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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. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel a bit sick.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

2. To be a wall-flower

3. To think outside the box
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To be the big boss
I feel great!
Simplicity can make an impact

4. We're going to change gears
To be the big boss
I feel strong and healthy.
Said when you are changing the topic
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

5. To get off on a tangent
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Said when you are changing the topic

6. To be an eager beaver
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
I feel healthy.
To be enthusiastic
to be without complication or hassle

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

8. ASAP
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
To be the big boss
As soon as possible

9. Be careful what you wish for!
Typing mistake
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

10. To be smooth
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
I feel a bit sick.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
to be without complication or hassle

11. To be jet-lagged
to be without complication or hassle
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
It's a competitive world
To make a situation seem less severe

12. He is a handful!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
As soon as possible
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

13. To soften the blow
To make a situation seem less severe
Said when you are changing the topic
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

14. To be the big cheese
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To be the big boss
To be enthusiastic

15. To keep someone in the loop.
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
I feel great!
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

16. Same old; same old
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you are changing the topic
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

17. I'm fit as a fiddle!
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
I feel healthy.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

18. To get the ball rolling
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
I feel strong and healthy.
I am aleart and eager!
To put a project in motion (to get started)

19. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
To make a situation seem less severe
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I am aleart and eager!
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

20. Less is more
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Simplicity can make an impact
To put a project in motion (to get started)

21. Social climber
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel healthy.
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

22. Typo
Typing mistake
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To be enthusiastic
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

23. I'm healthy as a horse!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To put a project in motion (to get started)
I feel strong and healthy.

24. Are we all on the same page?
To be someone's preference
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
Typing mistake
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

25. Win-win
To be enthusiastic
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

26. To B.S.
As soon as possible
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel strong and healthy.
I feel great!

27. Social butterfly
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
to be without complication or hassle

28. I was born ready
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
I am aleart and eager!
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

29. Easier said than done
To be enthusiastic
I feel healthy.
I feel a bit sick.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

30. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
I feel great!
I feel healthy.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

31. Let's get this show on the road!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
I feel strong and healthy.
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

32. I feel like a 'million bucks!
I feel healthy.
I am aleart and eager!
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel great!

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

34. That's a 'loaded' question!

35. Turn over a new leaf
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
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
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

36. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

37. TESOL
I feel a bit sick.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
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.

38. We are in the same boat.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

39. Cheat sheet
To be enthusiastic
To be someone's preference
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.

40. To be one's cup of tea

41. Get on the right track
I feel healthy.
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing