Common Business Idioms

There are many idioms used in the business world. If you don’t understand these
expressions, it’s easy to get lost in a conversation. Below is a chart of some of the most
common idioms used at work. Although most of these idioms are used in both British
and American English, the chart was designed to include the most common business
idioms in American English.

Also see the Idioms Builder for practice with hundreds of idioms.

The Most Common Business Idioms

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IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

24/7 "24/7" means 24 hours a day, seven The convenience store on the corner

days a week. is open 24/7.

a tough break When something unfortunate happens, It was a tough break for us when

it can be called a "tough break." Caroline quit. She was one of our top

performers.

ahead of the To be "ahead of the curve" means to We're investing a lot of money in

curve be more advanced than the research and development so we can

competition. stay ahead of the curve.

ahead of the pack To be "ahead of the pack" means to be If we want to stay ahead of the pack,

better or more successful than the we're going to have to work hard and

competition. continue to innovate.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

ASAP "ASAP" is an acronym for "as soon as I need to finish these reports. My boss

possible." needs them ASAP.

at stake "At stake" means at risk. I'm a little nervous about giving this

presentation. There's a lot at stake.

back to square To go "back to square one" means to Our programmers identified what they

one start something over again. thought the problem was with the

software. After working for several

hours, it turns out that the problem is

something different. We're back to

square one, unfortunately.

back to the To go "back to the drawing board" The prototype wasn't successful. We

drawing board means to start something over and go have to go back to the drawing board.

back to the planning stage.

backroom deal A "backroom deal" is an agreement or I think they got the government

decision that is made without the contract because of a backroom deal.

public knowing about it.

ballpark A "ballpark number" is a very inexact I'm not sure what a Super Bowl

number/figure estimate. commercial costs, but to give you a

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

ballpark figure I'd say about three

million dollars.

behind someone's To do something "behind someone's She didn't think it would be fair to go

back back" means to do something without behind his back and talk to

someone's knowledge and in an unfair management, so she confronted him

way. directly.

behind the scenes What happens in secret or not in front They make it look so effortless, but

of the general public is said to happen they do a lot of hard work and

"behind the scenes." planning behind the scenes.

big picture Everything that is involved with a Even though we all have very specific

particular situation is called "the big tasks to do, our manager makes sure

picture." we don't lose sight of the big picture.

blue collar A "blue collar worker" is someone It's a blue collar town with a lot of

who works with his hands farmers and factory workers.

(manufacturing, construction,

maintenance, etc.). The opposite is a

"white collar worker." A white collar

worker is someone who works in an

office (customer service,

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

management, sales, etc.). "Blue

collar" (and "white collar") can also

be used to describe a job, position, or

a place.

by the book To do things "by the book" means to We are regularly audited by several

do things according to company regulatory agencies. It's important that

policy or the law. It means to follow we do everything by the book.

the rules 100%.

call it a day To "call it a day" means to decide to Well, John, it's 7:00 and I'm getting

stop working for the day. hungry. How about we call it a day?

catch someone To "catch someone off guard" means Mike was caught off guard when they

off guard to surprise someone by doing asked him to direct the meeting.

something that he or she was not

expecting.

cave (or cave in) To "cave" or "cave in" means to give The employees complained about the

in or agree to something that someone change in policy, but the supervisor

previously did not want to accept. refused to cave in.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

change of pace "A change of pace" is something It's nice to go on business trips

different from a normal routine or because it's a change of pace.

schedule.

come up short To "come up short" means to try to The charity fund raiser was supposed

achieve something but fail. We often to raise three million dollars, but we

say that someone has "come up short" came up short.

when someone fails to achieve a goal,

but not completely.

corner a market To "corner a market" means to Apple has cornered the market on

dominate a particular market. mp3 players. They have a large

percentage of market share.

cut corners To "cut corners" means to take We don't cut corners on our luxury

shortcuts and find an easier or cheaper products.

way to do something.

cut one's losses To "cut one's losses" means to stop Our advertising campaign was

doing something that is unproductive expensive and not showing results, so

and won't ever generate results. we cut our losses.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

cut-throat "Cut-throat" is used to describe In business school, the competition

something that is very intense, was cut-throat.

aggressive, and merciless.

diamond in the A "diamond in the rough" is He was a diamond in the rough. He

rough something or someone that has a lot was intelligent and had great ideas,

of potential but first requires a lot of but his management and English skills

work. weren't very good.

easy come, easy "Easy come, easy go," is an A lot of people who inherit money

go expression used to communicate that waste it on stupid things. I guess it's

something gained easily is also lost easy come, easy go.

easily. We often use this expression

after something has been lost.

fifty-fifty "Fifty-fifty" means something is My business partner and I split

divided equally -- 50% for one party, everything fifty-fifty.

50% for the other party.

from the ground If you start a business, project, or Bill Gates built Microsoft from the

up something else from zero, you start it ground up.

"from the ground up."

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

game plan A "game plan" is a strategy or plan. They're not sure what their game plan

is for the upcoming election.

get back in/into To "get back in/into the swing of Our company shuts down operations

the swing of things" means to get used to doing for three weeks during the holiday

things something again after having a break season. When I go back to work in

from that activity. January, it's difficult to get back in the

swing of things.

get down to To "get down to business" means to Now that everyone's here, let's get

business stop making small talk and start down to business and talk about the

talking about serious topics related to proposal.

business.

get something off To "get something off the ground" We're glad the planning process is

the ground means to start a project or business. over. We're looking forward to getting

the project off the ground.

get the ball To "get the ball rolling" means to start We need to get the ball rolling on this

rolling something (a project, for example). project. The deadline is in June, and

it's already April.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

get/be on the If someone likes you, you are "on the I always remember my coworkers'

good side of good side" of that person. birthdays and get them a card or small

someone gift. I like to get on people's good

side.

get/have one's To "get or have one's foot in the door" My son just took a low-paying

foot in the door means to take a low-level position internship position with a large

with a company with the goal of company. He was happy to get his

eventually getting a better position foot in the door at a well-known,

with the same company. respected company.

give someone a To "give someone a pat on the back" The boss gave Brian a pat on the back

pat on the back means to tell someone that they did a for coming up with such a good idea.

good job.

give the thumbs To "give something or someone the I can't believe she gave us the thumbs

down thumbs down" means to deny down. I thought it was a great idea.

approval.

give the thumbs To "give something or someone the They gave our new proposal the

up thumbs up" means to give approval. thumbs up. We're going out to

celebrate tonight.
IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

go broke To "go broke" means to go bankrupt There was too much competition and

or to lose all the money a person or their expenses were too high. They

business had. eventually went broke.

go down the drain When someone wastes or loses He dropped out of college in his third

something, it is said to "go down the year and never continued his studies.

drain." All of his hard work and money went

down the drain.

go the extra mile To "go the extra mile" means to do We go the extra mile for our

more than what people expect. customers. If someone is dissatisfied

with a purchase, we refund their

money and offer them a discount on

their next purchase.

go through the If something is "going through the We're happy our number of Facebook

roof roof," it means it is rapidly increasing. followers has gone through the roof.

gray area If something is in a "gray area," it I asked our lawyers if it was legal, and

means that it is something undefined they said it wasn't clear. It's a gray

and not easily categorized. area.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

ground-breaking If something is "ground-breaking," it The iPhone was a ground-breaking

means it is new and innovative. piece of technology when it was

released in 2008.

hands are tied Someone's "hands are tied" if they do I would love to get you a job at my

not have control over a situation. company, but my hands are tied.

Management isn't hiring any

additional employees this year.

have someone's If you have a lot of work to do or a She has to sell $35,000 worth of

work cut out particularly difficult assignment, you products by the end of the month. She

"have your work cut out for you." has her work cut out for her.

hit the nail on the To "hit the nail on the head" means to I agree with John 100%. I think he

head do or say something 100% correctly. really hit the nail on the head.

in a nutshell "In a nutshell" means in a few words. In a nutshell, this book is about how

to motivate employees.

in full swing If a project is "in full swing," it means Construction on the new site is in full

that it has been completely started and swing now.

that it is progressing or moving as fast

as it ever will.
IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

in the black If a company is "in the black," it We're not having a great year, but at

means that it is making a profit. least we're in the black.

in the driver's To be "in the driver's seat" means to I'm not used to being in the driver's

seat be in control. seat. I should probably buy some

management books.

in the red If a company is "in the red," it means When I started my own business, we

that is not profitable and is operating were in the red for the first two years.

at a loss. We didn't see a profit until the third

year.

keep one's eye on To "keep one's eye on the ball" means I know we can do it. We just need to

the ball to give something one's full attention keep our eyes on the ball and not lose

and to not lose focus. focus.

last straw The "last straw" means the last Our boss had been unhappy with

annoyance, disturbance, or betrayal Brian's performance for a while, but it

which causes someone to give up, was the last straw when he came to

lose their patience, or become angry. work three hours late without calling.

learn the ropes To "learn the ropes" means to learn I like my new position. I'm starting to

the basics of something. learn the ropes.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

long shot A "long shot" is something that has a Winning the lottery is a long shot, but

very low probability of happening. millions of people still buy lottery

tickets.

loophole A legal "loophole" occurs if a law is Some people complain that

unclear or omits information. This millionaires avoid paying taxes by

lack of legal clarity allows people or finding loopholes in tax laws.

corporations to pay less in taxes or

gain some other advantage.

lose ground To "lose ground" means to lose some Apple lost some ground to Samsung

(opposite: gain type of an advantage (market share, last quarter.

ground) for example) to a competitor.

lose-lose situation A "lose-lose situation" is when there It's a lose-lose situation. If they lay off

(or no-win will be a negative outcome regardless more workers, they'll get bad press. If

situation) of what decision is made. they don't lay off more workers, they

won't be able to compete.

nine-to-five A "nine-to-five" is a job during She was tired of working a nine-to-

normal working hours. The term came five job, so she took her savings and

into existence because many work opened a restaurant.

days start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

no brainer If a decision is really obvious or really Taking the new job was a no brainer.

easy to make, the decision is a "no They offered me more money, a better

brainer." schedule, and more vacation days.

no strings If something is given without They will let you try the product for

attached expecting anything in return, it is free with no strings attached. If you

given with "no strings attached." don't like it, there is no pressure to

buy it.

no time to lose If there is "no time to lose," it means I told them I'd be finished by the end

that there is a lot of pressure to finish of the day and it's already 4:45. I need

something quickly. to get to work. There's no time to lose.

not going to fly If a solution isn't effective, we can say I don't think that's going to fly. Let's

that it "isn't going to fly." keep generating ideas.

off the top of If someone says something "off the I have no idea how many branches

one's head top of their head," it means that they they have. Off the top of my head, I'd

give a response without thinking say about 20.

about it much or doing any research

on the subject.
IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

on a roll If someone is "on a roll," it means that Our profits have been above our

he or she has had several successes in projected numbers for five months in

a row. a row. We're really on a roll.

on the ball To be "on the ball" means to be alert My new personal assistant is working

and aware of things. out well. He's really on the ball.

on the same page If two people are "on the same page," Let's go over the details of what we

page they are in agreement about agreed on to make sure we're on the

something. same page.

on top of To be "on top of something" means to I read a lot to stay on top of the latest

something be in control of a situation and aware changes in my industry.

of changes.

on your toes To be "on your toes" means to be Stay on your toes. Anything can

alert. happen.

out in the open If something is "out in the open," it is I think it's good to do things out in the

public knowledge and not hidden open because people get suspicious if

from people. you do things in secret.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

out of the loop To be "out of the loop" means to not I felt like I was out of the loop after

(opposite: in the know something that a select group of being on vacation for two weeks.

loop) people knows. The opposite, to be "in

the loop," means to be part of a select

group with knowledge that others do

not have.

pink slip Someone who gets the "pink slip," has They gave him the pink slip. He

been fired by their employer. wasn't performing very well.

play hardball To "play hardball" means to be He played hardball to get where he is,

competitive in a cruel and merciless so I would be careful what you say

way. Playing hardball means doing and do around him.

anything possible to win.

put all one's eggs To "put all one's eggs in one basket," It's not good to only invest in the

in one basket means to rely on only one thing to stock market. You don't want to put

bring success. all your eggs in one basket.

put the cart To "put the cart before the horse" They were trying to find investors

before the horse means to do or think about things in without even having a business plan.

the wrong order. They were putting the cart before the

horse.
IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

raise the bar To "raise the bar" means to set the The new software is getting great

standards or expectations higher, reviews. It looks like the bar has been

usually by achieving or creating raised for the competition.

something better than what had

previously existed.

read between the To "read between the lines" means to He didn't say that he wants to leave

lines understand something that isn't the company, but I can read between

communicated directly. Reading the lines. He's not happy here.

between the lines involves

understanding what someone is

implying or suggesting but not saying

directly.

red tape "Red tape" refers to excessive rules, The new law is going to create a lot of

procedures, and regulations that make red tape, and we're going to have to

it difficult to accomplish something. pay our lawyers a lot more money.

We usually use "red tape" to talk

about government requirements that

create difficult, time-consuming

barriers for people and businesses.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

rock the boat To "rock the boat" means to cause I'd ask for a raise, but I don't want to

problems or disrupt a peaceful rock the boat.

situation.

round-the-clock "Round the clock" means 24 hours a We have round-the-clock production

day. at all our manufacturing facilities.

run/go around in To "run (or go) around in circles" Everyone kept restating their opinions

circles means to do the same thing over and but nothing was agreed on. We were

over again without getting any results. running around in circles.

safe bet A "safe bet" means something that It's a safe bet that smartphones will be

will probably happen. much more advanced in 10 years.

same boat If people are in the same situation, We're all worried about losing our

they are in the "same boat." jobs. We're in the same boat.

second nature When someone does something so She's been a computer programmer

well that it seems like they were born for ten years. At this point,

knowing how to do it, we say that the programming is second nature to her.

activity is "second nature" to that

person.
IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

see eye to eye To "see eye to eye" with someone We don't always see eye to eye, but I

means to agree with that person. respect her opinions and appreciate

her honesty.

see something To "see something through" means to I told my boss that I really wanted to

through do something until it is finished. see this project through before taking

on another project.

sever ties To "sever ties" means to end a We had to sever ties with several of

relationship. our suppliers due to late shipments.

shoot something To "shoot something down" means to It's best not to shoot down people's

down reject something, such as a proposal ideas during a brainstorming session.

or idea. The goal is to generate ideas, not to

criticize them.

sky's the limit "The sky's the limit" if there is no With their commission structure, the

limit to what can be achieved. sky's the limit to what you can earn.

small talk "Small talk" is conversation about We typically spend about 15 minutes

unimportant topics that do not offend making small talk before we start our

people (the weather, for example). meetings.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

smooth/clear "Smooth sailing" is a term used to Once our largest competitor went out

sailing describe a situation where success is of business, it was smooth sailing.

achieved without difficulties.

snail mail "Snail mail" is the term used for the If you want to fill out form 52-E and

traditional mail that goes through the send it to the government, you have to

post office. do it using snail mail. They don't

allow you to scan the document.

stand one's To "stand one's ground" means to not We tried to change the dress code, but

ground change one's opinion or position. Human Resources stood their ground.

start off on the To "start off on the right foot" means We offered them a very generous

right foot to start something in a positive way. price on their first order and

everything shipped on time. We really

started off on the right foot.

start off on the To "start off on the wrong foot" I just switched cable companies. They

wrong foot means to start something in a negative overcharged me for the first month's

way. service. They really started off on the

wrong foot.

state of the art Something that is "state of the art" is We have a brand new, state-of-the-art

modern and technologically advanced. facility.

IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

take something To "take something lying down" The proposed law would kill our

lying down means to accept something unpleasant industry, but we're not going to take it

without fighting back. lying down. We're going to fight back

and make sure the law isn't passed.

take the bull by To "take the bull by the horns" means One of our mid-level managers wasn't

the horns to directly confront a difficult very popular and was causing some

situation. problems, so we took the bull by the

horns and replaced him with

somebody else.

talk someone into To "talk someone into something" I was hesitant to redesign our website,

something means to convince someone to do but my employees talked me into it.

something. I'm glad they did. The new site looks

great.

talk someone out To "talk someone out of something" I wanted to make a real estate

of something means to convince someone not to do investment, but my financial adviser

something. talked me out of it.

the elephant in "The elephant in the room" refers to We should have been talking about

the room an obvious problem or controversial our huge debt, but no one wanted to

issue that no one wants to talk about. talk about the elephant in the room.
IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

think big To "think big" means to have I'm not content with just opening one

ambitious goals and big plans for the or two more stores. I'm thinking big --

future. I think we can open 10 stores in the

next five years.

think outside the To "think outside the box" means to Creating a product that no one has

box think of creative, unconventional sold before is an example of thinking

solutions instead of common ones. outside the box.

throw in the To "throw in the towel" means to quit. I was trying to learn Portuguese, but I

towel got frustrated and threw in the towel.

time's up "Time's up" means that the time for I think his time's up as the CEO.

something or someone has ended. They're going to replace him as soon

as they find a suitable candidate.

touch base To "touch base" means to make Let me make a few phone calls to try

contact with someone. to get an answer to your question. I'll

touch base with you later today.

twist someone's To "twist someone's arm" means to The owner thought the budget was a

arm persuade or convince someone to do little high. We had to twist his arm to

something that he or she does not get him to agree to it.

want to do.
IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

under the table Something done secretly (and usually To avoid paying taxes, they paid some

illegally) in the business world is done of their employees under the table.

"under the table."

up in the air If something is undecided, it is "up in We're looking for a test market right

the air." now, but nothing has been decided

yet. Everything's still up in the air.

uphill battle Something that is difficult to achieve Winning the election is going to be an

because of obstacles and difficulties is uphill battle. He doesn't have much

an "uphill battle." support at the moment.

upper hand If someone has an advantage over John is more experienced and well

someone else, he or she has the respected, so he had the upper hand in

"upper hand." the argument.

white collar A "white collar worker" is someone There are mostly manufacturing

who works in an office (customer positions here. There aren't many

service, management, sales, etc.). The white-collar jobs.

opposite of a white collar worker is a

"blue collar worker." A blue collar

worker is someone who works with

his hands (manufacturing,

 IDIOM MEANING EXAMPLE

construction, maintenance, etc.).

"White collar" (and "blue collar") can

also be used to describe a job,

position, or place.

win-win situation A "win-win situation" is a situation We were happy to get the contract,

where everyone involved gains and they were happy to get such a

something. good price. It was a win-win situation.

word of mouth If something spreads by "word of Many local restaurants rely on word

mouth," people hear about it through of mouth to get new customers.

informal conversation with friends,

family members, acquaintances, etc.

writing on the The "writing on the wall" refers to the I'm going to get my resume ready. I

wall evidence and clues that something can see the writing on the wall.

(usually negative) is going to happen.

yes man A "yes man" is someone who always The company isn't looking to hire

agrees with his or her superiors. someone who is going to try to make

a lot of changes. They're just looking

for a yes man.

There are, of course, many other business idioms. For practice with hundreds of idioms,
see the Idioms Builder.