How can I learn idioms: work and business in English?

The most effective way is spaced repetition: practice this deck of 35 flashcards using the Flashcards, Learn, Write, and Match modes. The system shows you each word right before you're about to forget it, so you retain it long-term instead of just memorizing it for a test.

How many words are in the idioms: work and business deck?

This deck has 35 cards at level B2, each with pronunciation audio and an example sentence.

Do I need an account to practice idioms: work and business in English?

No. You can practice for free without creating an account. If you sign in, your progress is saved automatically and you can keep studying from any device.

Resources

Lecciones de gramática Por temas Flash cards Lecturas Glosario Falsos amigos ¿Cuál usar?Sufijos Prefijos

Discover your level Blog

All decks

ESEN

Idioms: work and business

Learn the idioms English speakers use at work, in meetings, and when talking about business and careers.

B235 cards

How do you want to practice?

Flashcards

Flip each card and rate how well you remembered it. That is how we learn when to show it to you again.

Learn

A quiz that adapts to your pace: multiple choice that progresses to typing the answer.

Write

Listen to the word and type it. Great for practicing spelling and pronunciation.

Match

Match the words against the clock. A fun, low-pressure way to review.

Terms in this deck

learn the ropes
to learn how to do a new job
climb the corporate ladder
to advance to higher positions in your career
put in the hours
to work hard for a long time
call the shots
to be the person who makes the decisions
in the driver's seat
to be in control of a situation
cut your losses
to stop doing something before it gets worse
back to the drawing board
to start planning again after a failed attempt
play it by ear
to decide what to do as things happen, without a plan
the bottom line
the most important fact or result
think on your feet
to think and react quickly
get down to business
to start focusing on important work
a dog-eat-dog world
a very competitive and ruthless environment
wear many hats
to have many different responsibilities
in over your head
to be dealing with something too difficult for you
par for the course
typical, what you would expect
sink or swim
a situation where you must succeed on your own or fail
on the same wavelength
to think in a similar way as someone else
move the needle
to make a meaningful difference or impact
low-hanging fruit
the easiest tasks or opportunities to achieve first
game changer
something that completely changes a situation
get the axe
to be fired from a job
red tape
excessive bureaucratic rules and procedures
cover all the bases
to make sure everything is prepared
take the lead
to take charge of a situation
a foot in the door
a first step toward achieving something
burn bridges
to end a relationship in a way that makes future cooperation impossible
keep your eye on the ball
to stay focused on the important thing
off the record
said unofficially, not to be repeated or quoted
on the fast track
advancing quickly toward success in your career
read the room
to correctly understand the mood or feelings of a group
at the end of the day
used to say what really matters most
run a tight ship
to manage something in a strict, well-organized way
jump ship
to leave a job, project, or company, especially when it's struggling
up and running
working properly and in operation
corner the market
to gain control of most of a market for a product

How to study this deck

These idioms are heard in offices, meetings and interviews: "call the shots", "learn the ropes", "the bottom line". Learn their real meaning and use them in sentences about your own work. They are very useful for sounding natural in business English, but avoid overusing them in very formal writing.

The trickiest words

learn the ropes: it means to learn the basics of a new job: "It takes a month to learn the ropes".
call the shots: it means to make the important decisions: "Who calls the shots here?".
back to the drawing board: it means a plan failed and you must start over.

Examples in context

It took her a month to learn the ropes.
She's in the driver's seat on this project.
The bottom line is we need more sales.
He's in over his head with this project.
This campaign really moved the needle.
We're stuck dealing with red tape.
Keep your eye on the ball during the negotiation.
At the end of the day, it's about results.

Mini dialogue

A: How is your new job?
B: I am still learning the ropes.
A: Who calls the shots in your team?
B: Our manager. The plan failed, so it is back to the drawing board.