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I hope that you find this guide helpful!
I hope that you find this guide helpful!
 
{|
  |Phrase
  |Meaning
|-
  |an old hand
  |a person who has long experience, especially in one place.
Example: "He can help us set up a company in Beijing. He's been working
in China for many years and speaks Chinese fluently. He's an old China
hand."
|-
  |ASAP
  |"ASAP" is an acronym for "as soon as possible."
|-
  |at the 11th hour
  |very late, at the very last minute
|-
  |back to square one
  |To go "back to square one" means to start something over
again.
|-
  |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."
|-
  |bring to the table
  |whatever you can possibly offer. Example: "I will meet
with Teacher Joe's new company to show him what we can bring to the
table."
|-
  |carve
out a niche 
  |find a special market that you can control. Example: "To
succeed in this competitive world, you have to focus on part of it. Try to
carve out a niche and be number one in that are."
|-
  |deep pockets
  |have a lot of money. Example: "If there is a price war,
we won't win because we don't have deep enough pockets."
|-
  |down time
  |when equipment of facilities are not available, so you cannot
work. Example: "There will probably be a lot of down time at the
conference, so I'm bringing a lot of paperwork."
|-
  |easy come, easy go
  |"Easy come, easy go," is an expression used to communicate
that something gained easily is also lost easily.
|-
  |fifty-fifty
  |"Fifty-fifty" means something is divided equally -- 50% for
one party, 50% for the other party.
|-
  |free ride
  |get benefit at no cost. Example: "Of course we should
make them pay for our travel expenses. WHy should we give them a free
ride?"
|-
  |from day one
  |from the beginning. Example: "Teacher Joe has been
providing the best English-learning web site from day one!"
|-
  |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 your foot in the door
  |have a small opportunity that can become a big opportunity in
the future, if you do good work. Example: "Right now, I just want to get
my foot in the door, so they can see what I can do. Next year I hope to start
moving up in the company."
|-
  |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.
|-
  |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.
|-
  |on a shoestring
  |with limited money. Example: "They started their company
on a shoestring and built it up to one of the largest companies in the
world!"
|-
  |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."
|-
  |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.
|-
  |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.
|-
  |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."
|-
  |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.
|-
  |
  |We
often use this expression after something has been lost.
|}
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