Business English American
          idioms
        By VanSight
COPYRIGHT 2009 VANSIGHT division of
           Synbiz Solutions Pvt Ltd
   No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for
    any purpose without the express permission of VanSight Division of Synbiz
    Solutions Pvt Ltd. The information contained herein may be changed without prior
    notice.

   VanSight is trademark of Synbiz Solutions Pvt Ltd. All other product and service
    names mentioned and associated logos displayed are the trademarks of their
    respective companies.

   Data contained in this document serves informational and educational purposes
    only. The information in this document is proprietary to Synbiz Solutions Pvt Ltd.

   This product contains training material for English or Soft Skills or Personality
    Development. Synbiz assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this
    document. Synbiz does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the
    information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this material.
    This document is provided without a warranty of any kind, either express or
    implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of
    merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.



                                                                                     2
Introduction

   For better or worse, the American workplace is full of
    idioms, which are used everyday. Here are some idioms
    you're likely to encounter in the workplace. To help you
    decipher what they may mean, VanSight has collected a list
    of some of the most common of them.

   Here we will put in plain words so as you can apply them in
    business environment.




                                                              3
Make it




Example: I am going to make it in this quarter. it here
means his target
Meaning: to be successful, specially in a job


                                                          4
Be ahead of the pack




Example: this month I would be the employee of the month
as I am ahead of the pack.
Meaning: more successful than others who is trying to
achieve the same like you.
                                                           5
Corner the market




Example: with the new service our company captured corner of
the market.
Meaning: to be successful in selling or marketing a product or
service which in nearly a monopoly. very few people sell the
same

                                                                 6
At a premium




Example: When LCD televisions first came out, they were
selling at a premium.
Meaning: at a high price; at a relatively high price


                                                          7
Back-of-the-envelope calculations




Example: I don't need the exact numbers right now. Just give
me some back-of-the-envelope calculations.
Meaning: quick calculations; estimates using approximate
numbers, instead of exact numbers same as ball-park figure in
British English.

                                                                8
Belt-tightening




Example:    When      worldwide   demand      for    software
decreased, Microsoft had to do some belt-tightening.
Meaning: reduction of expenses


                                                                9
To bite the bullet




Example: When recession set, all industries’ had to bite the
bullet and cut jobs.
Meaning: to make a difficult or painful decision; to take a
difficult step
                                                               10
Bitter pill to swallow




Example: After Uma spent six months of training as an
intern for Amazon, failing to get a full-time job offer from the
company was a bitter pill to swallow.
Meaning: bad news; something unpleasant to accept.
                                                                   11
Block buster




Example: Uma made a lot of money with the cooking classes
idea. It was a real blockbuster.
Meaning: a big success; a huge hit


                                                            12
Brownie points




Example: Jaya scored brownie points with her boss by
volunteering to organize the company's holiday party.
Meaning: credit for doing a good deed or for giving someone
a compliment usually a boss or teacher
                                                              13
Cash cow




Example: With strong sales every year and a great brand
name, Mercedes is a cash cow for Daimler Chrysler.
Meaning: a product, service, or business division that generates
a lot of cash for the company, without requiring much
investment

                                                                   14
To cash in on




Example: Anthony Bourdain, No Reservation star of the
cookery TV show, cashed in on his popularity by writing
cookbooks and opening restaurants.
Meaning: to make money on; to benefit financially from
                                                          15
To climb the corporate ladder




Example: You want to climb the corporate ladder? It helps to
be productive and to look good in front of your boss.
Meaning: advance in one's career; the process of getting
promoted and making it to senior management
                                                               16
Purchase full presentation
 consisting of 50 slides at
http://vansight.net/downloads/spoken-
         english-skills-ppt.html




                                        17

Business english idioms

  • 1.
    Business English American idioms By VanSight
  • 2.
    COPYRIGHT 2009 VANSIGHTdivision of Synbiz Solutions Pvt Ltd  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any purpose without the express permission of VanSight Division of Synbiz Solutions Pvt Ltd. The information contained herein may be changed without prior notice.  VanSight is trademark of Synbiz Solutions Pvt Ltd. All other product and service names mentioned and associated logos displayed are the trademarks of their respective companies.  Data contained in this document serves informational and educational purposes only. The information in this document is proprietary to Synbiz Solutions Pvt Ltd.  This product contains training material for English or Soft Skills or Personality Development. Synbiz assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document. Synbiz does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this material. This document is provided without a warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. 2
  • 3.
    Introduction  For better or worse, the American workplace is full of idioms, which are used everyday. Here are some idioms you're likely to encounter in the workplace. To help you decipher what they may mean, VanSight has collected a list of some of the most common of them.  Here we will put in plain words so as you can apply them in business environment. 3
  • 4.
    Make it Example: Iam going to make it in this quarter. it here means his target Meaning: to be successful, specially in a job 4
  • 5.
    Be ahead ofthe pack Example: this month I would be the employee of the month as I am ahead of the pack. Meaning: more successful than others who is trying to achieve the same like you. 5
  • 6.
    Corner the market Example:with the new service our company captured corner of the market. Meaning: to be successful in selling or marketing a product or service which in nearly a monopoly. very few people sell the same 6
  • 7.
    At a premium Example:When LCD televisions first came out, they were selling at a premium. Meaning: at a high price; at a relatively high price 7
  • 8.
    Back-of-the-envelope calculations Example: Idon't need the exact numbers right now. Just give me some back-of-the-envelope calculations. Meaning: quick calculations; estimates using approximate numbers, instead of exact numbers same as ball-park figure in British English. 8
  • 9.
    Belt-tightening Example: When worldwide demand for software decreased, Microsoft had to do some belt-tightening. Meaning: reduction of expenses 9
  • 10.
    To bite thebullet Example: When recession set, all industries’ had to bite the bullet and cut jobs. Meaning: to make a difficult or painful decision; to take a difficult step 10
  • 11.
    Bitter pill toswallow Example: After Uma spent six months of training as an intern for Amazon, failing to get a full-time job offer from the company was a bitter pill to swallow. Meaning: bad news; something unpleasant to accept. 11
  • 12.
    Block buster Example: Umamade a lot of money with the cooking classes idea. It was a real blockbuster. Meaning: a big success; a huge hit 12
  • 13.
    Brownie points Example: Jayascored brownie points with her boss by volunteering to organize the company's holiday party. Meaning: credit for doing a good deed or for giving someone a compliment usually a boss or teacher 13
  • 14.
    Cash cow Example: Withstrong sales every year and a great brand name, Mercedes is a cash cow for Daimler Chrysler. Meaning: a product, service, or business division that generates a lot of cash for the company, without requiring much investment 14
  • 15.
    To cash inon Example: Anthony Bourdain, No Reservation star of the cookery TV show, cashed in on his popularity by writing cookbooks and opening restaurants. Meaning: to make money on; to benefit financially from 15
  • 16.
    To climb thecorporate ladder Example: You want to climb the corporate ladder? It helps to be productive and to look good in front of your boss. Meaning: advance in one's career; the process of getting promoted and making it to senior management 16
  • 17.
    Purchase full presentation consisting of 50 slides at http://vansight.net/downloads/spoken- english-skills-ppt.html 17