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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. To be an eager beaver
To be enthusiastic
I feel great!
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To put a project in motion (to get started)

2. To get the ball rolling
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
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To put a project in motion (to get started)

3. I was born ready
I feel great!
I am aleart and eager!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

4. To be one's cup of tea

5. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
I am aleart and eager!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I feel a bit sick.
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!

6. Let's get this show on the road!
To be enthusiastic
To make a situation seem less severe
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

7. I'm healthy as a horse!
It's a competitive world
I feel a bit sick.
I feel strong and healthy.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

8. Cheat sheet
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

9. Be careful what you wish for!
I feel strong and healthy.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I am aleart and eager!

10. Get on the right track
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
I am aleart and eager!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

11. Win-win
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!
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

12. To get off on a tangent
I feel healthy.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
to be without complication or hassle
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

13. Social butterfly
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
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
It's a competitive world

14. Same old; same old
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
It's a competitive world
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I am aleart and eager!

15. To B.S.
To be the big boss
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

16. TESOL
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
It's a competitive world
Said when you are changing the topic
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

17. He is a handful!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Simplicity can make an impact
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

18. To keep someone in the loop.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To be someone's preference
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

19. Less is more
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Simplicity can make an impact
to be without complication or hassle
I feel great!

20. We're going to change gears
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you are changing the topic

21. To be the big cheese
To be the big boss
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Said when you are changing the topic
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

22. Typo
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Typing mistake
to be without complication or hassle
I feel healthy.

23. To soften the blow
to be without complication or hassle
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Simplicity can make an impact
To make a situation seem less severe

24. To think outside the box
To be the big boss
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
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

25. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Typing mistake
Said when you are changing the topic
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

26. Easier said than done
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Simplicity can make an impact

27. Turn over a new leaf
Typing mistake
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

28. To be smooth
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I am aleart and eager!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
to be without complication or hassle

29. Are we all on the same page?
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

30. I'm fit as a fiddle!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To put a project in motion (to get started)
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel healthy.

31. We are in the same boat.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!

32. ASAP
To be the big boss
As soon as possible
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
I feel healthy.

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

34. To be jet-lagged
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!

35. That's a 'loaded' question!

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

37. Social climber
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I feel healthy.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

38. To be a wall-flower

39. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
Simplicity can make an impact
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

40. I feel like a 'million bucks!
To put a project in motion (to get started)
I feel great!
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I feel a bit sick.

41. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.