Master These 13 Business English Idioms and Watch Your Career Soar

Hey there, future business mogul! Let’s talk today about an important part of our everyday life — the corporate world and the desire to conquer it. Imagine you’ve prepared your business suit, your LinkedIn profile is in order, but are you sure you speak the same language with your colleagues and clients? We mean the secret code of business English idioms that can make or break your professional conversations. Well, if you’re just starting out on your business English journey, use Voccent app to improve your professional skills. All you need to do is leave your email to receive a secret link to the classroom.

Let’s get back to the main idea. In the corporate world, it’s not just what you say that matters, but how you say it. Using an idiom at the right time can be the difference between sounding like a seasoned professional and feeling like a fish out of water. But don’t worry — we’ve got your back.

Imagine confidently telling your boss that you’ll “hit the ground running” on that new project, or impressing a client by suggesting a “win-win situation.” Picture yourself navigating office politics with ease, all because you understand what it really means when someone says they want to “pick your brain.” Sounds good, right?

But here’s where it gets really interesting: mastering these idioms isn’t just about sounding cool in meetings. It’s about understanding the subtle nuances of business communication, the unspoken language that oils the wheels of corporate interaction. It’s like getting a backstage pass to the inner workings of the business world.

So, ready to upgrade your business English? Let’s dive into these 13 essential idioms:

1. “To break even”: This doesn’t mean smashing anything. This is when your income is equal to your expenses — you don’t make a profit, but you don’t lose money either.
2. “Ballpark figure”: No, we’re not talking about baseball. This means a rough estimate or approximation.
3. “To bite the bullet”: Time to visit the dentist? Nope. This means to face a difficult situation bravely and get it over with.
4. “To cut corners”: This isn’t about geometry. It means to do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often reducing quality.
5. “To be in the red”: Nothing to do with fashion choices. This means a company is operating at a loss or is in debt.
6. “To hit the ground running”: No need for running shoes. It means to start a new activity with great energy and enthusiasm.
7. “To put all your eggs in one basket”: Please don’t try this with real eggs. It means risking everything on a single venture.
8. “To get the ball rolling”: No actual balls required. This means to start a process or project.
9. “To be on the same page”: Not about reading books. It means to have the same understanding or agreement about something.
10. “To bring to the table”: Leave your furniture at home. This means to contribute something valuable to a discussion or project.
11. “To touch base”: No baseball bats needed. It means to make contact or communicate with someone.
12. “To raise the bar”: No gymnastics involved. It means to set a higher standard or expectation.
13. “To get down to brass tacks”: Don’t look for any actual tacks. This means to start discussing the important details of a matter.

Remember, using these idioms naturally takes practice. Don’t try to cram them all into one conversation — you’ll sound like you swallowed a business English textbook! Instead, introduce them gradually into your professional vocabulary.

Do you think mastering these idioms could change the dynamics of your professional relationships, especially in a multicultural business environment? Or do you have your own work idiom that reflects a common problem? Coment us. Let’s discuss these questions.

We’d love to hear your creative ideas and insights! Drop your answers in the comments below. Your unique perspective might just be the lightbulb moment another business English learner needs.

Remember, every idiom you master is another tool in your professional communication toolkit. So, are you ready to take your business English to the next level? The corporate world is your oyster (oops, there’s another idiom for you!) — let’s crack this code together and watch your career soar!

Improve your skills with Voccent!