10 Business Idioms Every Professional Should Know

10 Business Idioms Every Professional Should Know

Business English idioms are essential tools that set apart fluent business communication from basic language skills.

Native English speakers frequently use these specialized expressions in their business conversations, which often create confusion for non-native speakers. These idiomatic expressions carry cultural weight and nuanced meanings that can't be decoded by simply understanding each individual word. Moreover, they serve as efficient ways to convey complex ideas in the fast-paced business world.

Making these expressions part of your active vocabulary will dramatically boost your professional English fluency.

1. "To put something on the back burner"

Origin: From cooking on traditional stoves, where back burners were used for simmering or keeping food warm while the front burners were used for dishes needing immediate attention like stirring or adding ingredients.

Meaning: To delay or postpone something, making it a lower priority.

2. "To get the ball rolling"

Origin: From old games and sports where literally rolling a ball would start the game, particularly games like lawn bowling.

Meaning: To begin a process or project

3. "To be in the loop"

Origin: From 1940s aviation and aerospace technology, referring to closed-loop feedback systems where information flows continuously between connected components.

Meaning: To be informed about something; to be included in communications.

4. "To think outside the box"

Origin: From the "nine dots" puzzle of the 1970s, shown above. It was popularised by management consultants.

Can you solve the puzzle by linking all nine dots with four straight lines without taking your pen off the paper?

Meaning: To think creatively or differently about something.

5. "To hit the ground running"

Origin: Originally from parachuting in World War II, where soldiers needed to begin moving immediately upon landing to avoid enemy fire.

Meaning: To start something quickly and effectively.

6. "To be on the same page"

Origin: From choir or orchestra practice, where all musicians needed to be literally looking at the same page of sheet music to play together harmoniously.

Meaning: To have the same understanding or agreement about something.

7. "Bottom line"

In Business English there are two meanings of ‘bottom line’. The first is a literal meaning - the profit or loss of a business appears on the bottom line of an accounting statement. Because this is a literal meaning, it is not an idiom.

However, there is also an idiomatic meaning of ‘the bottom line’.

Origin: From accounting practices, referring to the final line of a financial statement showing the net profit or loss.

Idiomatic meaning: The final, most important point.

8. "To bite the bullet"

Origin: From military medicine before anaesthesia, when soldiers would literally bite on a bullet to endure painful procedures.

Meaning: To face a difficult situation bravely or without delay.

9. "To raise the bar"

Origin: From high jump and pole vault competitions in athletics, where literally raising the bar made the challenge more difficult.

Meaning: To increase standards or expectations.

10. "To cut corners"

Origin: From horse riding or racing, where taking a shorter route by cutting across corners was considered dangerous or cheating.

Meaning: To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, sometimes compromising quality. To cut corners is usually negative.

In Summary

Using these business English idioms naturally in your professional communication can transform your language from textbook English to authentic business speak. When you casually mention 'hitting the ground running' in a meeting or smoothly suggest 'putting something on the back burner' in an email, it signals to native speakers that you've mastered the nuances of business English. However, the key is not just memorising these phrases, but understanding their origins and using them in the right context.

Master these ten idioms, and you'll find yourself communicating more confidently and effectively in any business setting.

Answer to the Nine Dots Puzzle

Book Review: Pour Your Heart Into It - Howard Schultz

Howard Schultz didn't just work for Starbucks – he transformed it.

After joining the company as Director of Retail Operations and Marketing, Schultz had a game-changing idea to shift Starbucks from selling coffee beans to serving coffee. This vision came to life after he visited Italy and saw how coffee culture could bring people together. But the original Starbucks owners didn't share his enthusiasm, so Schultz left and launched his own café chain, Il Giornale, testing his coffeehouse concept. When Starbucks later went up for sale, he raised millions, bought the company, and turned it into the global brand we know today.

Persistence Is Key to Success

Many would have given up when the founders said that they did not want to hire me. I would probably fall into that category. But not Howard Schultz, as detailed in his book ‘Pour Your Heart Into It’.

Schultz’s journey with Starbucks is a story of persistence. First, he had to convince Starbucks’ founders to hire him over many months even after they had said ‘no’. Then, after visiting Milan, he tried and failed to convince the founders about his coffeehouse idea. After deciding to form his own company, he struggled to raise the capital for Il Giornale. Almost immediately, he had to go back to the same investors to raise an extra 4 million dollars to buy the original Starbucks, when it came on the market. This commitment to his vision is what turned a local coffee bean retailer into an international café giant.

Persistence can turn “no” into “yes”.

A Must-Read for Entrepreneurs

"Pour Your Heart Into It" by Howard Schultz is a playbook on vision and determination.

Schultz writes with honesty about his journey, sharing insights on building a brand, managing rejection, and the importance of passion in business. Readers gain a firsthand look at how Starbucks grew and the challenges Schultz faced along the way. It’s inspiring without being idealistic, making it a valuable read for anyone aiming to turn their vision into reality.

A reminder that success doesn’t just happen but must be worked at.

Word of the Day: Persistence

Persistence - noun - uncountable - the quality of being persistent

Persistent - adjective - continuing to exist past the usual time, or continuing to do something in a determined way even when facing difficulties or opposition.

Persist - verb - to continue to exist past the usual time, or to continue to do something in a determined way even when facing difficulties or opposition.

Do you have any Business English Questions?

Please email me and I will do my best to answer them in future newsletters.

Until next Wednesday - have a great week!

Iain.

www.communicateenglish.com