Idioms that are useful in a professional environment.

IDIOMS Business English (letters A + B)

To have a full plate is to be very busy. The more that you have on your plate, the busier you are.

A lot on your plate

"I’ve got a lot on my plate right now."

If you are ahead of the curve, then you are ahead of those around you in terms of current trends and/or business approaches. This is a positive expression.

Ahead of the curve

"They’re really ahead of the curve in main street shopping."

To be on a learning curve means that you are quickly gaining knowledge in a particular subject. Adjectives such as “steep,” “intense,” and “rapid”may be added to give more meaning.

A learning curve

"This semester has been quite the learning curve for you, hasn’t it?"
"I’m on a learning curve – I'll get better"

If something is a long shot , then it is unlikely, but still possible.

A long shot

"It’s a long shot , but I could call my cousin to help you."

If someone is ahead of the pack , they are better than the others around them who are trying to accomplish/learn the same things. “Pack” refers to a pack of wolves who travel together in groups.

Ahead of the pack

"Kenny is incredible; he really is ahead of the pack."

Angel investing refers to private investment in entrepreneurial companies, that is, companies which invest in purchasing risky stocks in the hope of the company succeeding and reaping a profit.

Angel investor

"Liam, is an angel investor, he chooses risky start-ups to invest his money in."

To keep something or someone at arm’s length can also
mean to keep them at a distance, and to not involve yourself directly with that person or thing.

At (an) arm’s length

"I’ve never trusted him. I keep him at an arm’s length."

When something is at stake , it is at risk or under question, and it may be lost as a result of current actions or circumstances.

At stake

"I know, there’s a lot at stake, but please don’t put any more pressure on me!"

A backroom deal is a decision or action that is made in secret, without the knowledge of others, or the public in general.

Backroom deal

"A backroom deal between the two companies took place in March last year."

To go back to square one means to return to the beginning of something, usually after being unsuccessful in the first instance.

Back to square one

"I’ve lost everything; I’m back to square one."

If your task or activity is unsuccessful and you need to start over, you go back to the drawing board.

Back to the drawing board

"I got the completely wrong idea; I’ve had to go back to the
drawing board with the entire thing."

Someone who is untrustworthy, unreliable, or crooked is a bad egg. Eggs do not visibly change when they become inedible, they look fine but inside they are rotten.

Bad egg

"I would stay away from her, she’s a bad egg."

A ballpark figure is a rough estimate of a number or amount, usually based on little other knowledge.

Ballpark figure

"Come on, Max! You can give me a ballpark figure!"

If you get bang for your buck , then you get value for your money. “Buck” is a slang term for dollar, while “bang” means exciting. The phrase suggests getting a lot for a small amount.

Bang for one’s/bang for the buck

"I want to get bang for my buck."

To beat someone to something is to reach a mutual goal before others who want the same thing.

Beat someone to

"Jared has already beaten you to it, he got here first!"

If something is going on behind the scenes, then it is going on secretly. The scenes refer to the backdrops on stage; behind them, people would work in the dark to present the various illusions shown on stage.

Behind the scenes

"Well, there have been some interesting boardroom manoeuvres taking place behind the scenes."

Belt tightening refers to reducing the budget in any area of expenditure and is usually used when a business or government is suffering financial hardship.

Belt tightening

"Local businesses are suffering as a result of government and consumer belt tightening."

When someone or something bends over backwards , they are doing more than was expected, and making every effort to achieve something.

Bend over backwards

"They’ve bent over backwards to train you in time."

When someone is caught between a rock and a hard place , they are faced with two options that are equally unwanted.

Between a rock and a hard place

"I don't know what to do, I feel as though I'm between a rock and a hard place."

If you bite the bullet , you are deciding to do something that is difficult and which you have been delaying because it is unpleasant or too consuming.

Bite the bullet

"I’m going to bite the bullet and get started on the
storeroom upstairs."

A bitter pill to swallow is an unavoidable truth that someone does not want to face but must do so regardless. Bitterness is unpleasant.

Bitter pill to swallow

"Losing the deal to an unknown company is a bitter
pill to swallow."

To do something with a blank check means that you do it without planning or thinking about how something might be paid for.

Blank check

"It’s like they’ve just been given a blank check; they can do what they want!"

If someone blows it all then they fail catastrophically, with little chance of being able to recover from their losses. You can blow it all in business, in competitive sports, in education, and in many other situations.

Blow it all

"I’ve blown it all, Mike. I’ve got nothing left. They’re even taking the house."

Blue-collar work refers to manual work, and blue-collar workers are manual labourers. People in blue-collar jobs are expected to get their hands dirty, and these positions can be skilled or unskilled.

Blue-collar

"The funding cuts are expected to hit blue-collar workers the most."

An approach taken toward brainstorming and idea generation: there are no limits or constraints placed. Thoughts presented don't have to be realistic but should reflect as much creativity and originality as possible.

Blue-sky thinking

"I don’t want people to think we are just blue-sky thinking in here, we’re still addressing the problem."

When business is booming , it is very successful, bringing in lots of profits and revenue. The phrase usually refers to a period of increased prosperity or times of higher financial and economic growth.

Booming

"Business has been booming for months thanks to your new ideas."

A bottleneck usually refers to a single process within a
procedure which slows or creates difficulty for the entire outcome. Bottlenecks cause problems.

Bottleneck

"The transfer of the goods from the container into the vehicles is proving to be quite the bottleneck, sir."

Someone or something bounces back when they recover quickly from a setback or failure. This is a positive quality.

Bounce back

"They've really bounced back from their losses earlier in the year."

The breadwinner is a term used to refer to the person, usually within a household, who earns the most (or the sole) income.

Breadwinner

"He was always the breadwinner in that house."

Bringing home the bacon can refer to someone earning the materials they need to survive, usually a wage high enough to support their lifestyle.

Bring home the bacon

"I can’t quit my job at the store, it brings home the bacon."

To bring an idea to the table is to introduce or contribute it.
You might be asked in a job interview what you can bring to the table at the company.

Bring to the table

"Andy can bring a lot to the table , I know it."
"What do you bring to the table?"

To burn the midnight oil is to continue reading, working or doing something until late into the night.

Burning the midnight oil

"Have you been burning the midnight oil?"

Burnout occurs when someone spends too much energy and time on a project and suffers mentally and/or physically as a result. Overwork and stress are the causes of burnout.

Burnout

"I don’t want to see people suffering from burnout; I
need them to be alert and on task."

To do something by the book means to follow the rules and not deviate from any protocols.

By the book

"I don’t know what went wrong; we did everything by the book."