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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. Cheat sheet
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Typing mistake
To put a project in motion (to get started)
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

2. Less is more
Simplicity can make an impact
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To be someone's preference
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

3. To be a wall-flower

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

5. ASAP
As soon as possible
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
Said when you are changing the topic

6. To be one's cup of tea

7. Typo
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Typing mistake
I feel great!
Said when you are changing the topic

8. To soften the blow
To make a situation seem less severe
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

9. I was born ready
I feel a bit sick.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
I am aleart and eager!
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

10. Social climber
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel strong and healthy.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

11. Win-win
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
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 ____________.

12. Turn over a new leaf
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

13. We're going to change gears
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
As soon as possible
I feel great!
Said when you are changing the topic

14. To be an eager beaver
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To be enthusiastic
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

15. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
To be enthusiastic
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
I feel a bit sick.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

16. That's a 'loaded' question!

17. Easier said than done
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To be someone's preference
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

18. To keep someone in the loop.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
It's a competitive world
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Typing mistake

19. He is a handful!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To be someone's preference
I feel a bit sick.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

20. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
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 ____________.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To put a project in motion (to get started)

21. Are we all on the same page?
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To be the big boss
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
to be without complication or hassle

22. We are in the same boat.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

23. Get on the right track
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 be the big boss
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

24. I'm fit as a fiddle!
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
I feel healthy.
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be enthusiastic

25. Be careful what you wish for!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I feel healthy.

26. Let's get this show on the road!
To be enthusiastic
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Said when you are changing the topic

27. Social butterfly
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

28. To get off on a tangent
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
It's a competitive world
To be enthusiastic
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

29. I feel like a 'million bucks!
To be enthusiastic
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel great!

30. To get the ball rolling
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

31. To be smooth
I feel healthy.
I feel strong and healthy.
To be the big boss
to be without complication or hassle

32. To be the big cheese
To be the big boss
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
I am aleart and eager!
To make a situation seem less severe

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

34. To think outside the box
to be without complication or hassle
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
I feel strong and healthy.
Simplicity can make an impact

35. Same old; same old
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I feel a bit sick.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

36. I'm healthy as a horse!
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
I feel strong and healthy.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
As soon as possible

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

38. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

39. To be jet-lagged
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
As soon as possible
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

40. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel healthy.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

41. To B.S.
I feel strong and healthy.
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)
To put a project in motion (to get started)