Business Idioms
Agnes
British English
William
British English
Olivia
American English
James
American English
Charlotte
AUS English
Amaia
NZ English
Lethabo
SA English
Geetha
IND English
1. Cut corners
It refers to do something in a cheap or easy way, often by sacrificing quality or safety.
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The contractor decided to cut corners on the project, and it ended up costing the client more money in the end
She always cuts corners when cleaning the house, and it shows in the end result
Cutting corners on safety regulations is never worth the risk
I was in a rush to finish the project, so I had to cut corners and skip some important steps
It's not a good idea to cut corners when it comes to safety procedures
2. Think outside the box
It refers to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions.
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Our team needs to think outside the box if we want to come up with a creative solution to this problem
Sometimes it's necessary to think outside the box to find a new approach
By thinking outside the box, she was able to come up with a unique and successful business idea
Our company needs to think outside the box and come up with some creative solutions to increase sales
Don't be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to planning your future
3. Get the ball rolling
It refers to start a process or activity, often by taking the first step.
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We need to get the ball rolling on this project if we want to finish it on time
Once we get the ball rolling on this fundraiser, I think we'll be able to raise a lot of money
Let's get the ball rolling by brainstorming some ideas for the new marketing campaign
Let's get the ball rolling and start discussing some ideas for the new marketing campaign
It's important to get the ball rolling early on the project to avoid any delays
4. Hit the ground running
It refers to start a new project or job with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
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She started her new job by hitting the ground running and finishing all of her tasks on the first day
It's important to hit the ground running on a new project so that you can stay ahead of schedule
We're confident that the new employee will be able to hit the ground running and make valuable contributions to the team
The new employee was able to hit the ground running and make a positive impact on the team right away
I want to hit the ground running in my new job and show my boss what I'm capable of
5. To make a long story short
It refers to summarize something quickly or get to the point without wasting time.
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I had a lot of ups and downs in my career, but to make a long story short, I'm now running my own successful business
There were a lot of complications, but to make a long story short, we were able to fix the problem and finish the project on time
To make a long story short, the car broke down and we had to walk to the nearest gas station
To make a long story short, we ended up getting lost and didn't make it to the concert
Let me make a long story short, the project was a success and we exceeded our goals
6. Put all your eggs in one basket
It refers to rely on one thing or idea for success, which could be risky.
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I wouldn't invest all my money in one stock, it's putting all your eggs in one basket
She decided to focus on one job application, but I told her not to put all her eggs in one basket
Don't put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to choosing a career path
I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket and invest all my money in just one stock
It's not wise to put all your eggs in one basket when you're starting a new business
7. Play hardball
It refers to negotiate or compete aggressively.
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We're going to have to play hardball if we want to win this negotiation
The company played hardball with the union during the contract negotiations
I knew I was in for a tough match when I saw my opponent's aggressive style of play
Our company had to play hardball with our competitors to win the contract
Negotiating a good deal often requires playing hardball
8. In the black/red
It refers to be profitable (in the black) or unprofitable (in the red).
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The company has been in the black for the last three years, but this year they're projecting a loss
If you're always in the red, you should reconsider your spending habits
After cutting expenses and increasing sales, the business finally got out of the red
Our company has been in the black for the past three quarters
The restaurant was in the red for the first year, but it finally turned a profit
9. Go the extra mile
It refers to make an extra effort or go beyond what is expected.
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He always goes the extra mile to make sure his customers are satisfied
If you want to succeed, you have to be willing to go the extra mile and put in the extra effort
The coach praised the team for going the extra mile and practicing hard every day
I always try to go the extra mile at work to make sure my projects are successful
If you want to achieve great things, you must be willing to go the extra mile
10. Get down to business
It refers to start discussing or working on something important or serious.
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We chatted for a while, but then it was time to get down to business and start the meeting
I like to socialize, but when it's time to get down to business, I can be very focused
Let's skip the small talk and get down to business
Let's get down to business and start discussing our marketing strategy
After some small talk, the manager got down to business and started talking about the team's performance
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