Test your basic knowledge |

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. Are we all on the same page?
To put a project in motion (to get started)
to be without complication or hassle
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

2. I'm fit as a fiddle!
I feel healthy.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction

3. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
I feel a bit sick.
To make a situation seem less severe

4. To think outside the box
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel strong and healthy.
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

5. Same old; same old
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Said when you are changing the topic
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

6. We are in the same boat.
To be enthusiastic
To be the big boss
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

7. To be jet-lagged
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

8. Get on the right track
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To be enthusiastic
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

9. Typo
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Said when you are changing the topic
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Typing mistake

10. Win-win
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones

11. Less is more
Simplicity can make an impact
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

12. To get off on a tangent
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
I feel healthy.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
I feel great!

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

14. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
To be enthusiastic
As soon as possible
I feel a bit sick.
To put a project in motion (to get started)

15. To be smooth
to be without complication or hassle
I feel great!
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction

16. Turn over a new leaf
to be without complication or hassle
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution

17. TESOL
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
I feel great!

18. To B.S.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
As soon as possible
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

19. I feel like a 'million bucks!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
Typing mistake
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel great!

20. He is a handful!
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

21. I'm healthy as a horse!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
I feel healthy.
I am aleart and eager!
I feel strong and healthy.

22. Social butterfly
I am aleart and eager!
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
To make a situation seem less severe

23. To be a wall-flower

24. To get the ball rolling
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
to be without complication or hassle
To put a project in motion (to get started)
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

25. Let's get this show on the road!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

26. ASAP
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
As soon as possible
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

27. Cheat sheet
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
I feel strong and healthy.
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit

28. To be an eager beaver
To be enthusiastic
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I am aleart and eager!

29. To be the big cheese
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
It's a competitive world
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be the big boss

30. Be careful what you wish for!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
I feel a bit sick.

31. That's a 'loaded' question!

32. We're going to change gears
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
Said when you are changing the topic
It's a competitive world
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

33. I was born ready
Simplicity can make an impact
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
It's a competitive world
I am aleart and eager!

34. To soften the blow
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To make a situation seem less severe
As soon as possible
It's a competitive world

35. Easier said than done
As soon as possible
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To be enthusiastic
Simplicity can make an impact

36. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To make a situation seem less severe
To be enthusiastic
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

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

38. To keep someone in the loop.
Typing mistake
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
As soon as possible

39. Social climber
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Typing mistake

40. To be one's cup of tea

41. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.