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Business Communication Idioms

Subjects : business-skills, soft-skills

Instructions:

Answer 41 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. To get off on a tangent
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
I am aleart and eager!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction

2. To soften the blow
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel great!
I am aleart and eager!
I feel healthy.

3. He is a handful!
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Said when you are changing the topic
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

4. To be a wall-flower

5. Be careful what you wish for!
to be without complication or hassle
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To be enthusiastic

6. To get the ball rolling
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

7. To be jet-lagged
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
It's a competitive world

8. To think outside the box
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
As soon as possible

9. ASAP
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
I feel strong and healthy.
As soon as possible

10. TESOL
I feel healthy.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To be someone's preference

11. Social climber
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To be the big boss
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

12. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

13. It's a dog-eat-dog world

14. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel a bit sick.

15. Less is more
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Simplicity can make an impact
To be enthusiastic
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

16. I'm fit as a fiddle!
I feel healthy.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

17. To B.S.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

18. Win-win
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Said when you are changing the topic
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To be enthusiastic

19. To be smooth
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
to be without complication or hassle

20. To be one's cup of tea

21. Easier said than done
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I am aleart and eager!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
It's a competitive world

22. I feel like a 'million bucks!
I am aleart and eager!
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Simplicity can make an impact
I feel great!

23. Typo
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Typing mistake
As soon as possible
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.

24. I'm healthy as a horse!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
I feel strong and healthy.

25. To be an eager beaver
To be enthusiastic
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I feel a bit sick.
I feel healthy.

26. Are we all on the same page?
I feel healthy.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

27. We're going to change gears
Said when you are changing the topic
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

28. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said when you are changing the topic

29. To keep someone in the loop.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To put a project in motion (to get started)

30. Turn over a new leaf
To be enthusiastic
As soon as possible
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

31. You don't want to open that 'can of worms'!

32. Same old; same old
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To be the big boss
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

33. To be the big cheese
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
I feel strong and healthy.
To be the big boss
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction

34. We are in the same boat.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
As soon as possible
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
It's a competitive world

35. That's a 'loaded' question!

36. I was born ready
to be without complication or hassle
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
I am aleart and eager!
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

37. Cheat sheet
Typing mistake
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To be enthusiastic

38. Get on the right track
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To make a situation seem less severe

39. Social butterfly
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel strong and healthy.
to be without complication or hassle

40. Let's get this show on the road!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To make a situation seem less severe
To be the big boss
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

41. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Said when you are changing the topic