English is a very important language for business, so if you want to grow your career, we really encourage you to learn English as a second language. Among all the vocabulary and phrases you need to learn, it’s important to include Business English idioms.
You might think idioms are just used in our personal lives. But the truth is, many people, from coworkers to recruiters to the CEO to business partners, use idioms in the workplace.
They’re crucial for you to understand when working alongside others at your office, so you know what they’re saying or asking of you. Here’s a list of some popular business English idioms for you that you’ll likely encounter in a professional setting.
Get the Ball Rolling
This idiom means to start something, especially a process or project. It likely comes from sports like bowling or soccer, where getting the ball moving begins the action. People often use it in meetings or planning when it’s time to take the first step.
For example: “Does everyone know what they have to do? Okay then, let’s get the ball rolling, so we can finish the campaign before 5:00 pm”.
Learn the Ropes
To “learn the ropes” means to learn how to do a new job or task. It originally comes from sailing, where knowing how to handle the ropes was essential for working on a ship. Today, it just means you’re getting the hang of something new.
For example: “We know you’re just learning the ropes of your new job, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if something comes up”.
Getting the Hang of “Something”
This phrase means starting to understand how to do something or becoming better at a skill with practice. It likely comes from learning to handle ropes or tools, such as in sailing or climbing, where you had to “get the hang” — or proper feel — of the ropes before using them correctly. Over time, it came to mean getting used to any new task or skill.
It’s closely related to the idiom “learn the ropes,” since both phrases come from hands-on learning in nautical settings.
For example: “I just started using Excel for our weekly reports, but I think I’m finally getting the hang of it.”
Run a Tight Ship
This phrase means managing a team or organization in a strict, efficient, and organized way. It comes from sailing, where keeping a ship in good order was crucial. If someone “runs a tight ship,” they expect rules to be followed and things to run smoothly.
For example: “She’s very successful because she runs a tight ship; we all should learn something from her”.
On the Same Page
If people are “on the same page,” it means they agree or understand something in the same way. It likely comes from reading or working from the same document. In teamwork or meetings, being on the same page helps everyone move forward together.
For example: “Are we all on the same page about what we need to do for the new project, or do you want me to repeat the instructions?”
Or: “We all need to be on the same page about this, so the new project flows with ease”.
Back to Square One
This idiom means starting over from the beginning after a failed attempt. It may come from board games like Snakes and Ladders, where you have to go back to the first square if things go wrong. It’s often used when a plan doesn’t work out, and you have to begin again.
For example: “I’m so sorry to let you know this, but the designers quit, and the investors withdrew their support. So we’re back to square one.”
Long Shot
A “long shot” is something that has a small chance of success, but it’s still worth trying. The phrase comes from shooting sports or horse racing, where a long-distance shot or a horse with low odds of winning was considered a risky bet. Today, it’s often used when someone takes a chance on something unlikely but still possible.
For example: “Landing that international client is a long shot, but we’re going to pitch anyway.”
Not to be confused with “by a long shot,” which means “by far” or “definitely.”
For example: “That was the best quarter we’ve had—by a long shot!”
So while “a long shot” is about low odds, “by a long shot” is about a wide margin or clear difference.
Thrown in at the Deep End
This phrase means being put into a difficult situation without preparation or training. It comes from the idea of being dropped into the deep end of a swimming pool and having to learn to swim quickly. People often use it when they start a new job or task with little help, and have to figure things out fast.
For example: “Did you hear that the new intern has to analyze the project’s finances? He doesn’t even know what the project is about! Uff, the boss really threw him in at the deep end”.
Keep Me in the Loop
“Keep me in the loop” is a phrase that means “keep me informed” or “let me know what’s going on.” It probably started in technical fields like aviation or the military, where a “loop” meant a communication circle or a flight pattern that needed teamwork.
Over time, the phrase became popular in everyday and office language, and now it’s commonly used when someone wants to stay updated and involved.
For example: “Please keep me in the loop about the product reviews; we want the clients to have a positive experience”.
Bring Your A-Game
This means you need to maximize your effort and fully commit to the task at hand, giving your absolute best to achieve the highest possible standard of performance.
While this idiom originated in North American sports in the early 1970s, it’s commonly used in the workplace as well. It’s believed to reference an A-grade, which is a top level of achievement.
For example: “Tomorrow’s conference is very important to gain new clients, so we all need to bring our A-game.”.
Go the Extra Mile
To “go the extra mile” means to put in more effort than is expected or required — to do more than the minimum. It’s a popular phrase in the workplace, especially when describing someone who goes above and beyond to help a client, coworker, or project succeed.
For example: “Sarah really went the extra mile to make sure the client presentation was perfect — she even stayed late to double-check the data.”
Bring Your A-Game to Work with the Help of Fluency Corp
Are you ready to learn English for business and grow your career? Then, you need to bring your A-game to work, and bilingualism is the perfect way to do that!
You’ve taken your first step towards this: Learn some English idiomatic expressions to understand business conversations better. But, of course, there’s more to do.
Don’t worry, that’s why we’re here. Fluency Corp helps you and your whole workforce bring your A-game to your business by teaching corporate language classes, where you can learn the ropes of Business English.
Every lesson is completely customized to the job and your needs, so you can be sure you’ll learn useful things for a real life work situation.
Even better, we encourage all students to speak in every single one of our classes. It’s the best way to achieve language fluency. So if you and your employees need to hold English conversations with more ease, don’t hesitate in hiring us to help you.
Just choose between our online or onsite classes. Then, contact us for a free consultation and let’s get this ball rolling!
