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. ASAP
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
As soon as possible
I feel a bit sick.


2. To get off on a tangent
I feel a bit sick.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project


3. I feel like a 'million bucks!
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel great!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective


4. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
To be someone's preference
To make a situation seem less severe
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I am aleart and eager!


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

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6. To be one's cup of tea

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7. To be a wall-flower

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8. To be an eager beaver
It's a competitive world
To be enthusiastic
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To be someone's preference


9. Win-win
I feel great!
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To make a situation seem less severe
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing


10. To think outside the box
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
I feel strong and healthy.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?


11. Turn over a new leaf
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party


12. To be jet-lagged
to be without complication or hassle
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Said when you want to start over and make a big change


13. Are we all on the same page?
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
It's a competitive world
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel great!


14. That's a 'loaded' question!

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15. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

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16. We're going to change gears
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Said when you are changing the topic
Simplicity can make an impact


17. I'm healthy as a horse!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
I feel strong and healthy.
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization


18. TESOL
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
I feel a bit sick.
It's a competitive world
Typing mistake


19. He is a handful!
I feel a bit sick.
I feel healthy.
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Try to imagine the other person's perspective


20. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
It's a competitive world


21. Cheat sheet
To be the big boss
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.


22. I was born ready
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
I am aleart and eager!
I feel a bit sick.


23. To be the big cheese
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To be the big boss
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever


24. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel a bit sick.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?


25. Same old; same old
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
I feel great!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing


26. To soften the blow
To make a situation seem less severe
Simplicity can make an impact
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be enthusiastic


27. Easier said than done
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I feel a bit sick.
To be someone's preference
Said when you want to start over and make a big change


28. Less is more
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel a bit sick.
Typing mistake
Simplicity can make an impact


29. Social butterfly
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
We are in the same undesirable situtation.


30. Get on the right track
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?


31. Let's get this show on the road!
Simplicity can make an impact
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction


32. Social climber
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing


33. To keep someone in the loop.
To be the big boss
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
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!
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!


35. To B.S.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Simplicity can make an impact
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
to be without complication or hassle


36. Typo
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Typing mistake
I feel healthy.
to be without complication or hassle


37. To get the ball rolling
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Said when you are changing the topic
To put a project in motion (to get started)
We are in the same undesirable situtation.


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

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39. I'm fit as a fiddle!
I feel healthy.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I feel a bit sick.


40. We are in the same boat.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Typing mistake
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing


41. To be smooth
to be without complication or hassle
To be someone's preference
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization