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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. I'm fit as a fiddle!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I feel healthy.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

2. We are in the same boat.
To be someone's preference
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Simplicity can make an impact
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

3. To soften the blow
To be enthusiastic
To make a situation seem less severe
I am aleart and eager!
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

4. To get the ball rolling
To make a situation seem less severe
To put a project in motion (to get started)
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party

5. Less is more
To be someone's preference
Simplicity can make an impact
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

6. TESOL
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

7. Let's get this show on the road!
to be without complication or hassle
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
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

8. I was born ready
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I am aleart and eager!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

9. To be the big cheese
Simplicity can make an impact
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To be the big boss

10. He is a handful!
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To be enthusiastic
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

11. To keep someone in the loop.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel great!
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

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

13. Win-win
I feel strong and healthy.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
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

14. Get on the right track
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
I feel healthy.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

15. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To be someone's preference
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel great!

16. That's a 'loaded' question!

17. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
I feel a bit sick.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

18. Be careful what you wish for!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To put a project in motion (to get started)

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

20. We're going to change gears
Said when you are changing the topic
I feel great!
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To be someone's preference

21. Cheat sheet
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!
Typing mistake
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

22. Same old; same old
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
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be the big boss

23. To be a wall-flower

24. To think outside the box
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

25. Are we all on the same page?
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

26. Social climber
I feel healthy.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
It's a competitive world

27. ASAP
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
As soon as possible
To be someone's preference

28. To get off on a tangent
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

29. I feel like a 'million bucks!
to be without complication or hassle
I feel great!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I feel a bit sick.

30. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

31. To be jet-lagged
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I am aleart and eager!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

32. I'm healthy as a horse!
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
I feel strong and healthy.

33. Turn over a new leaf
I feel great!
It's a competitive world
to be without complication or hassle
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

34. To B.S.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

35. To be an eager beaver
I am aleart and eager!
I feel strong and healthy.
I feel healthy.
To be enthusiastic

36. Social butterfly
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
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

37. Easier said than done
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
to be without complication or hassle
To be enthusiastic

38. To be smooth
As soon as possible
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
to be without complication or hassle
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

39. Typo
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Typing mistake
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.

40. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
I feel a bit sick.
Said when you are changing the topic
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

41. To be one's cup of tea