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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. Less is more
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Simplicity can make an impact
To be someone's preference
It's a competitive world

2. To soften the blow
Said when you are changing the topic
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To make a situation seem less severe
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

3. To be an eager beaver
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
To be enthusiastic
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
I feel healthy.

4. Social butterfly
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To make a situation seem less severe
I am aleart and eager!

5. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

6. To be jet-lagged
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

7. To be the big cheese
To be the big boss
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To be someone's preference
I feel healthy.

8. To be a wall-flower

9. Easier said than done
To make a situation seem less severe
To put a project in motion (to get started)
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

10. I'm fit as a fiddle!
I feel healthy.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

11. We're going to change gears
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Typing mistake
Said when you are changing the topic
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

12. Same old; same old
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
As soon as possible
I feel healthy.
To put a project in motion (to get started)

13. Are we all on the same page?
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
It's a competitive world

14. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel a bit sick.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

15. I'm healthy as a horse!
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
I feel strong and healthy.
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I feel a bit sick.

16. To be one's cup of tea

17. ASAP
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To be the big boss
To be someone's preference
As soon as possible

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

19. That's a 'loaded' question!

20. He is a handful!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
to be without complication or hassle
I feel healthy.

21. I feel like a 'million bucks!
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
I feel great!
I feel healthy.
To be someone's preference

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

23. Social climber
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
to be without complication or hassle
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

24. To keep someone in the loop.
It's a competitive world
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

25. Win-win
It's a competitive world
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

26. I was born ready
Simplicity can make an impact
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I am aleart and eager!

27. Typo
Typing mistake
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

28. Turn over a new leaf
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I feel great!
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I am aleart and eager!

29. To think outside the box
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

30. To B.S.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

31. Get on the right track
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Simplicity can make an impact
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To be enthusiastic

32. To get the ball rolling
I feel great!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Typing mistake
To put a project in motion (to get started)

33. To get off on a tangent
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
It's a competitive world
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To be enthusiastic

34. We are in the same boat.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
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
I feel great!

35. TESOL
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
I feel healthy.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

36. Let's get this show on the road!
As soon as possible
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction

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

38. To be smooth
Simplicity can make an impact
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
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

39. Cheat sheet
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Said when you are changing the topic
I feel great!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

40. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
As soon as possible
To make a situation seem less severe
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

41. Be careful what you wish for!
I am aleart and eager!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution