn’t get off the ground.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom originates from flying, where getting a plane “off the ground” refers to a successful takeoff. Over time, it came to describe any initiative or idea that is successfully launched or begun.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    We had a great idea for a product, but we struggled to __________ it off the ground.

    Answer

    get

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “get (something) off the ground”:

    A) To cancel an idea before starting
    B) To successfully begin a project or activity
    C) To move something into storage

    Answer

    B) To successfully begin a project or activity

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “They successfully started the new marketing campaign.” → Change the sentence using: get (something) off the ground

    Answer

    They got the new marketing campaign off the ground.

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