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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. That's a 'loaded' question!

2. To be one's cup of tea

3. To be an eager beaver
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To be enthusiastic
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
As soon as possible

4. We are in the same boat.
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
I feel a bit sick.
I am aleart and eager!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

5. I was born ready
To be enthusiastic
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
I am aleart and eager!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

6. I feel like a 'million bucks!
Simplicity can make an impact
To be the big boss
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel great!

7. To think outside the box
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Typing mistake
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
I feel a bit sick.

8. Less is more
It's a competitive world
Simplicity can make an impact
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

9. TESOL
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

10. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
It's a competitive world
I feel a bit sick.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

11. Get on the right track
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
Typing mistake

12. Social climber
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
As soon as possible
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

13. We're going to change gears
Said when you are changing the topic
I feel strong and healthy.
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
to be without complication or hassle

14. I'm healthy as a horse!
I feel strong and healthy.
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
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

15. To get the ball rolling
It's a competitive world
To put a project in motion (to get started)
to be without complication or hassle
Simplicity can make an impact

16. To be a wall-flower

17. Are we all on the same page?
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
to be without complication or hassle
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay

18. Win-win
I am aleart and eager!
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
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

19. To get off on a tangent
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
I feel a bit sick.

20. To be the big cheese
To be the big boss
As soon as possible
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

21. To keep someone in the loop.
To be the big boss
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

22. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
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
To be someone's preference

23. To soften the blow
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel great!
To be enthusiastic

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

25. Let's get this show on the road!
To be the big boss
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
It's a competitive world
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

26. Be careful what you wish for!
Typing mistake
Said when you are changing the topic
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!

27. Easier said than done
to be without complication or hassle
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
I feel great!
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

28. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

29. I'm fit as a fiddle!
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To be someone's preference
I feel healthy.
Simplicity can make an impact

30. He is a handful!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To make a situation seem less severe
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.

31. To be smooth
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
to be without complication or hassle
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

32. Typo
To put a project in motion (to get started)
I feel great!
Typing mistake
To be someone's preference

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

34. Turn over a new leaf
I feel great!
Said when you want to start over and make a big change
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel strong and healthy.

35. To B.S.
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
Said when you are changing the topic
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

36. Social butterfly
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I feel great!
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

37. To be jet-lagged
Typing mistake
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

38. Cheat sheet
to be without complication or hassle
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel healthy.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers

39. Same old; same old
To be the big boss
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

40. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
To be someone's preference
I feel a bit sick.
I am aleart and eager!
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

41. ASAP
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
As soon as possible
To put a project in motion (to get started)
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction