Business Communication Idioms

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. Social climber
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever


2. Typo
I am aleart and eager!
Typing mistake
To put a project in motion (to get started)
It's a competitive world


3. He is a handful!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To make a situation seem less severe
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.


4. Let's get this show on the road!
As soon as possible
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction


5. To be smooth
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
to be without complication or hassle
Typing mistake
Simplicity can make an impact


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

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7. I'm fit as a fiddle!
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel healthy.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction


8. To keep someone in the loop.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
I feel a bit sick.
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party


9. To be a wall-flower

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10. Are we all on the same page?
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To be the big boss
As soon as possible
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?


11. Cheat sheet
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To be someone's preference
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To be enthusiastic


12. To be the big cheese
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To be the big boss


13. I feel like a 'million bucks!
I feel great!
To be enthusiastic
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
It's a competitive world


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

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15. We're going to change gears
I feel strong and healthy.
Said when you are changing the topic
Simplicity can make an impact
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.


16. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Typing mistake
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing


17. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

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18. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To be the big boss
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way


19. To B.S.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel a bit sick.


20. Win-win
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones


21. Turn over a new leaf
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing


22. To soften the blow
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
As soon as possible
To make a situation seem less severe
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit


23. Get on the right track
I feel a bit sick.
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Simplicity can make an impact
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution


24. That's a 'loaded' question!

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25. I was born ready
To be the big boss
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I am aleart and eager!


26. To be one's cup of tea

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27. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I feel a bit sick.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay


28. To think outside the box
To be enthusiastic
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To make a situation seem less severe
Typing mistake


29. To be jet-lagged
I feel strong and healthy.
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones


30. To get the ball rolling
I feel healthy.
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!


31. To get off on a tangent
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
I feel strong and healthy.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers


32. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel strong and healthy.
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization


33. TESOL
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Typing mistake
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way


34. Be careful what you wish for!
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I feel great!


35. Easier said than done
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To be the big boss


36. We are in the same boat.
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
We are in the same undesirable situtation.


37. Social butterfly
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)


38. Less is more
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To be enthusiastic
Simplicity can make an impact
We are in the same undesirable situtation.


39. ASAP
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
As soon as possible
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!


40. To be an eager beaver
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be enthusiastic
I feel great!
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way


41. Same old; same old
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To put a project in motion (to get started)