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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. To get off on a tangent
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 be enthusiastic
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party

2. Less is more
Simplicity can make an impact
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To make a situation seem less severe

3. He is a handful!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
To be the big boss
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
I feel a bit sick.

4. To be a wall-flower

5. Keep it short and simple (KISS)
Typing mistake
To be the big boss
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

6. Let's get this show on the road!
As soon as possible
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

7. I feel like a 'million bucks!
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel great!
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
to be without complication or hassle

8. Same old; same old
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
It's a competitive world
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

9. To think outside the box
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization

10. I'm fit as a fiddle!
Said when you are changing the topic
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
I feel healthy.
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

11. To soften the blow
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever
To make a situation seem less severe

12. To B.S.
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)

13. Are we all on the same page?
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
To be someone's preference

14. Be careful what you wish for!
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I feel strong and healthy.
I feel healthy.
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

15. Get on the right track
Typing mistake
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way
Said in answer to How are you? to indicate that life is as routine as ever

16. We're going to change gears
Said when you are changing the topic
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
To be enthusiastic
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve

17. Typo
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
I feel great!
Typing mistake
We are in the same undesirable situtation.

18. I'm healthy as a horse!
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing
I feel strong and healthy.
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!

19. Turn over a new leaf
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
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
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

20. Social climber
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
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
A person who says and does things only to improve their standing

21. We are in the same boat.
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
We are in the same undesirable situtation.
To be someone's preference

22. Today I feel a little 'under the weather.'
When you get what you want - you may not want it anymore!
I feel a bit sick.
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

23. To be one's cup of tea

24. To be smooth
It's a competitive world
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
to be without complication or hassle

25. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
To get a meeting - presentation - or discussion started after a delay
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I feel strong and healthy.
Try to imagine the other person's perspective

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

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

28. Social butterfly
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
It's a competitive world
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party

29. Easier said than done
I feel strong and healthy.
Does everyone understand what we are talking about?
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
Said when you want to start over and make a big change

30. I was born ready
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting
I am aleart and eager!
To require high-maintenance: His son sure is a ____________.
To be the big boss

31. Win-win
A person who likes to talk to many people - e.g. at a cocktail party
I am aleart and eager!
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
You don't want to start talking about that controversial topic or you will be sorry.

32. That's a 'loaded' question!

33. To be the big cheese
That's a question about a topic that's deeper than you think!
A person who sits in the corner and doesn't speak unless spoken to - e.g. at a cocktail party
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing
To be the big boss

34. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers.

35. To be jet-lagged
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project
To be confused and tired due to crossing time zones
To make a situation seem less severe
I feel strong and healthy.

36. ASAP
Simplicity can make an impact
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
As soon as possible
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

37. To be an eager beaver
To be enthusiastic
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To be someone's preference
The way Americans are taught to approach business communication - esp. writing

38. To get the ball rolling
Describes a situation in which both people - e.g. both buyer and seller - benefit
To put a project in motion (to get started)
Try to imagine the other person's perspective
To creatively think of a solution in an open-minded way

39. To keep someone in the loop.
To kiss up to someone (flatter for personal gains)
to be without complication or hassle
Said when a solution is obvious but hard to achieve
To keep someone informed of your progress or news on a project

40. TESOL
To make a situation seem less severe
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages - an international organization
To put a project in motion (to get started)
You need to be sure to impress someone during your first meeting

41. Cheat sheet
To get off the topic and go in a completely different direction
to be without complication or hassle
A little paper with notes to help you remember the answers
To go in the right direction - esp. with a new idea or solution