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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. To be one's cup of tea

2. I was born ready
To be the big boss
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I am aleart and eager!

3. ASAP
As soon as possible
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

4. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
I feel a bit sick.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

5. To be a wall-flower

6. To get off on a tangent
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
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To be the big boss

7. Less is more
Simplicity can make an impact
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

8. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
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
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

9. Turn over a new leaf
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To be someone's preference

10. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

11. Typo
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Typing mistake
To be the big boss
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

12. Cheat sheet
To make a situation seem less severe
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
As soon as possible
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

13. To be an eager beaver
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To be enthusiastic

14. To B.S.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To be the big boss
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

15. To think outside the box
To be someone's preference
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
It's a competitive world

16. We are in the same boat.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
As soon as possible
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

17. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel strong and healthy.
It's a competitive world
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

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

19. Be careful what you wish for!
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
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

20. That's a 'loaded' question!

21. We're going to change gears
Said when you are changing the topic
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

22. To soften the blow
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To be someone's preference
To make a situation seem less severe

23. Are we all on the same page?
Typing mistake
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

24. Let's get this show on the road!
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel healthy.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

25. To get the ball rolling
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

26. To keep someone in the loop.
To be someone's preference
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

27. Get on the right track
To make a situation seem less severe
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

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

29. I'm fit as a fiddle!
It's a competitive world
To be someone's preference
I feel healthy.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

30. Win-win
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
As soon as possible
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

31. Social climber
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Said when you are changing the topic
I feel strong and healthy.
Simplicity can make an impact

32. Same old; same old
It's a competitive world
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

33. To be the big cheese
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
I feel healthy.
To be the big boss
Said when you are changing the topic

34. TESOL
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Simplicity can make an impact
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

35. He is a handful!
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

36. Social butterfly
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
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 be someone's preference

37. Easier said than done
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To be enthusiastic
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To put a project in motion (to get started)

38. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

39. To be jet-lagged
to be without complication or hassle
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To make a situation seem less severe
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

40. To be smooth
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
to be without complication or hassle
I feel strong and healthy.

41. I feel like a 'million bucks!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
I feel great!