Test your basic knowledge |

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. Are we all on the same page?
to be without complication or hassle
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

2. To be smooth
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
to be without complication or hassle
It's a competitive world
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

3. I'm fit as a fiddle!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
I feel healthy.
Said when you are changing the topic

4. Easier said than done
I feel strong and healthy.
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
Typing mistake

5. To get off on a tangent
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I feel healthy.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

6. To B.S.
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
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

7. I was born ready
I am aleart and eager!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
to be without complication or hassle

8. Cheat sheet
To be the big boss
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

9. 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 keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
I feel great!

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

11. He is a handful!
I feel great!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Typing mistake

12. To think outside the box
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To be the big boss
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
to be without complication or hassle

13. To be one's cup of tea

14. To get the ball rolling
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
As soon as possible

15. We are in the same boat.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
I feel great!
To be someone's preference
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

16. To be jet-lagged
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

17. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

18. To be an eager beaver
I feel healthy.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To be enthusiastic
Simplicity can make an impact

19. Win-win
I feel great!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

20. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
I feel a bit sick.
To be enthusiastic
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel strong and healthy.

21. To be a wall-flower

22. Same old; same old
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Said when you are changing the topic
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

23. Social climber
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

24. We're going to change gears
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To be enthusiastic
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you are changing the topic

25. I'm healthy as a horse!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
I feel strong and healthy.
I am aleart and eager!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

26. Social butterfly
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel great!
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

27. TESOL
to be without complication or hassle
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

28. 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!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
I am aleart and eager!

29. To be the big cheese
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To be the big boss
To be enthusiastic
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

30. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
I feel healthy.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

31. That's a 'loaded' question!

32. I feel like a 'million bucks!
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I feel great!
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

33. To soften the blow
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To make a situation seem less severe

34. Be careful what you wish for!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To be someone's preference
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

35. ASAP
It's a competitive world
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
As soon as possible

36. Get on the right track
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Simplicity can make an impact
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

37. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To make a situation seem less severe
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

38. Less is more
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Simplicity can make an impact
Typing mistake

39. Typo
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Typing mistake

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

41. Turn over a new leaf
I feel healthy.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
I feel a bit sick.