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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. Win-win
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
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
To put a project in motion (to get started)

2. Social climber
I feel strong and healthy.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
As soon as possible
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

3. To keep someone in the loop.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
Said when you are changing the topic
Simplicity can make an impact
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

4. To be a wall-flower

5. Get on the right track
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
It's a competitive world
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To be enthusiastic

6. We're going to change gears
Said when you are changing the topic
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To be someone's preference
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.

7. I feel like a 'million bucks!
Typing mistake
I feel healthy.
To be the big boss
I feel great!

8. That's a 'loaded' question!

9. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
Simplicity can make an impact
I feel a bit sick.

10. Same old; same old
I feel strong and healthy.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel healthy.

11. To get the ball rolling
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

12. To be an eager beaver
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To be enthusiastic
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I am aleart and eager!

13. TESOL
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
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
to be without complication or hassle

14. I'm healthy as a horse!
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
As soon as possible
I feel strong and healthy.
It's a competitive world

15. Let's get this show on the road!
It's a competitive world
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
to be without complication or hassle

16. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
As soon as possible
I feel great!
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

17. Less is more
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
It's a competitive world
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Simplicity can make an impact

18. I was born ready
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I am aleart and eager!
To be enthusiastic

19. Cheat sheet
As soon as possible
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

20. ASAP
As soon as possible
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
I feel healthy.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

21. Be careful what you wish for!
As soon as possible
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To make a situation seem less severe

22. Are we all on the same page?
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

23. Easier said than done
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To put a project in motion (to get started)
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

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

25. He is a handful!
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
I feel great!

26. Social butterfly
To make a situation seem less severe
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

27. We are in the same boat.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
I feel great!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

28. I'm fit as a fiddle!
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
I feel healthy.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?

29. To be jet-lagged
Typing mistake
To be someone's preference
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

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

31. To soften the blow
It's a competitive world
I feel healthy.
To make a situation seem less severe
I am aleart and eager!

32. To be smooth
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
to be without complication or hassle
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

33. To think outside the box
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To be someone's preference
To make a situation seem less severe

34. To be the big cheese
To be the big boss
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
to be without complication or hassle
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

35. To get off on a tangent
I feel healthy.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

36. Turn over a new leaf
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel a bit sick.
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

37. To be one's cup of tea

38. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel strong and healthy.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel great!

39. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

40. To B.S.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel great!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

41. Typo
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
to be without complication or hassle
Typing mistake
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit