“Idioms” in English are expressions that have a figurative meaning different from the literal interpretation of their individual words. In the business world, these idioms can serve as powerful communication tools, enabling individuals to express complex ideas succinctly, establish rapport with colleagues and clients, and demonstrate their knowledge of the language and culture. Let’s explore some of the most common idioms in English used in the business context, along with examples to help you grasp their meaning and usage. 

1 – Break the ice – do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going at the start of a party or when people meet for the first time. 

“We should try to break the ice with a little small talk before getting into the presentation.” 

2 – Close the deal – to make an agreement official. 

“We need to work on our pitch to close the deal with this potential client.” 

3 – Cut to the chase – come to the point. 

“Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the actual numbers instead of wasting time with preliminary details.” 

4 – Get the ball rolling – to begin an activity or process. 

“Let’s get the ball rolling on this project by scheduling our first meeting.” 

5 – Hit the ground running – to begin at full speed. 

“We need to hit the ground running on this project if we want to meet our deadline.” 

6 – Make a long story short – indicates that you are providing just the basic facts. 

“To make a long story short, we need to increase our revenue in order to stay competitive.” 

7 – Put all your eggs in one basket – to risk all one has on the success or failure of one thing. 

“We cannot put all our eggs in one basket and rely solely on this one client.” 

8 – Think outside the box – think in an original or creative way. 

“We need to think outside the box to come up with a unique marketing strategy.” 

9 – Play hardball – Act aggressively and ruthlessly 

“We may have to play hardball in order to get the best deal possible.” 

10 – Raise the bar – raise the standards which need to be met in order to qualify for something. 

“We need to raise the bar on our customer service if we want to retain our clients.” 

11 – Call the shots – take the initiative in deciding how something should be done. 

“As the CEO, you are responsible for calling the shots for the entire company.” 

12 – Touch base – make contact. 

“Let’s touch base next week to see how the project is progressing.” 

13 – Throw in the towel – to admit defeat. 

“We should not throw in the towel just yet. We still have options.” 

14 – Turn the tables – to turn a position of disadvantage into one of advantage. 

“We need to turn the tables and negotiate from a position of strength.” 

15 – Wear many hats – to have many jobs or roles. 

“As a small business owner, you have to wear many hats and handle multiple responsibilities.” 

For those who are required or will be required to partake in business meetings in English, a comprehensive understanding of idiomatic expressions, which are integral to communication in the business world, is essential. Would you like to acquire the knowledge necessary to use these and other business idioms? We invite you to explore Chatter Up – Bear in Mind (Mindchat conversation classes) and enhance your proficiency in the English language.