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. I feel like a 'million bucks!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To make a situation seem less severe
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel great!

2. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel strong and healthy.
I am aleart and eager!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

3. Let's get this show on the road!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

4. To think outside the box
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To put a project in motion (to get started)
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party

5. To B.S.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

6. He is a handful!
Typing mistake
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

7. Be careful what you wish for!
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

8. To get off on a tangent
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
I feel strong and healthy.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

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

10. To get the ball rolling
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To put a project in motion (to get started)
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

11. That's a 'loaded' question!

12. Less is more
I am aleart and eager!
Simplicity can make an impact
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

13. To be one's cup of tea

14. To be jet-lagged
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
It's a competitive world
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

15. To be smooth
To be the big boss
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
to be without complication or hassle
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

16. I'm fit as a fiddle!
To make a situation seem less severe
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
I feel healthy.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

17. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

18. Get on the right track
I am aleart and eager!
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

19. Social climber
To put a project in motion (to get started)
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

20. I was born ready
I am aleart and eager!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

21. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
to be without complication or hassle
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!

22. Easier said than done
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
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

23. To be a wall-flower

24. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
To make a situation seem less severe
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
I feel a bit sick.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

25. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

26. Cheat sheet
It's a competitive world
To be someone's preference
To be the big boss
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

27. Turn over a new leaf
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
to be without complication or hassle
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

28. To soften the blow
I feel strong and healthy.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To make a situation seem less severe

29. Social butterfly
To be the big boss
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Simplicity can make an impact
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

30. We're going to change gears
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I feel a bit sick.
Said when you are changing the topic
to be without complication or hassle

31. To keep someone in the loop.
I feel strong and healthy.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

32. ASAP
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
As soon as possible
It's a competitive world
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

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

34. Same old; same old
I feel great!
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction

35. To be the big cheese
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To be the big boss
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel great!

36. We are in the same boat.
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

37. To be an eager beaver
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I feel strong and healthy.
I feel great!
To be enthusiastic

38. TESOL
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

39. Win-win
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I feel healthy.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

40. Are we all on the same page?
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
I feel great!

41. Typo
Typing mistake
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.
To be the big boss