Business English Phrases and Expressions

Study Notes

Banking on: relying on something or someone to happen or be successful
Brushing up on: improving or updating one's knowledge or skills in something
Losing your train of thought: forgetting what you were going to say or do
Busy as a bee: extremely active or industrious
In the driver's seat: in control of a situation or decision
Bringing up: introducing or mentioning a topic for discussion
Turning down: rejecting or declining an offer or invitation
Winging it: doing something without preparation or planning
Off-the-cuff: spoken or done without prior thought or preparation
Pushing the envelope: going beyond what is normal or accepted
Smooth sailing: a situation that is easy and progressing well
Laying the groundwork: preparing or setting the foundation for something
Paradigm shift: a fundamental change in thinking or approach
Connecting the dots: understanding or making relationships between different things

Idiomatic expressions are phrases or sentences with a figurative meaning different from the literal meaning of individual words.

Compare two things without using "like" or "as" (e.g., "He's a shining light in a dark room.")

Relate to a specific situation or context (e.g., "Break a leg!" before a performance)

Express a general truth or piece of advice (e.g., "Actions speak louder than words.")

Rain on someone's parade: spoil or ruin someone's plans or event
Cost an arm and a leg: be very expensive
Bite off more than you can chew: take on more responsibilities than you can handle
Beat around the bush: avoid talking directly or clearly about something
Cut to the chase: get to the point or main issue