Business Communication Idioms

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. That's a 'loaded' question!

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2. To be jet-lagged
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I feel healthy.


3. Social climber
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel a bit sick.


4. To be a wall-flower

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5. Cheat sheet
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
I feel strong and healthy.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Said when you are changing the topic


6. Same old; same old
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
Typing mistake
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!


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

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8. Be careful what you wish for!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I feel strong and healthy.
Simplicity can make an impact
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!


9. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel a bit sick.
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
I feel strong and healthy.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party


10. He is a handful!
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
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
I feel a bit sick.


11. To think outside the box
To be enthusiastic
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever


12. Let's get this show on the road!
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
As soon as possible
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!


13. To B.S.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
I feel great!


14. ASAP
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel strong and healthy.
As soon as possible


15. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To be someone's preference


16. To get the ball rolling
I feel great!
To be the big boss
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones


17. Turn over a new leaf
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
It's a competitive world
Said when you want to start over and make a big change


18. To be one's cup of tea

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

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20. I was born ready
I am aleart and eager!
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
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


21. Social butterfly
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To be the big boss
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party


22. Win-win
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
I feel a bit sick.


23. To get off on a tangent
I feel a bit sick.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
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


24. Typo
It's a competitive world
Typing mistake
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project


25. Are we all on the same page?
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel great!
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization


26. We are in the same boat.
I feel healthy.
It's a competitive world
I feel strong and healthy.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.


27. I'm fit as a fiddle!
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
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
I feel healthy.


28. Less is more
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Simplicity can make an impact


29. To soften the blow
To make a situation seem less severe
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project


30. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

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31. We're going to change gears
Said when you are changing the topic
I am aleart and eager!
To be someone's preference
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party


32. I feel like a 'million bucks!
I feel great!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party


33. Easier said than done
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you are changing the topic


34. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
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.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel a bit sick.


35. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To be someone's preference


36. To be the big cheese
I feel healthy.
To be the big boss
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones


37. To be an eager beaver
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To be enthusiastic
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way


38. To keep someone in the loop.
I feel a bit sick.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.


39. Get on the right track
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?


40. TESOL
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Said when you are changing the topic
I feel great!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay


41. To be smooth
to be without complication or hassle
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
I feel great!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization