Important Idioms Flashcards
Learn these until you really, really know them! (22 cards)
Throw someone under the bus
Meaning: To betray someone to protect oneself
Examples:
- He threw his assistant under the bus when the numbers were wrong.
- She threw her coworker under the bus to avoid getting blamed for the mistake.
- During the meeting, he threw his partner under the bus to impress the boss.
Get the ball rolling
Meaning: To start something, especially a process or project
Examples:
- Let’s get the ball rolling on the budget plan.
- We need to get the ball rolling if we want the website launched by next month.
- She got the ball rolling by sending out the first round of invitations.
Think on your feet
Meaning: To respond quickly and effectively in a challenging situation
Examples:
- She had to think on her feet during the Q&A session.
- Good salespeople can think on their feet when a client raises unexpected concerns.
- The interview threw some curveballs, but he thought on his feet and impressed the panel.
Move the goalposts
Meaning: To change the rules or expectations unfairly
Examples:
- Every time we meet the target, they move the goalposts.
- She was frustrated because her boss kept moving the goalposts after each milestone.
- It’s hard to succeed when management moves the goalposts without warning.
Cut to the chase
Meaning: To skip the small talk and get to the point
Examples:
- Let’s cut to the chase — are you accepting the offer or not?
- We don’t have much time, so I’ll cut to the chase — we need your answer today.
- She cut to the chase and asked for a raise during the meeting.
By the book
Meaning: To do things strictly according to the rules
Examples:
- He runs his department by the book.
- The auditor expects us to do everything by the book.
- She handled the customer complaint strictly by the book, following every protocol.
On the same page
Meaning: To agree or have the same understanding
Examples:
- Let’s meet first to make sure we’re on the same page before presenting.
- Before we continue, I want to be sure we’re on the same page about the goals.
- The team wasn’t on the same page, which led to confusion during the rollout.
Circle back
Meaning: To revisit a topic later
Examples:
- Let’s circle back to this issue after we’ve reviewed the budget.
-I’ll circle back with you next week once I have more information.
- Let’s circle back to this discussion after we’ve heard from the client.
Move the needle
Meaning: To make a noticeable impact or change
Examples:
- We need a new strategy that will really move the needle this quarter.
- When the new boss stepped in and made us more efficient he really moved the needle for the company.
- Their latest campaign didn’t move the needle much in terms of sales, but it improved brand recognition.
Boil the ocean
Meaning: To take on an overly ambitious or impossible task
Examples:
- Don’t try to boil the ocean—just focus on the top three priorities.
- You are trying to boil the ocean here and you need to use your teammates for help.
- They were boiling the ocean by trying to redesign the entire system in one sprint.
Low-hanging fruit
Synonym: Celebrate the small wins
Meaning: Tasks or opportunities that are easy to achieve or fix
Examples:
- Let’s address the low-hanging fruit before tackling more complex issues.
- Improving our email response time is low-hanging fruit that can boost customer satisfaction quickly.
- The team started with the low-hanging fruit to build momentum before addressing the tougher problems.
Push the envelope
Meaning: To exceed (previously known) limits or go beyond expectations
Examples:
- This ad campaign really pushed the envelope in terms of creativity.
- The tech company pushed the envelope by launching a fully autonomous vehicle.
- He’s known for pushing the envelope with bold, unconventional designs.
Take it offline
Meaning: To discuss something privately or outside the main meeting
Examples:
- That’s a detailed issue—let’s take it offline and talk after.
- I’ll offline with you.
- We’re short on time, so let’s take it offline and follow up by email.
Game changer
Meaning: Something that significantly alters a situation
Examples:
- Their AI software is a game changer for the industry.
- Remote work has been a game changer for employee productivity and flexibility.
- The new drug is a game changer in the treatment of that disease.
In the driver’s seat
Synonym: Behind the wheel
Meaning: To be in control of a situation
Examples:
- After the acquisition, they’ll be in the driver’s seat.
- With the majority of votes secured, she’s clearly in the driver’s seat now.
- Thanks to strong earnings, the company is in the driver’s seat when it comes to future investments.
Run it up the flagpole/Run by something
Meaning: To test an idea and see what people think
Examples:
- Let’s run this up the flagpole and get feedback from the leadership team.
- Before finalizing the proposal, we should run it up the flagpole with a few stakeholders.
- It might be a long shot, but let’s run it up the flagpole and gauge interest.
Close the loop
Meaning: To follow up and ensure something is completed
Examples:
- Please close the loop with the client by the end of the day.
- I just wanted to close the loop on our earlier conversation and confirm the timeline.
- Make sure to close the loop with the finance team once the budget is approved.
Shift gears
Meaning: To change focus or strategy
Examples:
- After the market crash, we had to shift gears quickly.
- Halfway through the project, we realized it wasn’t working and had to shift gears.
- She shifted gears from marketing to product management to better align with her strengths.
Touchpoint
Meaning: A moment of interaction with a client or stakeholder or anyone in business
Examples:
- Every customer touchpoint should reinforce our brand values.
- We identified several new touchpoints where we can improve the user experience.
- Each touchpoint during the onboarding process is an opportunity to build trust with the client.
Drill down (into)
Meaning: To examine something in detail
Example:
- We need to drill down into the sales data by region.
- Let’s drill down into the customer feedback to identify common complaints.
- The report looks fine overall, but we should drill down on the Q2 numbers to see what went wrong.
On someone’s radar
Meaning: Being noticed or considered, or aware of
Examples:
- The issue wasn’t even on their radar until the press got involved.
- That startup wasn’t on our radar last year, but now they’re a serious competitor.
- The risk wasn’t on anyone’s radar until the audit uncovered it.
Skin in the game
Meaning: To have personal investment or risk in something
Example:
- Investors want to see that the founders have skin in the game.
- She put her own money into the project to show she had skin in the game.
- When employees have skin in the game, they tend to be more committed to the outcome.
