These idioms are especially useful in business but are also used in day to day English as well.

Common Idioms

A: Did they accept the proposal?
B: No! They said they were interested but that we need to rethink our business plan.
A: Well, I guess it's back to the drawing board then.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD - This phrase is a humorous way of saying that something didn’t work or isn’t working as planned, so a different option or plan is needed.

A: Can you think of a company that has cornered the fast-food market?
B: McDonald's! They're in every big city in the world.

CORNER THE MARKET - If a company corners the market in a particular type of product, it is more successful than any other company at selling that product.

A: Do you think that small company will just let that big company take them over?
B: I don't think so. Not without a fight.
A: But they don't have a chance.
B: Doesn't matter, they'll go down swinging.

GO DOWN SWINGING - If you want to go down swinging, you know you will probably fail, but you refuse to give up.

The opposite is to GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.

A: My boss insists on doing everything by the book.
B: How annoying! What happens if you cut corners?
A: He'd be very angry and give me a warning!

DO THINGS BY THE BOOK - follow the official rules very strictly.

The opposite is TO CUT CORNERS - which you might do if you want to save time or money.

A: Did she have any help starting her own business?
B: No, she did it all by herself, from the ground up.
A: Wow, that's very impressive!
B: Yeah, especially since she started with nothing.

FROM THE GROUND UP - to build something like a company starting from a position of nothing or from the very beginning.

A: Do you think you can join us for the summer holidays this year? We're going to Spain for a week.
B: That's a long shot. I'd love to, but I've already used my holidays for this year. I guess I could beg my boss.

A LONG SHOT - This idiom describes a situation where the chances of success are small. Perhaps less than 20%.

A: That's the second mistake you've made this week!
B: I'm sorry about that.
A: Come on, I need you to be on the ball. Mistakes cost money!

ON THE BALL - means to be alert, focused and able to react to something quickly.

A: What do you think about GM food?
B: I'm kind of on the fence about it. Some scientists say it's perfectly safe to eat, but others say it gives large corporations too much control.

ON THE FENCE - If you're on the fence, you're undecided about something. You haven't decided yet if you agree/disagree with or like/don't like something.

A: We only accept credit card at the moment.
B: But I only have cash!
A: Sorry, my hands are tied. Because of Covid we don't accept cash at the moment.

MY HANDS ARE TIED - Because of rules, regulations or people in authority, you are unable to help. Sometimes used by someone as an excuse not to help.

A: We only accept credit card at the moment.
B: But I only have cash!
A: Sorry, my hands are tied. Because of Covid we don't accept cash.