Test your basic knowledge |

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. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

2. To be one's cup of tea

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

4. Social climber
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel healthy.

5. To keep someone in the loop.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel great!
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Simplicity can make an impact

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

7. Cheat sheet
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
I feel healthy.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

8. Less is more
to be without complication or hassle
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Simplicity can make an impact
I feel healthy.

9. To get off on a tangent
Typing mistake
to be without complication or hassle
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

10. To be an eager beaver
As soon as possible
Simplicity can make an impact
To be enthusiastic
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

11. Turn over a new leaf
I feel a bit sick.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I am aleart and eager!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

12. Let's get this show on the road!
Simplicity can make an impact
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
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

13. I was born ready
I am aleart and eager!
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

14. That's a 'loaded' question!

15. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Said when you are changing the topic
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.

16. We're going to change gears
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
Said when you are changing the topic
To be someone's preference
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

17. TESOL
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

18. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel strong and healthy.
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

19. To be smooth
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
to be without complication or hassle
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
I am aleart and eager!

20. Typo
Typing mistake
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

21. Be careful what you wish for!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To be enthusiastic
As soon as possible

22. I'm fit as a fiddle!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I feel healthy.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

23. He is a handful!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
to be without complication or hassle
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

24. We are in the same boat.
Simplicity can make an impact
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel great!

25. I feel like a 'million bucks!
I feel great!
As soon as possible
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

26. Easier said than done
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I feel great!
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel strong and healthy.

27. To soften the blow
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To make a situation seem less severe
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

28. To think outside the box
As soon as possible
I feel healthy.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

29. Are we all on the same page?
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Simplicity can make an impact

30. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
I am aleart and eager!

31. To be a wall-flower

32. Get on the right track
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
I feel a bit sick.
I am aleart and eager!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

33. ASAP
Typing mistake
As soon as possible
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

34. To be the big cheese
I feel great!
To be the big boss
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To be someone's preference

35. Same old; same old
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel strong and healthy.

36. Win-win
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Said when you are changing the topic
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

37. To be jet-lagged
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I feel great!
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!

38. To B.S.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
As soon as possible
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

39. To get the ball rolling
I feel a bit sick.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel great!
To put a project in motion (to get started)

40. Social butterfly
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Simplicity can make an impact
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

41. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
I feel a bit sick.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
to be without complication or hassle
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution