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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 feel like a 'million bucks!
I feel healthy.
As soon as possible
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel great!

2. Easier said than done
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.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

3. Get on the right track
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
As soon as possible
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

4. To soften the blow
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel strong and healthy.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

5. Be careful what you wish for!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

6. I'm fit as a fiddle!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I feel healthy.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

7. Let's get this show on the road!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I feel strong and healthy.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

8. To be jet-lagged
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To be enthusiastic
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I am aleart and eager!

9. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
I feel healthy.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

10. To be one's cup of tea

11. To think outside the box
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To be someone's preference

12. Social climber
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

13. Are we all on the same page?
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To be the big boss
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

14. To be the big cheese
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To make a situation seem less severe
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To be the big boss

15. Win-win
Simplicity can make an impact
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
As soon as possible

16. That's a 'loaded' question!

17. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel healthy.
I feel strong and healthy.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

18. Less is more
to be without complication or hassle
As soon as possible
Simplicity can make an impact
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

19. TESOL
To be enthusiastic
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

20. To be an eager beaver
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel strong and healthy.
To be the big boss
To be enthusiastic

21. To be smooth
to be without complication or hassle
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
It's a competitive world
To be enthusiastic

22. He is a handful!
To be the big boss
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.

23. ASAP
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
As soon as possible
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To be enthusiastic

24. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Simplicity can make an impact
It's a competitive world
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

25. We are in the same boat.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be the big boss

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

27. Typo
I feel healthy.
Typing mistake
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

28. To get off on a tangent
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Simplicity can make an impact
I feel healthy.

29. To keep someone in the loop.
I feel healthy.
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
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

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

31. Cheat sheet
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Said when you are changing the topic
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I am aleart and eager!

32. Turn over a new leaf
I feel healthy.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
I feel strong and healthy.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

33. To be a wall-flower

34. We're going to change gears
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Said when you are changing the topic
Typing mistake

35. To get the ball rolling
I feel strong and healthy.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To put a project in motion (to get started)
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

36. Same old; same old
To make a situation seem less severe
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
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

37. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel a bit sick.

38. Social butterfly
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I am aleart and eager!
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
to be without complication or hassle

39. I was born ready
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I am aleart and eager!
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

40. To B.S.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel a bit sick.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction

41. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.