The Most Important Business English Idioms

Do you ever feel lost when people use idioms at work? Business idioms can be tricky, but they’re essential for sounding natural and professional in English. Understanding and using them will help you communicate more effectively in meetings, negotiations, and everyday workplace conversations.

To help you speak like a native, we've compiled a list of 15 common business idioms, along with their meanings and example sentences. Let’s dive in!

15 Essential Business Idioms

1. Back to the drawing board - Meaning: To start over again after a plan fails or an idea doesn't work. Example: "Our marketing campaign didn't increase sales as expected, so it's back to the drawing board."
2. A win-win situation - Meaning: A situation where all parties benefit. Example: "Negotiating with the supplier for a longer contract was a win-win situation—they get steady business, and we get better prices."
3. Think outside the box - Meaning: To think creatively and unconventionally. Example: "We need to think outside the box to come up with a solution that will set us apart from the competition."
4. Get the ball rolling - Meaning: To start an activity or initiate a process. Example: "Let’s get the ball rolling on this project by setting up a kick-off meeting next week."
5. Touch base - Meaning: To make contact with someone briefly, usually to update or discuss something. Example: "I’ll touch base with you later this week to see how the report is coming along."
6. Cut corners - Meaning: To do something in the quickest or cheapest way, often by ignoring quality or rules. Example: "We shouldn’t cut corners on this project if we want to maintain our reputation for quality."
7. In the loop - Meaning: To be informed or kept up to date about something. Example: "Please keep me in the loop about any changes to the schedule."
8. Up in the air - Meaning: Uncertain or undecided. Example: "The future of the merger is still up in the air; we’re waiting for the board's decision."
9. Hit the ground running - Meaning: To start a project or task with enthusiasm and immediate effectiveness. Example: "We need to hit the ground running on Monday to meet our deadlines."
10. Ahead of the curve - Meaning: To be more advanced or innovative than others. Example: "By investing in new technology, we’re staying ahead of the curve in the industry."
11. Pull your weight - Meaning: To do your fair share of work. Example: "Everyone needs to pull their weight if we’re going to meet our targets this quarter."
12. Bite the bullet - Meaning: To face a difficult situation or make a tough decision. Example: "We’ll have to bite the bullet and make some budget cuts if we want to stay profitable."
13. On the same page - Meaning: To have a shared understanding or agreement about something. Example: "Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page before we present this idea to the client."
14. Learn the ropes - Meaning: To learn how to do a particular job or activity. Example: "It will take a few weeks to learn the ropes, but after that, you'll feel more confident."
15. Cut to the chase - Meaning: To get to the point without wasting time. Example: "We’re short on time, so let’s cut to the chase and discuss the main issues."

How to Practice These Idioms

• Use them in conversations: Try incorporating these idioms in your daily work conversations, emails, and meetings to become more comfortable using them.
• Create flashcards: Make flashcards with the idiom on one side and the meaning and example on the other to help you memorize them.
• Watch business news or shows: Listen for these idioms in business news programs or shows like "The Apprentice" or "Shark Tank."

Enhance Your Business English with Teachify!

Learning idioms is just one way to sound more fluent and confident in English. At Teachify, our expert teachers help you master business English through engaging lessons that cover idioms, phrases, and real-world language use.

Don’t forget to try out our new AI-powered app, where you can practice business English anytime, anywhere, and track your progress with fun exercises!

Ready to take your business English to the next level? Book a class with Teachify today and start speaking like a pro!

Looking forward to helping you master business English!

Best regards,

The Teachify Team