Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BRING UP mention; raise (a child) PHASE OUT remove gradually GIVE IN stop trying FALL THROUGH fail to happen DROP OUT quit an organized activity CALL OFF cancel something; order to stop (an invasion, guard dogs) BACK UP give support; move backwards, reverse CASH UP count all the money taken in a shop or business at the end of the day CONTRACT OUT give a contract for a service outside the company you work for; formally leave and agreement DRAW UP create HIRE OUT allow someone to use something or someone temporarily in exchange for money WIND UP finish; tighten the spring of a watch or similar machine; cause an animal or a child to behave wildly STAY BEHIND remain in a place after everyone else has left MEASURE UP find out the size of something; be good enough, meet the required standard WRITE OFF destroy a car in an accident TEAM UP join another person, or form a group with other people, in order to do something together TALK OVER discuss BOOK UP reserve BRING FORWARD make something happen earlier than originally planned DRUM UP increase support or interest PENCIL IN make a provisional appointment GO UP rise or climb; approach; be built; be heard; be promoted; attend a university; reach EVEN OUT become regular or equal, or to make something do this FIGURE OUT solve something, understand MOVE AWAY leave the area where you have been living; stop doing or using something to change to something different CHECK IN enter a hospital, hotel etc. RUN INTO meet unexpectedly KNUCKEL DOWN make a great effort RULE OUT eliminate BURN OUT lose enthusiasm and energy to continue in a demanding job HOLD OFF restrain; delay TAKE OFF leave; leave work or school for a period of time; remove; when a plane or rocket leaves the ground TURN ON find unexpectedly; increase the volume or intensity of a TV, radio, or other machine SET UP arrange a relationship; falsely incriminate a person PUT OFF postpone
LOOK FORWARD TO anticipate with pleasure CARRY OUT complete and/or accomplish something DEAL WITH to talk to someone or meet someone, especially as part of your job LOOK INTO investigate TAKE ON accept SORT OUT resolve a problem
BUSINESS IDIOMS
CUT AND DRIED a situation, a problem or a solution as cut and dried means that it is considered clear and straightforward, with no likely complications COPPER BOTTOMED a plan, a contract or a financial arrangement this is completely safe or reliable CLINCH A DEAL reach agreement on a proposal or offer CARVE OUT A NICHE a person or company who carves out a niche focuses on a particular segment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and develop their expertise in that area DO THE SPADEWORK do the preparatory work or the preliminary research for something DOWN THE DRAIN money, time or effort which has been wasted or lost HAVE ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET situation in which you depend on one plan or one source of income TO CARRY THA CAN to take resposibility TO MOVE WITH THE TIMES to change ones way of thinking to more modern standards A CLOSED BOOK something one knows nothing about TO SING ON THE DOTTED LINE to conclude an agreement TO BE CUT TROAT tough and ruthless TO SEE THINGS IN BLACK AND WHITE in writing, clearly defined TO BE IN THE HOT SEAT in a difficult situation facing a lot of questions SKELETON STAFF the minimum number of people required to run a company
COLOUR IDIOMS
BLUE chip company Shares out of the collar workers print BLACK leg knight list black economy GREY area economy BROWN goods GOLDEN hello Handshake Parachute WHITE collar workers knight goods pages paper GREEN image to go mail light field investment YELLOW pages RED tape to be in the to be bleeding ink carpet treatment
ANIMAL IDIOMS
HERRING red DUCK lame BEAR market BULL market ELEPHANT white RAT race DOG eat dog CATS fat SHARK loan TIGER economy COW cash BEAVER eager
HAND/FACE IDIOMS
HAND IDIOMS TO HAVE A FREE HAND have permission to make your own decisions, especially in job TO HAVE A FINGER IN EVERY PIE be involved in many activities TO ONES HANDS TIED when something, such as an agreement or a rule, is preventing a person from doing what they would like to do TO GET/GAIN THE UPPER HAND take control over something ON HAND in ones possession, ready TO GET ONES HANDS DIRTY become involved in all aspects of ones work, including work that is physical, unpleasant or less interesting ALL HANDS ON DECK a situation when everyone must help, especially when theres a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time OVERPLAY ONES HAND be overconfident and spoil ones chances of success by trying to obtain too much FACE IDIOMS TO TAKE SOMETHING/SOMEONE AT FACE VALUE to accept something exactly the way it appears to be TO LOSE FACE to become less respectable FACE TO FACE in person TO FACE UP TO SOMETHING/SOMEONE to confront with courage someone or something representing a threat or unpleasantness TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE not show ones feelings, especially refrain from laughing BE WRITTRN ALL OVER ONES FACE to be clearly shown
BUSINESS EXPRESIONS
DOWNSIZE to reduce the number of staff in a firm A MERGER when two companies join to become one A TROUBLESHOOTER a consultant who diagnoses problems in a company NATURAL WASTAGE to reduce the workforce by not replacing those who leave the company TO CUT BACK to reduce the amount of money spent TO BAIL OUT to financialy support a company with problem OUTSOURCING obtaining materials or components fro suppliers outside the company A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE a benefit package pait to employees who are laid off LAY OFF to dismiss members of staff COMPENSATION to dismiss an employee with generous benefits such as a cash bonus REMUNERATION money paid for work or a service GET BACK ON TRACK return to the main subject UP TO OUR SLEEVES have a lot of work CORNERED THE MARKET dominates the market HARD SELL aggressive GET OFF THE GROUND make a succesful start IN THE WORKS in preparation GET TO THE POINT start talking about whats relevant THREW COLD WATER ON approved BOUNCED A CHECK bad check, not enough money A COG IN A MACHINE a small part of the system
NOUN + PREPOSITION
SUGGESTION about DAMAGE to DEALINGS with ACCESS to THREAT to BID for CURE for RELEVANCE to AUTHORITY over CONTRIBUTION to CONTROL over TRANSITION form
MAKE VS, DO
MAKE budget/forecast choice complaint decision loss mistake profit trip agreement apology application appointment effort enquiry excuse offer arrangements preparations money progress sure speech plan report presentation welcome proposal living payment clear trouble suggestion investment noise redundant attempt call bid exception contacts something possible difference DO business favour job service exercise business damage repairs something accounts/budget/forecast wonders work wrong test course without ones best figures something for a living research good best books well shopping cleaning ironing overtime
ABBREVIATIONS
BRIC Brazil, Russia, India, and China GFC Global Financial Crisis CPI Consumer Price Index EPS Earnings Per Share GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GDP Gross Domestic Product IPO Initial Public Offering LBO Leveraged Buy Out CEO Chief Executive Officer MBO Management Buy Out MBA Masters of Business Administration OTC Over The Counter ROC Return On Capital SEC Securities and Exchange Commission ROI Return On Investment SME Small and Medium Enterprises TQM Total Quality Management WTO World Trade Organization GAAS Generally Accepted Auditing Standards APR Annual Percentage Rate
BANKING IDIOMS
BANKERS HOURS short work hours (similar to when a bank is open) TO BAIL A COMPANY OUT to help or rescue a company with financial problems TO BANKROLL SOMEONE to supply someone with money, to finance someone TO BUY A STAKE IN SOMETHING to buy part ownership of a company or other enterprise A CALCULATED RISK an action that may fail but has a good chance to succeed TO FLOAT SOMEONE A LOAN to lend someone money
BUSINESS VERBS
TO RESHUFFLE to change members of staff, especially top managment TO TELECOMMUTE to work from home via a personal computer and modem TO REVAMP to modernize, to renovate TO RESTRUCTURE to change the organization of a company TO ACQUIRE one company is bought by another TO RELOCATE to move offices or staff to another location
BUSINESS JARGON
TO IMPLEMENT to do TO UTILIZE to use A PARADIGM a model of typical example of something TO EMPOWER to give more control TO DIALOGUE to talk to someone ONION SKINNING attacking a problem a layer by layer, bit by bit TO DIARISE to schedule events in chronological order ANALYSIS PARALYSIS planning in detail but failing to act TO RECTIFY to correct TO BALLPARK to estimate
THREE-PART VERBS
COME UP WITH think of a solution, excuse; to manage to find or improvise something GET AWAY WITH to escape, taking someone or something with one, to do something and not get punished for it FALL BEHIND WITH make less progress LOOK DOWN ON to consider someone or something as not important or of value; have a low opinion LOOK UP TO to view someone with respect and admiration LIVE UP TO to fulfill expectations; to satisfy a goal or set of goals, to be as good as you said or thought something would be GET ROUND TO finally manage to do something, make the effort to do something STAND UP FOR defend, suport
PREPOSITION
WITH touch in difficulty matter supply consultation line popular good agree deal conflict compliance commensurate order comply trouble contact accordance bad IN fall ability experience cash debt a hurry my opinion writing addition case favour spite accordance consultation line rise rich interested succeed launch specialize increase education ON advice benefit tax business foot hand hold holiday the internet the phone loan strike sale account television behalf rely depends the whole cangratulate BY car-bus-taxi chance credit card hand post return (of post) means to be assisted debt be headed to be supported to by complited mistake FROM benefit hear result clear prevent
OF advantage cause cost experience example hope lack knowledge method price means case favour spite account behalf rise fall guilty consist hear composed is is made up to be in charge take lake in the course on the basis in terms as a result because samples speciments proud date order change spirit in the benefit afraid approve capable think convince quality
TO invitation with reference alternative replay solution addition responsible see agree apologise talk to be accountable report contribute respond relevant adherence in order look forward due prior owing complain similar related opposed with reference access subject infirior amount accustomed
FOR cheque need order a change lunch sale pleasure good famous responsible sorry be apologize critise work requirements demand reputatuin thank detailes sufficient suitable application wait request allow blam account applied
AT someones disposal someones expense a profit a lost someones risk short notice good the latest such expert ABOUT sorry hear talk care serious excited annoyed OUT OF date order business work UNDER pressure way separate cover UP TO date you
EFFICIENT/EFFECTIVE EFFICIENT capable, able to perform duties well; producing a desired, exoected of satisfying result EFFECTIVE having an effect; able to bring about the intended results; making a striking impact EX. Ms Jones is the most _EFFICIENT_ secretary Ive ever had she knows where everything is Inflation is down from eight per cent to less than two per cent so the governments measures have been pretty _EFFECTIVE_ After a very _EFFECTIVE_ marketing campaign sales were up by 15 per cent Our dispatch department is very _EFFICIENT_ orders are sent off the same day as theyre received The ads were simple, but remarkably _EFFECTIVE_ The cut in interest rates in _EFFECTIVE_ from Monday Our new machinery is very _EFFICIENT_ it works well without wasting time, energy or money We must find a more _EFFICIENT_ way of advertising our products If the economy slows down further, can the Fed take any additional _ EFFECTIVE_ measures What are the most _EFFICIENT_ ways of conducting a job search Many believe that markets are neither perfectly _EFFICIENT_ nor completely inefficient. All markets are _EFFICIENT_ to a certain extent, some more so than others