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I hope that you find this guide helpful!
I hope that you find this guide helpful!
{|
{| class="wikitable"
   |Phrase
   !|Phrase
   |Meaning  
   !|Meaning  
  |-
  |-
   |an old hand
   |an old hand
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often use this expression after something has been lost.
often use this expression after something has been lost.
  |}
  |}
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{| class="wikitable"
!Phrase
!Meaning
|-
|'''ASAP'''
|"ASAP" is an acronym for "as soon as possible."
|-
|'''at stake'''
|"At stake" means at risk.
|-
|'''back to square one'''
|To go "back to square one" means to start something over again.
|-
|'''back to the drawing board'''
|To go "back to the drawing board" means to start something over and go back to the planning stage.
|-
|'''backroom deal'''
|A "backroom deal" is an agreement or decision that is made without the public knowing about it.
|-
|'''ballpark number/figure'''
|A "ballpark number" is a very inexact estimate.
|-
|'''behind someone's back'''
|To do something "behind someone's back" means to do something without someone's knowledge and in an unfair way.
|-
|'''behind the scenes'''
|What happens in secret or not in front of the general public is said to happen "behind the scenes."
|-
|'''big picture'''
|Everything that is involved with a particular situation is called "the big picture."
|-
|'''blue collar'''
|A "blue collar worker" is someone who works with his hands (manufacturing, construction, maintenance, etc.).
The opposite is a "white collar worker." A white collar worker is someone who works in an office (customer service, management, sales, etc.).
"Blue collar" (and "white collar") can also be used to describe a job, position, or a place.
|-
|'''by the book'''
|To do things "by the book" means to do things according to company policy or the law. It means to follow the rules 100%.
|-
|'''call it a day'''
|To "call it a day" means to decide to stop working for the day.
|-
|'''catch someone off guard'''
|To "catch someone off guard" means to surprise someone by doing something that he or she was not expecting.
|-
|'''cave (or cave in)'''
|To "cave" or "cave in" means to give in or agree to something that someone previously did not want to accept.
|-
|'''change of pace'''
|"A change of pace" is something different from a normal routine or schedule.
|-
|'''come up short'''
|To "come up short" means to try to achieve something but fail. We often say that someone has "come up short" when someone
fails to achieve a goal, but not completely.
|-
|'''corner a market'''
|To "corner a market" means to dominate a particular market.
|-
|'''cut corners'''
|To "cut corners" means to take shortcuts and find an easier or cheaper way to do something.
|-
|'''cut one's losses'''
|To "cut one's losses" means to stop doing something that is unproductive and won't ever generate results.
|-
|'''cut-throat'''
|"Cut-throat" is used to describe something that is very intense, aggressive, and merciless.
|-
|'''diamond in the rough'''
|A "diamond in the rough" is something or someone that has a lot of potential but first requires a lot of work.
|-
|'''easy come, easy go'''
|"Easy come, easy go," is an expression used to communicate that something gained easily is also lost easily.
We often use this expression after something has been lost.
|-
|'''fifty-fifty'''
|"Fifty-fifty" means something is divided equally -- 50% for one party, 50% for the other party.
|-
|'''from the ground up'''
|If you start a business, project, or something else from zero, you start it "from the ground up."
|-
|'''game plan'''
|A "game plan" is a strategy or plan.
|-
|'''get back in/into the swing of things'''
|To "get back in/into the swing of things" means to get used to doing something again after having a break from that activity.
|-
|'''get down to business'''
|To "get down to business" means to stop making small talk and start talking about serious topics related to business.
|-
|'''get something off the ground'''
|To "get something off the ground" means to start a project or business.
|-
|'''get the ball rolling'''
|To "get the ball rolling" means to start something (a project, for example).
|-
|'''get/be on the good side of someone'''
|If someone likes you, you are "on the good side" of that person.
|-
|'''get/have one's foot in the door'''
|To "get or have one's foot in the door" means to take a low-level position with a company with the goal of eventually getting a better position with the same company.
|-
|'''give someone a pat on the back'''
|To "give someone a pat on the back" means to tell someone that they did a good job.
|-
|'''give the thumbs down'''
|To "give something or someone the thumbs down" means to deny approval.
|-
|'''give the thumbs up'''
|To "give something or someone the thumbs up" means to give approval.
|-
|'''go broke'''
|To "go broke" means to go bankrupt or to lose all the money a person or business had.
|-
|'''go down the drain'''
|When someone wastes or loses something, it is said to "go down the drain."
|-
|'''go the extra mile'''
|To "go the extra mile" means to do more than what people expect.
|-
|'''go through the roof'''
|If something is "going through the roof," it means it is rapidly increasing.
|-
|'''gray area'''
|If something is in a "gray area," it means that it is something undefined and not easily categorized.
|-
|'''ground-breaking'''
|If something is "ground-breaking," it means it is new and innovative.
|-
|'''hands are tied'''
|Someone's "hands are tied" if they do not have control over a situation.
|-
|'''have someone's work cut out'''
|If you have a lot of work to do or a particularly difficult assignment, you "have your work cut out for you."
|-
|'''hit the nail on the head'''
|To "hit the nail on the head" means to do or say something 100% correctly.
|-
|'''in a nutshell'''
|"In a nutshell" means in a few words.
|-
|'''in full swing'''
|If a project is "in full swing," it means that it has been completely started and that it is progressing or moving as fast as it ever will.
|-
|'''in the black'''
|If a company is "in the black," it means that it is making a profit.
|-
|'''in the driver's seat'''
|To be "in the driver's seat" means to be in control.
|-
|'''in the red'''
|If a company is "in the red," it means that is not profitable and is operating at a loss.
|-
|'''keep one's eye on the ball'''
|To "keep one's eye on the ball" means to give something one's full attention and to not lose focus.
|-
|'''last straw'''
|The "last straw" means the last annoyance, disturbance, or betrayal which causes someone to give up, lose their patience, or become angry.
|-
|'''learn the ropes'''
|To "learn the ropes" means to learn the basics of something.
|-
|'''long shot'''
|A "long shot" is something that has a very low probability of happening.
|-
|'''loophole'''
|A legal "loophole" occurs if a law is unclear or omits information. This lack of legal clarity allows people or corporations to pay less in taxes or gain some other advantage.
|-
|'''lose ground (opposite: gain ground)'''
|To "lose ground" means to lose some type of an advantage (market share, for example) to a competitor.
|-
|'''lose-lose situation (or no-win situation)'''
|A "lose-lose situation" is when there will be a negative outcome regardless of what decision is made.
|-
|'''nine-to-five'''
|A "nine-to-five" is a job during normal working hours. The term came into existence because many work days start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.
|-
|'''no brainer'''
|If a decision is really obvious or really easy to make, the decision is a "no brainer."
|-
|'''no strings attached'''
|If something is given without expecting anything in return, it is given with "no strings attached."
|-
|'''no time to lose'''
|If there is "no time to lose," it means that there is a lot of pressure to finish something quickly.
|-
|'''not going to fly'''
|If a solution isn't effective, we can say that it "isn't going to fly."
|-
|'''off the top of one's head'''
|If someone says something "off the top of their head," it means that they give a response without thinking about it much or doing any research on the subject.
|-
|'''on a roll'''
|If someone is "on a roll," it means that he or she has had several successes in a row.
|-
|'''on the ball'''
|To be "on the ball" means to be alert and aware of things.
|-
|'''on the same page page'''
|If two people are "on the same page," they are in agreement about something.
|-
|'''on top of something'''
|To be "on top of something" means to be in control of a situation and aware of changes.
|-
|'''on your toes'''
|To be "on your toes" means to be alert.
|-
|'''out in the open'''
|If something is "out in the open," it is public knowledge and not hidden from people.
|-
|'''out of the loop (opposite: in the loop)'''
|To be "out of the loop" means to not know something that a select group of people knows. The opposite, to be "in the loop," means to be part of a select group with knowledge that others do not have.
|-
|'''pink slip'''
|Someone who gets the "pink slip," has been fired by their employer.
|-
|'''play hardball'''
|To "play hardball" means to be competitive in a cruel and merciless way. Playing hardball means doing anything possible to win.
|-
|'''put all one's eggs in one basket'''
|To "put all one's eggs in one basket," means to rely on only one thing to bring success.
|-
|'''put the cart before the horse'''
|To "put the cart before the horse" means to do or think about things in the wrong order.
|-
|'''raise the bar'''
|To "raise the bar" means to set the standards or expectations higher, usually by achieving or creating something better than what had previously existed.
|-
|'''read between the lines'''
|To "read between the lines" means to understand something that isn't communicated directly. Reading between the lines involves understanding what someone is implying or suggesting but not saying directly.
|-
|'''red tape'''
|"Red tape" refers to excessive rules, procedures, and regulations that make it difficult to accomplish something. We usually use "red tape" to talk about government requirements that create difficult, time-consuming barriers for people and businesses.
|-
|'''rock the boat'''
|To "rock the boat" means to cause problems or disrupt a peaceful situation.
|-
|'''round-the-clock'''
|"Round the clock" means 24 hours a day.
|-
|'''run/go around in circles'''
|To "run (or go) around in circles" means to do the same thing over and over again without getting any results.
|-
|'''safe bet'''
|A "safe bet" means something that will probably happen.
|-
|'''same boat'''
|If people are in the same situation, they are in the "same boat."
|-
|'''second nature'''
|When someone does something so well that it seems like they were born knowing how to do it, we say that the activity is "second nature" to that person.
|-
|'''see eye to eye'''
|To "see eye to eye" with someone means to agree with that person.
|-
|'''see something through'''
|To "see something through" means to do something until it is finished.
|-
|'''sever ties'''
|To "sever ties" means to end a relationship.
|-
|'''shoot something down'''
|To "shoot something down" means to reject something, such as a proposal or idea.
|-
|'''sky's the limit'''
|"The sky's the limit" if there is no limit to what can be achieved.
|-
|'''small talk'''
|"Small talk" is conversation about unimportant topics that do not offend people (the weather, for example).
|-
|'''smooth/clear sailing'''
|"Smooth sailing" is a term used to describe a situation where success is achieved without difficulties.
|-
|'''snail mail'''
|"Snail mail" is the term used for the traditional mail that goes through the post office.
|-
|'''stand one's ground'''
|To "stand one's ground" means to not change one's opinion or position.
|-
|'''start off on the right foot'''
|To "start off on the right foot" means to start something in a positive way.
|-
|'''start off on the wrong foot'''
|To "start off on the wrong foot" means to start something in a negative way.
|-
|'''state of the art'''
|Something that is "state of the art" is modern and technologically advanced.
|-
|'''take something lying down'''
|To "take something lying down" means to accept something unpleasant without fighting back.
|-
|'''take the bull by the horns'''
|To "take the bull by the horns" means to directly confront a difficult situation.
|-
|'''talk someone into something'''
|To "talk someone into something" means to convince someone to do something.
|-
|'''talk someone out of something'''
|To "talk someone out of something" means to convince someone not to do something.
|-
|'''the elephant in the room'''
|"The elephant in the room" refers to an obvious problem or controversial issue that no one wants to talk about.
|-
|'''think big'''
|To "think big" means to have ambitious goals and big plans for the future.
|-
|'''think outside the box'''
|To "think outside the box" means to think of creative, unconventional solutions instead of common ones.
|-
|'''throw in the towel'''
|To "throw in the towel" means to quit.
|-
|'''time's up'''
|"Time's up" means that the time for something or someone has ended.
|-
|'''touch base'''
|To "touch base" means to make contact with someone.
|-
|'''twist someone's arm'''
|To "twist someone's arm" means to persuade or convince someone to do something that he or she does not want to do.
|-
|'''under the table'''
|Something done secretly (and usually illegally) in the business world is done "under the table."
|-
|'''up in the air'''
|If something is undecided, it is "up in the air."
|-
|'''uphill battle'''
|Something that is difficult to achieve because of obstacles and difficulties is an "uphill battle."
|-
|'''upper hand'''
|If someone has an advantage over someone else, he or she has the "upper hand."
|-
|'''white collar'''
|A "white collar worker" is someone who works in an office (customer service, management, sales, etc.). The opposite of a white collar worker is a "blue collar worker." A blue collar worker is someone who works with his hands (manufacturing, construction, maintenance, etc.). "White collar" (and "blue collar") can also be used to describe a job, position, or place.
|-
|'''win-win situation'''
|A "win-win situation" is a situation where everyone involved gains something.
|-
|'''word of mouth'''
|If something spreads by "word of mouth," people hear about it through informal conversation with friends, family members, acquaintances, etc.
|-
|'''writing on the wall'''
|The "writing on the wall" refers to the evidence and clues that something (usually negative) is going to happen.
|-
|'''yes man'''
|A "yes man" is someone who always agrees with his or her superiors.
|-
|'''24/7'''
|"24/7" means 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
|}
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