Common English Business Idioms

Have you ever heard someone say, “Let’s get the ball rolling” in a meeting and wondered what they meant?

Business conversations are full of idioms—phrases that don’t always mean exactly what the words say.

If you work in an English-speaking business environment, understanding these idioms can help you communicate more effectively and sound more natural.

In this post, I’ll cover some of the most common business idioms, explain what they mean, and show how you can use them in everyday work situations. Let’s dive in!

1. Get the Ball Rolling

Meaning: To start something, especially a project or meeting.

Example: “Let’s get the ball rolling on this new marketing campaign.”

2. Think Outside the Box

Meaning: To think creatively and come up with new, innovative ideas.

Example: “We need to think outside the box to solve this sales problem.”

3. Touch Base

Meaning: To contact or check in with someone.

Example: “Let’s touch base next week to discuss the report.”

4. On the Same Page

Meaning: To have the same understanding about something.

Example: “Before we present to the client, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.”

5. Go the Extra Mile

Meaning: To put in extra effort to do something well.

Example: “She went the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.”

6. Back to Square One

Meaning: To start over because the first attempt failed.

Example: “Our proposal was rejected, so we’re back to square one.”

7. Cut Corners

Meaning: To do something in a quick and cheap way, often sacrificing quality.

Example: “We can’t cut corners on this project; quality is important.”

8. Call It a Day

Meaning: To stop working for the day.

Example: “It’s 6 PM—let’s call it a day.”

9. Bite the Bullet

Meaning: To do something difficult or unpleasant.

Example: “We need to bite the bullet and invest in better software.”

10. Stay Ahead of the Curve

Meaning: To keep up with trends and stay competitive.

Example: “We need to stay ahead of the curve in digital marketing.”

11. Break Even

Meaning: To make enough money to cover expenses, without profit or loss.

Example: “It took a year for our business to break even.”

12. Hit the Ground Running

Meaning: To start a project quickly and with enthusiasm.

Example: “She hit the ground running in her new role.”

13. A Win-Win Situation

Meaning: A deal or situation that benefits both sides.

Example: “This partnership is a win-win for both companies.”

14. Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Meaning: To risk everything on one plan or investment.

Example: “We shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket; let’s diversify.”

15. Red Tape

Meaning: Excessive rules and bureaucracy that slow things down.

Example: “The project is delayed due to government red tape.”

16. Pull the Plug

Meaning: To stop a project or investment.

Example: “We had to pull the plug on the failing project.”

17. Throw in the Towel

Meaning: To give up.

Example: “After multiple failed attempts, they threw in the towel.”

18. In the Driver’s Seat

Meaning: To be in control of a situation.

Example: “As the project manager, she’s in the driver’s seat.”

19. Under the Table

Meaning: Done secretly, often in an illegal way.

Example: “They paid him under the table to avoid taxes.”

20. Read Between the Lines

Meaning: To understand something that is not directly stated.

Example: “If you read between the lines, he’s not happy with the deal.”

21. Throw Someone Under the Bus

Meaning: To betray or blame someone.

Example: “He threw his coworker under the bus to save himself.”

22. Behind the Eight Ball

Meaning: To be in a difficult position.

Example: “We’re behind the eight ball with this deadline.”

23. Move the Needle

Meaning: To make a noticeable impact.

Example: “This strategy will move the needle on our sales.”

24. Learn the Ropes

Meaning: To learn how to do a job or task.

Example: “It took me a month to learn the ropes in my new job.”

25. Jump the Gun

Meaning: To act too quickly.

Example: “Don’t jump the gun on launching the product; we need more testing.”

Conclusion

Using business idioms can help you sound more fluent and professional in the workplace. These expressions are common in meetings, emails, and daily conversations. The more you hear and use them, the more natural they will become.

Next time you’re in a business setting, try using some of these idioms. They will make your communication clearer and more engaging.

Happy learning!