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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. Social butterfly
To be enthusiastic
To be the big boss
To be someone's preference
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

2. To get the ball rolling
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
It's a competitive world
To put a project in motion (to get started)
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

3. He is a handful!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
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
To be enthusiastic

4. To B.S.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
Said when you are changing the topic
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

5. Win-win
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!

6. Are we all on the same page?
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I am aleart and eager!
To make a situation seem less severe
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

7. Get on the right track
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

8. I was born ready
I am aleart and eager!
As soon as possible
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
I feel healthy.

9. Social climber
It's a competitive world
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

10. To be one's cup of tea

11. Same old; same old
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel healthy.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

12. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

13. I feel like a 'million bucks!
I feel great!
I feel strong and healthy.
I feel healthy.
It's a competitive world

14. We are in the same boat.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To make a situation seem less severe

15. We're going to change gears
Said when you are changing the topic
I feel healthy.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

16. Typo
Simplicity can make an impact
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Typing mistake

17. To be an eager beaver
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Simplicity can make an impact
To be enthusiastic
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

18. Cheat sheet
To make a situation seem less severe
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
I feel a bit sick.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

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

20. To be jet-lagged
I feel strong and healthy.
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
I feel healthy.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

21. ASAP
To be someone's preference
Said when you are changing the topic
As soon as possible
to be without complication or hassle

22. Be careful what you wish for!
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

23. To soften the blow
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Simplicity can make an impact
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To make a situation seem less severe

24. To think outside the box
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
It's a competitive world

25. I'm fit as a fiddle!
I feel healthy.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

26. Turn over a new leaf
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

27. To be the big cheese
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 go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To be the big boss

28. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
I feel strong and healthy.
To be enthusiastic
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel a bit sick.

29. TESOL
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

30. To keep someone in the loop.
Simplicity can make an impact
to be without complication or hassle
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

31. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

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

33. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
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?
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

34. To get off on a tangent
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
I feel great!
I feel strong and healthy.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction

35. Less is more
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
I am aleart and eager!
It's a competitive world
Simplicity can make an impact

36. To be smooth
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
to be without complication or hassle
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

37. To be a wall-flower

38. I'm healthy as a horse!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
I feel strong and healthy.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

39. Easier said than done
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

40. Let's get this show on the road!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To make a situation seem less severe

41. That's a 'loaded' question!