A CONCISE DICTIONARY
OF CURRENT AMERICAN
BUSINESS IDIOMS
М.Э. Данилова
A CONCISE DICTIONARY
OF CURRENT AMERICAN
BUSINESS IDIOMS
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A
(An) “A” player – a top performer, a superior employee
Note: Some corporations rank their employees with letters, just like the ones used in U.S. school system: A, B, C. the top 10 % -20 % are “A” players, the next 70 % - 80 % are “B” players. The “C” players are typically in the bottom 10 % and are usually not around for long.
according to the rumor mill – according to gossip
all in a day’s work – this is just part of the job; this is nothing unusual
an arm and a leg – a lot of money
around the clock – non-stop; 24 hours a day
as sick as a dog – very sick
asleep at the wheel – not performing well; neglecting responsibilities; not paying attention to what’s going on
Synonyms: asleep at the switch; out to lunch
at a premium – at a high price; at a relatively high price
at no extra charge – for free; for no additional money
at one’s expense – at a cost to
Note: there is also the related expression “at one’s own expense”, meaning to pay the cost oneself
at the end of the day – in summary; when we look back on this after we’ve finished
at the top of one’s game – to be performing at the top of one’s abilities; to be performing very well
B
back and forth on an issue – repeatedly changing one’s mind about something; having trouble settling on an opinion or decision
back-of-the-envelope calculations – quick calculations; estimates using approximate numbers, instead of exact numbers
Note: This expression refers to the quick calculations one would do informally, as on the back of an envelop
bat around some ideas - to discuss ideas; to discuss options
beef up – to improve; to add to
bells and whistles – extra product features, usually using the latest technologies; product features which are attractive, but not essential for the product to function
belt – tightening – reduction of expenses
bent out of shape – to be or to get very angry about something
best of both worlds, the – a situation or product that offers two very different advantages at the same time
between a rock and a hard place – in a very difficult position; facing two choices which are equally unacceptable or difficult
between jobs – out of work; unemployed
Note: Saying one is “between jobs” sounds better than saying one is “unemployed”
beyond the call of duty – more than is expected or required
Note: the variation: above and beyond the call of duty
big picture, the – a summary; an overview; the most important points
big win – a huge success; a successful product
bigwig – very important person, person in charge
Synonyms: head honcho; big cheese; top dog; VIP (very important person)
Origin: This term comes from “big wig” – the large wigs that English men wore in the 17th and 18th centuries. Men of great importance wore the biggest wigs.
bite the bullet – to make a difficult or painful decision; to take a difficult step
bitter pill to swallow – bad news; something unpleasant to accept
blockbuster – a big success; a huge hit
blow things out of proportion – to exaggerate; to make more of something than one should
blows my mind - it bothers me; it really surprises me; it amazes me
bottom line – 1) profits; financial results 2) the final result; the main point
Note: In accounting, the bottom line (the last line) of the income statement shows net income (the profit after deducting all expenses). This is one of the most important numbers for a company
brainstorm – to think up new ideas; to generate new ideas in a group
break even – to make neither a profit or a loss; the point at which revenues equal costs
break one’s budget – to cost much more than one wants to pay; to cost more than one can afford
break the news – to make something known (often something unpleasant)
bring a product to market – to introduce or launch a new product
brown noser – somebody who’s always trying to win favor with those in authority, like bosses or teachers
brownie points – credit for doing a good deed or for giving someone a compliment (usually a boss or teacher)
Origin: The junior branch of the Girl Scouts is called the Brownies. Brownies earn credit to then earn a badge by doing good deeds and tasks. When applied to adults, the meaning is sarcastic
build from the ground up – to develop a company, a business, or a department from its beginnings; to build a successful operation from scratch
burn one’s bridges – to do something which makes it impossible to go back; to damage a relationship to such an extent that one can never go back to that person again
Origin: This expression comes from the military. Soldiers dating back to the days of the Roman Empire used to burn the bridges behind them. This meant the Roman troops couldn’t retreat; they had to keep moving forward. It also made it more difficult for the enemy to follow them
burn the midnight oil – to stay up late working or studying
burned out – to be extremely tired; to lose effectiveness because of doing a job for too long
butter up – to say nice things to somebody, hoping that they do something nice for you in the future, to compliment too much
buy out – to purchase an entire business or someone’s share of the business
C
call in sick – to phone into the office and say you’re sick
call it quits – to give up; to quit; to stop; to admit defeat
can do attitude – a positive way of looking at things; an optimistic perspective; a positive attitude
can’t afford to – don’t have time for; don’t want to
carve out a niche – to start a specialty business
cash cow – a product, service, or business division that generates a lot of cash for the company, without requiring much investment
cash in on – to make money on; to benefit financially from
child’s play – an easy task
Chill out! – Relax! Don’t worry!
circle back to – to return to
clean house – to fire a lot of employees
climb the corporate ladder – advance in one’s carrier; the process of getting promoted and making it to senior management
come up with a winner – to think up a very good idea
come with the territory – to be part of the job
compare apples to oranges – to compare two unlike things; to make an invalid comparison
Note: You will also see the related expression “compare apples to apples” which means to compare two things of the same type. This means that you are making a valid comparison, as opposed to when you’re comparing apples to oranges
count me in – I will participate
cover a lot of ground – to discuss many topics; to have a productive decision
cover oneself – to try to avoid being blamed for something; to protect oneself from blame
Note: You may hear the more vulgar form of this expression: cover your ass, or the shortened version “CYA”. Since “ass” is a vulgar word, some people use more polite variations of this expression, such as “cover your behind” and “cover your butt”
crash course, a, - short and intensive instruction
crunch the numbers – to perform financial calculations
Note: You will also see the noun form of this expression, “number cruncher”, used to describe somebody who makes a lot of financial calculations as part of his or her job
crunch time – a short period when there’s high pressure to achieve a result
cut back on – to reduce
cut it a little close – to try to do too much before a deadline; to not leave enough time to get a task done
cut someone some slack – to be forgiving; to not judge someone too harshly
cut to the chase – to get to the point; to tell the most important part of the story
Origin: In action films, the “chase”, refers to most exciting part, when the drama is at a high point. Some people may want the movie to get to this exciting part (in other words, cut to it) as soon as possible
cutting – edge – very modern; using the latest technologies
D
deliver – to meet expectations or requirements of a task, project, or job
different animal – something entirely different
do a 180 – to turn around; to change position completely; to improve a lot
do whatever it takes – to do anything and everything necessary to accomplish a task or reach a goal
dog-eat-dog world – a cruel and aggressive world in which people just look out for themselves
don’t waste your breath- don’t bother; don’t bother trying to defend yourself; I don’t want to hear your excuses
dot your i’s and cross you t’s – to be very careful; to pay attention to details
down the road – in the future
draw a blank – to be unable to remember
Dream on! – That’s what you’d like, but it’s not realistic
dream up – to think up something creative or unusual; to come up with an original idea; to invent
drive a hard bargain – to be tough in negotiating an agreement; to negotiate something in one’s favor
drop the ball – to make a mistake; to fail; to do something poorly
drum up business – to create business; to find new customers
dump someone – to end a romantic relationship
E
earn one’s keep – to deserve what one is paid; to deserve to be in the position one is in; to contribute one’s share
eating one’s lunch – taking away one’s business
educated guess – a guess based on experience; a piece of information based on prior knowledge, not hard facts or data
80/20 rule, the – the principle that 80 percent of results are achieved through just 20 percent of activities
every time I turn around – frequently; too often
F
face the music – to admit that there’s a problem; to deal with an unpleasant situation realistically
fall guy – the person who gets blamed for a mistake, sometimes unfairly
far cry from , a – different than; not at all like; much less than
fast followers – a company that doesn’t come up with new ideas or concepts first, but rather quickly copies those of other companies
fast-forward, the, - a way of operating a tape recorder or video so that the tape is wound forward fast without being played
fast track a project – to make a project a high priority; to speed up the time frame of a project
fine – tune – to make small adjustments to something to increase the effectiveness or to make something work better
first thing in the morning – early in the morning
flesh out something – to elaborate on something; to add more detail to a plan; to think in more detail about something
for a song – cheaply; inexpensively
for starters – as a first step; to begin with
for the record (also just for the record) – let me make my opinion clear
G
game plan – an action plan; a plan how a project will proceed
generate a lot of buzz – to cause many people to start talking about a product or service, usually in a positive way that increases sales
Note: “Buzz” is a popular word for “attention”
get ahead – to get promoted; to advance in one’s career
get buy – in(from) – to get agreement or approval from
get down to business – to start work; to begin discussing the important issues
get nailed – to get in trouble; to get caught doing something
get off track – to get off the subject; to lose focus; to digress
get one’s foot in the door – to get into an organization; to take a position with an organization that could lead to a bigger opportunity in the future
get right on something – to take care of something immediately
get something off the ground – to get started on something, often a project
get something out of one’s system – to no longer feel the need to do something; to experience something to one’s satisfaction
get the ball rolling – to get started
get the job done – to do the job successfully; to accomplish the task
get to the bottom of something – to figure out what’s going on; to find out what’s causing a problem
get under one’s skin – to bother; to irritate; to annoy
get up to speed – to learn how to do a new job or a new task
get wind of – to find out about something; often sensitive information
get with the program – to pay attention to what’s going on right now; to be alert to what’s happening now
give it one’s best shot – to make one’s best effort to get something done; to try to do something, even though, you’re not sure if you’ll be successful
give somebody an earful – to say what you really think, in detail (usually criticism and often more than the other person wants to hear)
give somebody the green light – to give permission to move forward with a project
go all out – to make a big effort; to try hard
go back to the drawing board – to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning
go belly up – to go bankrupt
go – getter – a hard – working, ambitious person; someone very good at delivering results at work
go on about – to talk too long about; to talk for a long time about (always said as a criticism); to brag
go the extra mile – to do more than what is expected or required
good call – good decision
grin and bear it – to put up with it; to pretend it doesn’t bother you
guerrilla marketing – innovative methods to sell products; non-traditional methods of advertising or promotion that deliver good results with minimal spending
Note: The word “guerrilla” refers to carrying on a war using independent bands of soldiers, who tend to use very aggressive and non-traditional tactics to win battles
H
half – baked idea – a stupid or impractical idea or suggestion
hands-off – not too involved; passive; not interested in managing details
hang in there – be patient; don’t get discouraged
happy medium, a - a compromise
hard sell, the – an aggressive way of selling
have a chip on one’s shoulder – to remain angry about a past insult; to bear a grudge
Origin: This expression comes from the 19th century. Those looking for a fight placed a chip on their shoulder. If an opponent knocked it off, the fight was on. Although that custom has ended, use still says an angry person has a chip on his or her shoulder
have a knack for something – to be skilled at something; to be naturally good at something (either in a positive or a negative way)
have a lot on one’s plate – to have a lot to add; to have too much to do; to have too much to cope with
have a rough night – to have a difficult evening or night
have in mind – to be thinking of
have some issues – to have some personality problems (a vague way of saying that somebody is not quite right in some way)
head is on the chopping block, one’s – in a position where one is likely to be fired or get in trouble
he’ll get his (she’ll get hers) – something bad will happen to him (her), just as he (or she) deserves
hit the ground running – to have a successful start to a new job; to start at full speed
hot – head – a bad tempered or very moody person; a violent person
hunker down – to focus on work; to get ready to work hard; often involving a long period of time
Note: This phrase also means to stay indoors or to take shelter when the weather turns bad
I
I beg to differ – I don’t agree (a formal way of telling somebody you don’t agree with them)
I can’t believe my ears – I’m very surprised!
I could’ve sworn that… - I really thought that; I was convinced that
Note: “Sworn” is the past perfect tense of “swear”
I don’t know whether I’m coming or going – I’m so busy, I can barely think clearly; I’m not focused; I’m distracted
I wasn’t born yesterday! – I’m not stupid; I’m not naïve
icing on the cake – an additional advantage; when one good thing happens, then another good thing happens along with it
Note: Icing is the creaming glaze put on top of a cake to decorate it and make it sweeter. The cake is already good enough – putting icing on top is something extra which makes it even better
in a nutshell – in summary; in short
in a snit – in a bad mood; angry
in deep trouble – having a serious problem; in crisis
in hot water – in trouble
in the bag – a sure thing
in progress – happening; under way; going on
in the red – losing money; when expenses are greater than revenues
Note: This expression comes from the accounting practice of marking debits (subtractions to the account) in black. The opposite of “in the red” is “in the black,” meaning profitable
in tip-top shape – in great condition; completely healthy
Is there any room to negotiate? – Is it possible to negotiate? Are you flexible about the offer?
issue at hand, the – the topic under discussion; what’s being talked about now
It’s a deal – I agree (to a proposal or offer)
J
jump ship – to quit a job; to leave a job suddenly
jump the gun – to start doing something too soon or ahead of everybody else
jump through hoops – to go through a lot of difficult work for something; to face many bureaucratic obstacles
just for the record (also: for the record) – let me make my opinion clear
K
keep an open mind – to be ready to accept new ideas and experiences
keep one’s eye on the prize – to stay focused on the end result; to not let small problems get in the way of good results
Note – the variation – keep one’s eyes on the prize
keep one’s head above water – to survive; to get by; to survive financial difficulties
keep one’s nose to the grindstone – to focus on one’s work; to focus on working hard
Origin: A grindstone is a stone disk used for sharpening tools or grinding grain. To work the grindstone, you need to bend over it with your nose close to the stone
keep someone in the loop – to let someone know what’s going on; to provide regular updates
keep something under wraps – to keep something secret; to not let anybody know about a new project or plan
Keep up the good work! – continue as you are; you’re doing well, continue to do well
kick off – to start something, such as a meeting or a project
Note: You will also see the phrase “kick off meeting”, meaning the first meeting to get a new project started
kiss up to someone – to try win favor with someone by flattering them
know something inside and out – to know something very well
Kudos to – I’d like to give credit to; I’d like to acknowledge
L
last resort – if there are no other alternatives left; the last solution for getting out a difficulty
last straw, the, - the final offence or annoyance that pushes one to take action
Origin: This saying comes from another expression that you may also hear: the straw that broke the camel’s back. When you load up a camel straw by straw, each individual straw doesn’t weigh much. However, eventually, the load will get so heavy that one extra straw will break the camel’s back. In the same ways people can tolerate small annoyances, but when there get to be too many, people finally get fed up and take action
latest dirt, the - the latest gossip
leapfrog one’s competitors – to make a product that is technologically superior to competitors’ products
Note: Leapfrog is a popular children’s game in which one child bends down and another jumps over him or her
leaving us – leaving the company (note: often a polite way of saying someone’s been fired)
lesser of two evils, the - when you have two unattractive options and you choose the one that is better; the better of two bad options
let someone go – to fire someone
let’s just agree to disagree – we don’t agree, but let’s not argue further; let’s accept our differences of opinion and move on
likely story, a - that’s not true; I find that hard to believe
live to regret a decision – to feel bad later about one’s decision
look at oneself in the mirror – to face oneself
lose one’s shirt – to lose everything one owns; to lose a lot of money in business; to make a very bad investment
M
make a killing – to make a lot of money
Synonym: to make a fortune
make a mountain out of a molehill – to make a big deal out of something small or insignificant
make a pass at someone – to make a sexual advance toward someone
make a splash – to make a big impact; to get a lot of attention
make it up to you – to do something to compensate you for your trouble
make money hand over fist – to make a lot of money; to make a lot of money fast
make the grade – to succeed; to fulfill the requirements
market share – the percentage of sales a company has in relation to its competitors for a product or product line
me-too products – products that are extremely similar to another company’s products; copies
mess around – to waste time; to spend time with no particular purpose or goal
micro-manage – to manage too closely; to be too involved in the details
mince words – to control one’s language so as to be polite
Note: Mince has two main meanings; in this expression, it means “to make less harsh”. It also means “to chop foods into tiny prices”
miss the point – to not understand
more bang for the buck – more value for one’s money; a higher return on investments
Note: A “buck” is slang for a “dollar”
move on – 1) to proceed; 2) to leave a job and do something else
mum’s the word – let’s keep quiet about this, I agree not to tell anyone about this
Origin: The word “mum” comes from the murmur “mmmmm”, the only sound you can make when your mouth is shut firmly. Try making other sounds besides “mmmmm” with your lips and mouth shut firmly, and you will see that it’s impossible!
my gut tells me – I have a strong feeling that; my intuition tells me
my hands are tied – there’s nothing I can do; I’m stuck; I have no alternatives
my stomach (my head; my arm, etc.) is killing me – my stomach (my head, my arm, etc…) hurts very badly
N
name of the game, the - the central issue; the most important thing; the main goal
need like a hole in the head – to have no need for something; to have no desire for something
new blood – new employees
nickel-and-dime – to negotiate over very small sums; to try to get a better financial deal, in a negative way
Origin: After the penny, nickels and dimes are the smallest units of U.S. currency. Pennies, nickels, and dimes are common words in American English idioms related to money, finances, and value. Other examples of these expressions include: •pretty penny – a lot of money; too much money (when referring to the cost of something); •dime a dozen – very common and of no special value; •pinch pennies – to be careful with money; •a penny saved is a penny earned – you will save money by being careful about how much you spend; it’s wise to save your money
nitty-gritty – the details
Note: The exact origins of this are unknown. This expression belongs to a class of fun expressions with sounds that repeat themselves. Other such expressions include: wishy-washy (ineffective; lacking will – power; indecisive; incapable of making clear decisions); itsy – bitsy (very small), fuddy-duddy (a boring, old-fashioned person), and mish-mash – (a strange combination of things)
no-brainer – an energy decision; an obvious choice
no can do – I can’t do that; I’m unable to satisfy your request
no hard feelings – no anger; no bitterness
no its, ands, or buts – no excuses; it’s absolutely necessary that; this is how it’s going to be no matter what anybody says
no wonder – it’s not surprising that
no big deal – it’s not a problem
not a bad guy – an okay person (usually used when you don’t really like somebody, but you want to say that they’re basically not a bad person)
not able to make heads or tails of – to be unable to interpret
not all it’s cracked up to be – not as great as people think; not as great as its reputation
not feel so hot – to feel sick; to not feel well
not lift a finger – to not help at all; to do nothing
not so hot – not very good
nothing is set in stone – nothing is decided yet; things can still be changed
nothing to sneeze at – not insignificant; impressive
nothing ventured, nothing gained – If you don’t try to do something, you’ll never succeed
O
of two minds – conflicted; having conflicting ideas about something
off the record – just between us; unofficial; not to be repeated to others
on a tight budget – to not have much money to spend; to have a limited amount to spend
on board – ready to participate; in agreement
on one’s high horse – (to be or to get) – to have an arrogant or superior attitude; to think one has all the answers
Note: The related expression: “Get off your high horse!” meaning to stop acting arrogant or superior
on the dot – sharp; at an exact time
on the make – This idiom has 2 very different meanings “1) actively looking for a sexual partner; 2) aggressively trying to improve one’s social or financial status”
on the right track – proceeding in a good way; going in the right direction
on the same page – to be in agreement; when everybody has the latest information on what’s going on
on top of trends – modern; aware and responding to the latest tastes
opportunity areas – weaknesses; skills that need to be improved
out for oneself – selfish; just concerned with oneself and one’s own success; not caring about what happens to other people
out of hand – (to be or to get out of hand) – to be too much; to be out of control
out of one’s mind – crazy; having unrealistic thoughts or ideas
out of one’s range – more than one wants to pay
out of the loop – unaware of what’s going on
out of the question – impossible
out of touch with reality – unrealistic; not aware of what’s really going on
P
pan out – to succeed; to bring the desired result
pass the buck – to shift the blame; to blame somebody else
pat on the back, a - credit; recognition; praise
people person – somebody who likes working with people; a friendly person
pitch in – to help; to contribute
play one’s cards right – to make the most of one’s opportunities or situation
plug a product – to promote a product; to talk positively about a product
point fingers at each other – to blame
politically correct (PC) – This expression refers to language or behavior that is carefully controlled (sometimes too controlled) to avoid offending people based on gender; ethnicity, etc. the concept emerged in the 1980’s in the United States. Nowadays, it often has a negative meaning
pretty penny – a lot of money; too much money (when referring to the cost of something)
pride oneself on – to be proud of; to recognize one’s own skill in a certain area
pull one’s weight – to do one’s share of the work
Note the variation: to pull one’s own weight
pull out all the stops – to use all one’s resources to get something done; to try very hard
Origin: This expression comes from the world of music. To increase the volume of a pipe organ, organists pull out stops (levers that control the volume)
pull something off – to accomplish a difficult task; to successfully do something difficult
Synonym: to carry something off
pull the plug – to put a stop to a project or initiative, usually because it’s not going well; to stop something from moving forward; to discontinue
Origin: This expression refers to removing a plug to make something stop working – when you pull the plug out of the wall, your appliance doesn’t work. In the 19th century, when this term originated, the plug was for a toilet. To flush the toilet, you had to pull out a plug
pull the wool over one’s eyes- to deceive someone
push one’s buttons – to annoy someone; to make someone angry
push one’s luck – don’t try to get too much; be satisfied with what you’ve already gotten and don’t try to get more
Note: the variation – to press one’s luck
push the envelope – to go beyond what is normally done; to stretch the boundaries
put a stake in the ground – to take the first step; to make a big move to get something started; to make a commitment
put in one’s two cents – to offer one’s opinion; to give an opinion without being asked
put in place – to establish; to start; to implement
put one’s mind to something – to focus on a task; to try hard to do something
R
R&R – rest and relaxation
rally the troops – to motivate others; to get other people excited about doing something; to do something to improve the morale of the employees and get them energized about doing their work
Note: The verb “to rally” has several definitions, but in this case means to “call for a common goal or purpose”. Troops are an informal way of describing a group of employees. The term comes from the military – a troop is a military unit
read between the lines – to understand unclear or indirect communication; to interpret something from hints or suggestions
real dog, a, - a bad product; a commercial failure
reality check, a, - let’s think realistically about this situation (said when you don’t like something that’s being suggested because you don’t think the other person is thinking practically or logically)
record – breaking – better than ever before; exceeding all previous results
reduce headcount – to lay off or fire workers
Note: “Headcount” is the number of people who work at an organization. Many companies do not like to say that they are “laying people off” as it can sound cold and insensitive. After all, people are involved. “Reducing headcount” gets around this problem. It sounds less personal and more scientific
Synonym: to downsize
rest on one’s laurels – to believe that past success is enough to guarantee that the future will also be successful; to rely too much on reputation
Origin: In Ancient Roman times, a crown made of laurels (from the laurel tree) was a symbol of victory
review an offer – to think about an offer; to consider an offer
rip off – to copy an idea; to steal
Note: “Rip off, a” is also a noun
roll up one’s sleeves – to get ready to start something; to prepare to do something
run a tight ship – to run something effectively and efficiently
run for one’s money, a, - strong competition
Origin: this expression comes from the world of horse racing. It refers to a horse on which one has bet money and which comes close to winning but doesn’t win
run in place – to not make any progress; to be stuck; to remain in the same place for a long period of time
run the numbers – to perform financial calculations
run one’s own show – to run one’s own business; to have control over an entire business or a part of a business
run some ideas by (someone) – to discuss some new ideas
Note: also the singular form: to run an idea by someone
run with an idea – to proceed with an idea
running behind – to be late; to be delayed
Synonym: running late
S
save a bundle – to save a lot of money
scale back one’s hours – to reduce the number of hours one works
see eye to eye – to be in agreement; to have the same opinion
see the writing on the wall – to know what’s coming; to see what’s going to happen in the future
Note: the variation: handwriting on the wall
settle down – to calm down; to become quiet
Shape up or ship out! – improve your behavior or leave; if you don’t improve your performance, you’re going to get fired
Origin: This expression was first used in the U.S. military during World War Two, meaning: you’d better follow regulations and behave (“shape up”), or you’re going to be sent overseas to a war zone (“ship out”)
share the credit – to acknowledge someone else’s contribution; to share with somebody else recognition for a job well done
shell out – to pay (often more than one would like)
sick and tired of – completely bored with; sick of; fed up with
sign on new customers (or members) – to enlist new customers; to get customers to open an account or take a membership
slave driver – a very demanding and often cruel boss or supervisor
Origin: In the days of slavery, the slave driver was the person who oversaw the slaves as they worked
sleep on it – to think about a decision overnight; to take a day to decide on something
slip one’s mind – be forgotten
Note: Notice that the subject is “it” in the expression “it slipped my mind”, making this the passive voice. It’s like this unknown “it” is responsible for the fact that you forgot to do something. In contrast, “I forgot” is the active voice. You’re taking more responsibility (and possibly more blame) when you say, “I forgot”.
snap up – to buy for a very good price; to buy a large supply of something, usually because it’s on sale or in short supply
spare us (or me) the sob story – don’t bother making excuses; don’t try to explain yourself
Note: “Sob” means cry
spark one’s interest – to raise one’s interest; to cause one to become interested in
split the difference – to accept a figure halfway in between; to compromise
stand firm – to remain at; to not offer more than; to resist; to refuse to yield to
stand one’s ground – to maintain and defend one’s position; to refuse to give up one’s position
start-up – a small business, usually one that’s been operating five years or less (and often in the technology industry)
steer clear of – to avoid or stay away from someone or something
step up to the plate – to take action; to do one’s best; to volunteer
Note: This expression comes from baseball. You step up to the plate (a plastic mat on the ground) when it’s your turn to hit the ball
stepping stone – a way of advancing or getting to the next stage; a position, a product, or an activity that comes first and prepares the way for what will come next
stocking stuffer – a small gift given at Christmas time
stressed out – under severe strain; very anxious; very nervous
strike gold – to make a very profitable deal; to discover something valuable
strike it rich – to attain sudden financial success; to get rich quickly
strike out – to fail
swamped – to have too much work to do; to be extremely busy
T
tagline – a slogan; a phrase used to promote a product
take a crack at something – to try something
Synonym: to have a go at something
take credit for something – to claim recognition for something
take it easy – to relax; to rest; to not do too much
take it from there – to wait and see what else needs to be done; to take just one step and then decide what to do next
take someone into one’s confidence – to tell somebody something confidentially; to tell somebody sensitive information
take the ball and run with it – to take initiative; to take charge without a lot of supervision
take the cake – to rank first; to be the best or worst example of something
Origin: Dating back to Ancient Greek times, a cake was a popular prize given to a contest winner
talk about – that’s an example of
talk behind someone’s back – to gossip about somebody; to say negative things about somebody who’s not around
talk someone into something – to convince someone to do something, often something that one later regrets
team player – somebody willing to help out for the benefit of the group
team spirit – enthusiasm; enthusiasm about doing something for the group
Tell me about it! – I agree with you
test the waters – to try something out before committing to it; to see what the response or outcome will be to an intended action
that’s putting it lightly – that’s definitely true; that’s for sure; that’s an understatement
there’s something going around – there’s an illness travelling around the office; many people are getting sick from some illness
think outside the box – to think creatively; to think in a new and different way
Origin: This phrase refers to a puzzle used by consultants in the 1970s and 1980s. To solve it, you must connect nine dots, using four straight lines drawn continuously. ::: Your pen must never leave the paper. (The only solution to this puzzle is to draw lines outside the border of the box. Therefore, you must “think outside the box” to solve the puzzle)
think twice – to think more carefully before doing something in the future; to not repeat a mistake one has made
through the roof – very high; higher than expected
throw cold water over (an idea, a plan) – to present reasons why something will not work; to discourage
Note : the variation: to throw cold water on
throw in the towel – to give up; to surrender; to admit defeat
Origin: This idiom comes from boxing. When a fighter was losing a match his assistant would toss a towel into the ring to signal defeat and end the game. That towel was the same one used to wipe the sweat and blood off the boxer’s face
throw in something – to include something (usually for free, as part of the sale)
to the tune of (followed by a number) – in the amount of; approximately
touch base with – to get in contact with; to make brief contact with
tough call – a difficult decision; something difficult to predict
track something down – to find, usually with difficulty
track record – a record of achievement or performances
tricks of the trade – clever shortcuts gained by experience
turn a blind eye to something – to ignore a problem or an issue; to refuse to recognize
turn around one’s business – to make a business profitable again; to go from not making profits to being profitable again
24-7 (twenty-four seven) – around the clock; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
twist somebody’s arm – to convince somebody; to talk somebody into doing something
U
un-PC – insensitive; offensive; not politically correct (PC)
under one’s belt – (to get or to have under one’s belt) – to get or to have experience
under the weather – not feeling well
until one is blue in the face – for a very long time, with no results
up to one’s ears in work – to have a lot of work; to have too much work
up to one’s old tricks – repeating the same behavior as before (usually annoying, dishonest, or sneaky behavior)
up to scratch – good; at the expected level
W
walls have ears, the – you never know when somebody might be listening to your “private” conversation
wash one’s hands of – to remove any association with; to stop being part of something; to refuse to take responsibility for
Origin: This expression comes from the Bible. Pontius Pilate, a Roman official, announced before a crowd that he wouldn’t save Jesus from execution. Then he washed his hands in front of the crowd, symbolically washing away the responsibility
We’ve been down before, but we always come back fighting – everything is going to be okay; we’ve had trouble in the past too, and we managed to get over that
wear many hats – to perform many different job responsibilities; to play many different roles
weigh another offer – to consider another offer, usually a job offer
weigh in on – to say something about; to comment on; to express an opinion
what goes around comes around – people usually get what they deserve in the end
What’s the deal? – What’s going on? What’s happened? What’s the explanation?
What’s up? – 1)What’s happening? What’s new? 2) A polite way of asking “What do you want?” when somebody calls or comes into your office
when push comes to shove – when really tested; when it really counts; when there’s no more time left to hesitate or think about what action to take
Synonym: when you come right down to it
Where to begin? – There is so much to say, I have to think about where to start (usually used when you’re about to complain and you want to stress that there’s a lot to complain about)
Why mess with success? – Why start doing things differently when the way we’re doing them now is working?
wiped out – very tired; exhausted
wishy-washy – ineffective; lacking will-power; indecisive; incapable of making clear decisions
work down to the wire – to work until the last minute; to work until just before the deadline
Note: This expression comes from horse racing. In the 19th century, American racetracks placed wire across the track above the finish line. The wire helped determine which horse’s nose crossed the line first. If a race was “down to the wire”, it was a very close race, undecided until the very last second
work has slipped, one’s – one’s performance has gotten worse; one is not doing one’s job properly
work one’s tail off – to work very hard
work out the kinks – to solve the problem with
Note: A “Kink” is a problem or flaw in a system or plan
Y
yes man – an employee who always agrees with the boss or does whatever the boss says
You took the words right out of my mouth! – I completely agree with you; I was just going to say that
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