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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. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

2. Less is more
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Simplicity can make an impact
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

3. We are in the same boat.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
It's a competitive world
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

4. Typo
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Typing mistake

5. ASAP
As soon as possible
I feel strong and healthy.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

6. To soften the blow
To make a situation seem less severe
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
I feel strong and healthy.

7. Let's get this show on the road!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
to be without complication or hassle
To be enthusiastic
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

8. Easier said than done
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
I am aleart and eager!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

9. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

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

11. TESOL
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
to be without complication or hassle
Said when you are changing the topic
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

12. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel strong and healthy.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

13. Are we all on the same page?
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
to be without complication or hassle
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

14. That's a 'loaded' question!

15. To be one's cup of tea

16. Be careful what you wish for!
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

17. Cheat sheet
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
to be without complication or hassle
To be the big boss
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!

18. I was born ready
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To make a situation seem less severe
I am aleart and eager!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

19. Get on the right track
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To be the big boss
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

20. To get the ball rolling
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 put a project in motion (to get started)
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

21. To get off on a tangent
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party

22. To B.S.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I feel strong and healthy.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

23. I'm fit as a fiddle!
to be without complication or hassle
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said when you are changing the topic
I feel healthy.

24. I feel like a 'million bucks!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel great!
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

25. To keep someone in the loop.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
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

26. Turn over a new leaf
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be the big boss
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

27. We're going to change gears
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you are changing the topic
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.

28. To be jet-lagged
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I am aleart and eager!

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

30. To be smooth
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
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
to be without complication or hassle

31. Social butterfly
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
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
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

32. Social climber
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

33. Win-win
I feel strong and healthy.
I feel healthy.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

34. To be the big cheese
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
to be without complication or hassle
To be the big boss

35. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
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
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel strong and healthy.

36. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel a bit sick.

37. To think outside the box
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
It's a competitive world

38. He is a handful!
I feel strong and healthy.
As soon as possible
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

39. To be an eager beaver
To be enthusiastic
I feel healthy.
Simplicity can make an impact
I feel strong and healthy.

40. Same old; same old
To put a project in motion (to get started)
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
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

41. To be a wall-flower