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5 Tennis Phrases That Elevate Your Professional English
What sporting commentary teaches us about Business English
Iain Shirlaw
July 09, 2025
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Welcome to Business Fluency - your weekly guide to mastering business English and accelerating your career.
In today’s newsletter:
5 Tennis Phrases That Elevate Your Professional English
Quote of the day: Andy Murray
We value your feedback - Your opinion helps us improve
Word of the day: Reminisce
Test Your Knowledge - Interactive quiz
Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you
5 Tennis Phrases That Elevate Your Professional English
What sporting commentary teaches us about Business English
As I write this, Wimbledon is in full swing at the All England Club, and I'm completely absorbed. Wimbledon is one of my favourite sporting events of the year. It's not just the tennis, but everything that comes with it: the perfectly tended grass courts, the traditional strawberries and cream, and those gloriously long summer evenings.
Perhaps I love Wimbledon as much for the chance to reminisce about warm UK summers and beer gardens as for the actual tournament itself.
But as I watch the matches unfold this week, I'm struck by how often the language of tennis mirrors the language of business. The commentators' vocabulary isn't just describing serves and volleys — it's painting pictures of strategy, pressure, and performance that translate perfectly to the boardroom.
This got me thinking about what tennis can teach us about business English.
Why Sports Language Matters in Business
In professional settings, you'll encounter sports metaphors everywhere:
Team meetings discussing quarterly "game plans"
Performance reviews examining where you "dropped the ball"
Client presentations where you need to "serve an ace"
Strategic discussions about "playing to your strengths"
Understanding these expressions isn't just about comprehension — it's about joining the conversation with confidence.
5 Essential Tennis Expressions for Business Success
1. Serve an ace
Tennis meaning: Hit a serve so perfectly that your opponent cannot hit it
Business meaning: Deliver something flawlessly or achieve outstanding results
"Sarah really served an ace with that client presentation. They signed the contract immediately."
2. Take your eye off the ball
Tennis meaning: Lose focus on the ball, leading to a missed shot
Business meaning: Lose concentration on something important, causing problems
"We took our eye off the ball with quality control, and now we're dealing with too many customer complaints."
3. Unforced error
Tennis meaning: A mistake made without pressure from your opponent
Business meaning: A preventable mistake caused by poor judgment or lack of attention
"Missing that deadline was an unforced error — we had plenty of time to complete the project."
4. Play to your strengths
Tennis meaning: Use your best shots and tactics during a match
Business meaning: Focus on your best skills and capabilities
"Rather than try and attract all customers, let's play to our strengths and sell presige cars - that’s where the most profit is."
5. Read the game
Tennis meaning: Understand what's happening in the match and anticipate your opponent's moves
Business meaning: Understand the situation and anticipate what might happen next
"She has excellent strategic skills — she can read the game better than anyone on our team."
The Professional Edge
These expressions demonstrate cultural fluency and help you:
Connect with colleagues who use sports metaphors
Sound more natural in informal business conversations
Show you understand both literal and figurative language
Participate confidently in team discussions
Have you heard any of these expressions in your workplace?
As Wimbledon continues this week, why not pay attention to the commentary? You might discover your next favourite business expression between the serves and volleys.
Which of these expressions can you use this week?
Quote of the Day: Andy Murray
"I believe you should give 100% on the court, so I chase every ball"
I believe that the same is important in business - chase every opportunity.
We Value Your Feedback!
Your opinion helps us improve and lets you suggest topics or ask Business English questions for future issues.
How did you find this week’s newsletter? |
Word of the day: Reminisce
Reminisce - verb - to recall and share past experiences with fondness; to think or talk about pleasant memories from earlier times
“During the company retreat, team members began to reminisce about the early startup days when everyone worked closely together in that small office space.”
Literal Meaning: To reminisce means to indulge in recalling past experiences, especially those remembered with pleasure or nostalgia. It involves both the mental act of remembering and often the social act of sharing those memories with others.
Business English Context: In professional settings, "reminisce" is commonly used when discussing company history, team bonding, career reflections, or organisational changes. It often carries a positive, nostalgic tone and can be valuable for building relationships, sharing institutional knowledge, or reflecting on lessons learnt.
Common Business Collocations:
Reminisce about - to recall specific past experiences
Reminisce together - to share memories as a group
Fondly reminisce - to remember with particular warmth
Professional Applications:
Team building: "At the farewell dinner, colleagues reminisced about successful projects and shared challenges they'd overcome together" (= building connections through shared history)
Organisational culture: "I often reminisce about the days when we had more face-to-face collaboration before remote work became standard" (= reflecting on workplace changes)
Mentoring: "Senior executives reminisce about early career experiences to guide younger employees" (= sharing wisdom through storytelling)
Company milestones: "During the anniversary celebration, founders reminisced about the company's humble beginnings" (= honouring organisational history)
Business English: Test Your Knowledge
Which phrase describes losing focus on something important at work? |
Which expression means "use your best skills and capabilities"? |
What does the word “reminisce” mean in a business setting? |
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Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The information contained herein is generic and does not take into account your individual financial circumstances. You should always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions.
Additionally, the authors and/or publishers of this newsletter may hold investments in securities or other financial instruments mentioned herein. These are included for illustrative purposes only and should not be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell such securities or financial instruments.