1 Flashcards
(202 cards)
1
Q
to finally do something
A
about time (too)
2
Q
“They’ve finally appointed a new chairman, and it’s ___.” [to finally do something]
A
about time (too)
3
Q
legal
A
above board
4
Q
“The tax loophole is all ___.” [legal]
A
above board
5
Q
including everyone or everything
A
across the board
6
Q
“The pay increases will be applied ___.”
[including everyone or everything]
A
across the board
7
Q
a task that falls into normal daily work routines
A
all in a day’s work
8
Q
“Dealing with emergencies is ___.”
[a task that falls into normal daily work routines]
A
all in a day’s work
9
Q
normal, to be expected
A
(all) par for the course
10
Q
“Delays of up to six months are par for the course.”
[normal, to be expected]
A
(all) par for the course
11
Q
to disagree strongly with someone
A
at loggerheads
12
Q
“The two managers were ___ over the expansion plans.”
[to disagree strongly with someone]
A
at loggerheads
13
Q
in charge
A
at the helm (also “take the helm”)
14
Q
“He decided to step down after 20 years ___ of the company he’d founded.”
[in charge]
A
at the helm (also “take the helm”)
15
Q
withdraw your demands in a negotiation, or accept you’ve lost the argument
A
back down
16
Q
“The union says that if we don’t ___ on our demands, they’ll call a strike.”
A
back down
17
Q
a negative consequence or reaction after an action or event
A
backlash (Also, “a backlash against” something.)
18
Q
“If we make further losses, we risk a ___ from our investors.”
A
backlash (Also, “a backlash against” something.)
19
Q
people whose work is important but who don’t get much recognition
A
backroom boys
20
Q
“___ in the R&D department are essential to our innovation strategy.”
[people whose work is important but who don’t get much recognition]
A
backroom boys
21
Q
change your opinion or decision on something, often to dilute it or “water it down”
A
backtrack / backpedal
22
Q
“The government is ___ on its proposals to increase inheritance tax.”
[change your opinion or decision on something, often to dilute it or “water it down”]
A
backtracking
23
Q
given money to survive
A
(be) bailed out
a bailout
24
Q
“Will Spain be the next Eurozone country to require a ___?”
[given money to survive]
A
bailout
25
an approximate amount
ball park figure / estimate
26
"Can you give me a ___ for the amount of tax we'll have to pay this year?"
[an approximate amount]
ball park figure
27
get value for money
(get) bang for your buck
28
"I'm concerned we aren't ___ with these investments."
| [get value for money]
getting much bang for our buck
29
Used as a business idiom, it means something that shows changes in market conditions, etc.
(be a) barometer
30
"The inflation rate is a useful ___ of the government's economic policies."
barometer
31
be very rich
be loaded
32
"Ask Daniel for a loan. He's ___."
| [very rich]
loaded
33
to be in good (economic) shape
be on fighting form
34
"After the merger, the new company was ___."
| [to be in good (economic) shape]
on fighting form
35
do something which will probably be successful
be on to a winner
36
"You're ___ with that website."
| [do something which will probably be successful]
on to a winner
37
be attacked or criticised
be / come under fire
38
"The Sales Manager has ___ for his average performance."
| [be attacked or criticised]
come under fire
39
"If you need to know the exact figures, go and ask the ___."
| [the accountants]
bean-counters
40
an accountant
bean-counter
41
lead to the result you expected
bear fruit
42
"We're hoping that our efforts will ___."
| [lead to the result you expected]
bear fruit
43
have to face the worst part of something
bear the brunt
44
"Consumers will ___ of the increase in sales tax."
| [have to face the worst part of something]
bear the brunt
45
not get to the point
beat around the bush
46
"Don't ___. How much have we lost, exactly?"
| [not get to the point]
beat around the bush
47
the foundations
bedrock
48
"The ___ of the company's wealth is its property holdings in central London."
[the foundations]
bedrock
49
a small extra income for going out, etc
beer money
50
"He earns a little ___ from his weekend stall."
| [a small extra income for going out, etc]
beer money
51
secret, not in public
behind the closed doors
52
"The deal was done ___."
| [secret, not in public]
behind the closed doors
53
something happening in secret while other things are visible
behind the scenes
54
"____, both the unions and the management are trying to find a compromise."
[something happening in secret while other things are visible]
behind the scenes
55
reducing expenses
belt-tightening
56
"The company's going through a period of ___, which means we have less to spend on marketing."
[reducing expenses]
belt-tightening
57
to be in a difficult position, with no obvious solutions
between a rock and a hard place
58
"We are ___. If we stay in the market, we risk making a loss, but if we leave, we'll lose our investment."
[to be in a difficult position, with no obvious solutions]
between a rock and a hard place
59
major players in a market
big boys
60
"The company are the ___ in academic publishing."
| [major players in a market]
big boys
61
an important person
big cheese / shot / wig
62
"Jake is a ___ in the video gaming industry."
| [an important person]
big cheese / shot / wig
63
a person / company with influence in a small sector or
| sphere
big fish in a small pond
64
"He's a ___. You should get to know him."
[a person / company with influence in a small sector or
sphere]
big fish in a small pond
65
to make a tough decision
bite the bullet
66
"We're going to have to ___ and lay off a few people if we're going to survive."
[to make a tough decision]
bite the bullet
67
to hold back from saying what you want
bite / hold your tongue
68
"I was sitting in that meeting ___."
| [to hold back from saying what you want]
biting my tongue
69
a large gap
black hole
70
"The new government has found a ___ in its finances."
| [a large gap]
black hole
71
to give someone complete control over something
blank check (US spelling)
72
"He's got a ___ to restructure the whole section."
| [to give someone complete control over something]
blank check (US spelling)
73
to fail
bomb (to bomb)
74
"The new product ___."
| [to fail]
bombed
75
a time of great prosperity
boom time
76
"It's ___ for house-owners right now, who are seeing the value of their properties soar."
[a time of great prosperity]
boom time
77
delay or blockage (especially for credit, investment or procedures)
bottleneck
78
"Production problems have caused a ___ in order fulfilment."
| [delay or blockage (especially for credit, investment or procedures)]
bottleneck
79
"Strict credit terms are creating a ___ in business financing."
[delay or blockage (especially for credit, investment or procedures)]
bottleneck
80
the final figure on the balance sheet / overall success or impact
bottom line
81
"Cutting costs would help us improve our ___."
| [the final figure on the balance sheet / overall success or impact]
bottom line
82
"What impact does this role have on the ___?"
| [the final figure on the balance sheet / overall success or impact]
bottom line
83
reach the lowest point
bottom out
84
"Experts believe that the housing market hasn't ___ yet."
| [reach the lowest point]
bottomed out
85
recover from earlier losses or problems
bounce back
86
"The company has ___ after its first quarter losses."
| [recover from earlier losses or problems]
bounced back
87
the person who invented / managed a plan or strategy
brains behind (to be the brains behind)
88
"Steve is the ___ our growth strategy."
| [the person who invented / managed a plan or strategy]
brains behind
89
to be at a point where you make neither a profit nor a loss
break even (Also 'break-even point')
90
"We hope to ___ this year."
| [to be at a point where you make neither a profit nor a loss]
break even
91
be too expensive to buy
break the bank
92
"We can't afford a leasehold in central London. It would ___."
break the bank
93
house or shop as a physical asset or investment
bricks and mortar
94
"If you want a safe investment, choose ___."
| [house or shop as a physical asset or investment]
bricks and mortar
95
drive a company to the brink of collapse
bring something to its knees (be brought to its knees)
96
"The recession has ___ the company ___."
| [drive a company to the brink of collapse]
brought the company to its knees
97
refuse to listen to criticisms, complaints, suggestions etc
brush aside
98
"The management team ___ customer complaints."
| [refuse to listen to criticisms, complaints, suggestions etc]
brushed aside
99
successful period of time or activity
bubble (burst the bubble)
100
"The dotcom ___ was bound to burst eventually."
| [successful period of time or activity]
bubble
101
experiencing a lot of problems
(a) bumpy ride
102
"The manufacturing sector experienced a ___ in the first quarter."
[experiencing a lot of problems]
a bumpy ride
103
leave a company on such bad terms that you will never be rehired
burn your bridges
104
"Write a nice resignation letter so that you don't ___."
| [leave a company on such bad terms that you will never be rehired]
burn your bridges
105
normal business conditions which have resumed
business as usual
106
"It's ___ after floods last week closed the entire town."
| [normal business conditions which have resumed]
business as usual
107
buy someone's share of the business to gain complete control
buy out (buyout)
108
"News of the management ___ increased share value by almost 5%."
buyout
109
a word used a lot at the moment, or in a particular industry / sector
buzzword
110
"The ___ this month is 'pay it forward'."
| [a word used a lot at the moment, or in a particular industry / sector]
buzzword
111
end
call time on
112
"The company has ___ its incentives system."
| [end]
called time on
113
(of words, opinions etc) be influential, have authority
carry weight
114
"His opinion that the economy will pick up ___ some ___ with company investors."
[(of words, opinions etc) be influential, have authority]
carries weight
115
concentrate on one sector or sub-sector
carve out a niche
116
"He's ___ himself ___ a niche as a WordPress developer."
| [concentrate on one sector or sub-sector]
carved out
117
a product or service that makes a lot of money (often because the initial costs have been covered)
cash cow
118
"Their series of grammar books is a ___."
| [a product or service that makes a lot of money (often because the initial costs have been covered)]
cash cow
119
gain financial rewards
cash in on
120
"If we can ___ the popularity of ebooks, we could make some money."
[gain financial rewards]
cash in on
121
lacking cash / money
cash-starved
122
"The ___ economy means fewer jobs are being created."
| [lacking cash / money]
cash_starved
123
not having money available
cash-strapped
124
"The government is helping ___ families by increasing tax benefits."
[not having money available]
cash-strapped
125
speculative or risky financial activities
casino-banking
126
"The government is considering ring-fencing '___' investment banking from the more traditional retail arms."
[speculative or risky financial activities]
casino style
127
make people talk about something (because they're surprised or angry)
cause a stir
128
"The news of his appointment has ___."
| [make people talk about something (because they're surprised or angry)]
caused a stir
129
rate at which you win and lose customers (or employees)
churn rate
130
"We need to reduce our customer ___."
| [rate at which you win and lose customers (or employees)]
churn rate
131
enforce penalties against an illegal activity
| a clampdown / a crackdown
clamp down on / crack down on
132
"The government is ___ on tax evasion."
[enforce penalties against an illegal activity
(a clampdown / a crackdown)]
clamping down / cracking down
133
take back / recover (money already paid / market share etc)
claw back / a claw-back
134
"Shareholder pay and bonuses will have ___ provisions."
| [take back / recover (money already paid / market share etc)]
claw-back
135
pay off
clear a debt / loan
136
"We've finally ___ these debts, so now we can start investing again."
[pay off]
cleared
137
do something to end an argument
clear the air
138
"Well, that meeting definitely ___. Now I hope everyone can stop arguing."
[do something to end an argument]
cleared the air
139
get promoted into better jobs
climb the corporate / career ladder
140
"He spent thirty years ____, and now he's CEO."
| [get promoted into better jobs]
climbing the corporate ladder
141
get a deal
clinch / cut / reach / seal a deal
142
"They ____ late last night after hours of negotiation."
clinched the deal
143
end a (legal) practice that results in an anomaly
close a loophole
144
"The government has ____ that allowed millions of second-home owners to pay less tax."
[end a (legal) practice that results in an anomaly]
closed a loophole
145
someone who only has a small job in a business
cog in the machine / wheel
146
"I can't help you get a job here. I'm only a small ____."
| [someone who only has a small job in a business]
cog in the wheel
147
make a sales call to someone you've never met or spoken to before
cold call
148
"Telesales usually involves a lot of ____."
cold-calling
149
someone who's loyal to the company
company man
150
"John's a real ____. He's been with them for years."
| [someone who's loyal to the company]
company man
151
alter official accounting information to mislead or cheat
cook the books
152
"Politicians are all the same. They ____ before election time."
cook the books
153
invent a plan or scheme to do something dishonest
cook up
154
"They ____ a scheme to attract unwary investors."
| [invent a plan or scheme to do something dishonest]
cooked up
155
become market leader in a particular sector or niche
corner the market
156
"They've ____ in water filtering systems."
| [become market leader in a particular sector or niche]
cornered the market
157
a company man
corporate clone
158
"The new CFO looks like a ____, but in fact, he has an interesting background."
[a company man]
corporate clone
159
cost a lot of money
cost an arm and a leg
160
"The Director's new car ____."
| [cost a lot of money]
cost an arm and a leg
161
pay what you owe
cough up
162
"It's time to ____ and pay your taxes!"
| [pay what you owe]
cough up
163
know how to get in to a market or how to solve a problem
crack a market / problem
164
"This problem is a difficult one to ____, but we think we have a solution."
[know how to get in to a market or how to solve a problem]
crack
165
make an attempt at solving a problem
(have a) crack at
166
"We're going to have another ____ the Chinese market."
| [make an attempt at solving a problem]
crack
167
become stricter at enforcing regulations
crack down
168
"The government is preparing to ____ on tax avoidance schemes."
[become stricter at enforcing regulations]
crack down
169
take action now and not delay any further
crack on with
170
"We have no time to waste. We need to ____ the new product lines."
crack on with
171
create fair / unfair conditions for everyone
create an even / uneven playing field
172
"The internet has ____ for self-publishers."
| [create fair / unfair conditions for everyone]
created an even playing field
173
reduction in the availability of credit for businesses
| or consumers
credit crunch / credit squeeze
174
"The ____ has made it hard for small businesses to obtain finance and funding."
[reduction in the availability of credit for businesses
or consumers]
credit crunch
175
an important time when a decision has to be made / a result needs to be achieved
crunch time
176
"It's ____ for the business. Do we buy new premises or extend the lease?"
[an important time when a decision has to be made / a result needs to be achieved]
crunch time
177
soften the effect of a decision
cushion the impact
178
"The company is bringing in generous severance packages to ____ of involuntary redundancy."
[soften the effect of a decision]
cushion the impact
179
reduce spending
cut back (on)
180
"We need to ____ hiring costs. It's costing us far too much at the moment."
[reduce spending]
cut back on
181
make savings on time, quality or cost
cut corners
182
"If we ____ too many cor____ we risk sacrificing quality."
| [make savings on time, quality or cost]
cut corners
183
not criticise someone / give someone freedom to act
cut / give someone some slack
184
"Stop micromanaging him and _____!"
| [not criticise someone / give someone freedom to act]
cut him some slack
185
end investment or business activity in order to stop losing money
cut your losses
186
"They decided to ____ and pull out of the European market."
| [end investment or business activity in order to stop losing money]
cut their losses
187
something which is less exciting than predicted
damp squib
188
"With only half the expected visitors, the official opening ceremony proved to be a ____."
[something which is less exciting than predicted]
damp squib
189
excessively expensive to the point of being theft
daylight robbery (British English)
190
"The distributors are asking for a further 10% discount. It's ____!"
daylight robbery (British English)
191
proposal or idea which never got off the ground / will never go forward
dead in the water
192
"Proposals to increase VAT by an extra percentage can be now considered ____."
[proposal or idea which never got off the ground / will never go forward]
dead in the water
193
someone who doesn't contribute to the organisation
dead weight
194
"John is a ____ in this department. Can we transfer him?"
| [someone who doesn't contribute to the organisation]
dead weight
195
people who don't contribute to the company
dead wood
196
"There's a lot of ____ in this department."
| [people who don't contribute to the company]
dead wood
197
total amount the US government can borrow
debt ceiling
198
"Talks are in progress to raise the ____ to avoid a potential default."
[total amount the US government can borrow]
debt ceiling
199
refuse to do something or be persuaded
dig your heels in
200
"We won't be able to solve this problem as long as they continue to ____."
[refuse to do something or be persuaded]
dig your heels in
201
to use some of your money (especially savings)
dip into
202
"If we want to buy a new car, we'll need to ____ our savings."
[to use some of your money (especially savings)]
dip into
