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. Are we all on the same page?
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
to be without complication or hassle


2. Get on the right track
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
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 make a situation seem less severe


3. Be careful what you wish for!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I feel a bit sick.
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution


4. Cheat sheet
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
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


5. To get the ball rolling
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I feel great!
Typing mistake
To put a project in motion (to get started)


6. To be a wall-flower

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7. We're going to change gears
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
to be without complication or hassle
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Said when you are changing the topic


8. I'm fit as a fiddle!
I feel healthy.
I feel a bit sick.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I am aleart and eager!


9. Social butterfly
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To put a project in motion (to get started)
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To be someone's preference


10. To be jet-lagged
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I feel a bit sick.
To put a project in motion (to get started)
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!


11. He is a handful!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
As soon as possible


12. Easier said than done
I feel strong and healthy.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party


13. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
I feel great!
To make a situation seem less severe
To be enthusiastic
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing


14. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel strong and healthy.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
I feel great!
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing


15. I was born ready
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
I am aleart and eager!
Simplicity can make an impact
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party


16. Same old; same old
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
I feel healthy.
I feel great!
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.


17. That's a 'loaded' question!

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18. Less is more
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Simplicity can make an impact
To be the big boss
To put a project in motion (to get started)


19. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
To be enthusiastic
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I feel a bit sick.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!


20. ASAP
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
As soon as possible


21. To be the big cheese
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
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
Try to imagine the other person's perspective


22. Let's get this show on the road!
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?


23. TESOL
I feel strong and healthy.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
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


24. To B.S.
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
to be without complication or hassle
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)


25. To be smooth
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
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


26. Typo
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Typing mistake
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution


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

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28. Social climber
Typing mistake
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
to be without complication or hassle


29. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

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30. Turn over a new leaf
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
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


31. To think outside the box
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
It's a competitive world
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!


32. I feel like a 'million bucks!
I feel great!
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel a bit sick.


33. To be one's cup of tea

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34. We are in the same boat.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To be enthusiastic
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
I am aleart and eager!


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

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36. Win-win
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Try to imagine the other person's perspective


37. To soften the blow
To be someone's preference
Typing mistake
To make a situation seem less severe
I am aleart and eager!


38. To be an eager beaver
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To be enthusiastic
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


39. To keep someone in the loop.
I feel a bit sick.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project


40. To get off on a tangent
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I am aleart and eager!


41. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
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
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting