PHRASAL VERBS

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

BRITISH VS AMERICAN ENGLISH FINANCIAL TERMS

AMERICAN ENGLISH BRITISH

President chairman
Chief executive officer managing director
Vice president director
Financial controller accountant
Director manager
e.g. personnel Director e.g. Personnel Manager
Annual Stockholders Meeting Annual General Meeting
Authorized capital stock authorized share capital
Prime rate base rate
Stock dividend or stock split bonus or capitalization issue
Bridge loan bridging loan
Savings and loan association building society
Check cheque
Corporation company
Accounts payable creditors
Checking account current account
Accounts receivable debtors
Treasury bonds gilt-edged stock
Certificate of incorporation Memorandum of association
Investment bank merchant bank
Common stock ordinary share
Overhead overheads
Income statement profit and loss account
Real estate property
Listed company quoted company
Consumer price index CPI retail price index RPI
Stock share
Paid-in surplus Share premium
Stockholder shareholder
Inventory stock
Labor union trade union
Mutual funds unit trusts
Merchandise trade visible trade
 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 one’s 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 WHITE – collar workers

Shares knight
out of the goods
collar workers pages
print paper
BLACK – leg GREEN – image
knight to go
list mail
black light
economy field investment
GREY – area YELLOW – pages
economy
BROWN – goods RED – tape
GOLDEN – hello to be in the
Handshake to be bleeding ink
Parachute 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 ONE’S 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 one’s possession, ready
TO GET ONE’S HANDS DIRTY – become involved in all aspects of one’s work,
including work that is physical, unpleasant or less interesting
ALL HANDS ON DECK – a situation when everyone must help, especially when
there’s a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time
OVERPLAY ONE’S HAND – be overconfident and spoil one’s 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 one’s feelings, especially refrain from
laughing
BE WRITTRN ALL OVER ONE’S 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 what’s 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 DO

budget/forecast business
choice favour
complaint job
decision service
loss exercise
mistake business
profit damage
trip repairs
agreement something
apology accounts/budget/forecast
application wonders
appointment work
effort wrong
enquiry test
excuse course
offer without
arrangements one’s best
preparations figures
money something for a living
progress research
sure good
speech best
plan books
report well
presentation shopping
welcome cleaning
proposal ironing
living overtime
payment
clear
trouble
suggestion
investment
noise
redundant
attempt
call
bid
exception
contacts
something possible
difference
 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

BANKER’S 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
 ADVERB + ADJECTIVE COMBINATIONS

WIDELY – believed
COMPLETELY – overlooked
incapable
TOTALLY – different
BLANTLY – obvious
ABSOLUTELY – convinced
HIGHLY – recommended
DEEPLY – rooted
involved
PERFECTLY – normal
understandable
UTTERLY – unattainable
unfair
HEAVILY – criticized
subsidized
BITTERLY – disappointed
POTENTIALLY – dangerous
ENTIRELY – unexpacted
ABSURDLY – easy
PAINFULLY – aware
ASTRONOMICALLY – high
SERIOUSLY – damaged

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 IN ON BY
touch fall advice car-bus-taxi
in ability benefit chance
difficulty experience tax credit card
matter cash business hand
supply debt foot post
consultation a hurry hand return (of post)
line my opinion hold means
popular writing holiday to be assisted
good addition the internet debt
agree case the phone be headed
deal favour loan to be supported
conflict spite strike to by complited
compliance accordance sale mistake
commensurate consultation account
order line television FROM
comply rise behalf benefit
trouble rich rely hear
contact interested depends result
accordance succeed the whole clear
bad launch cangratulate prevent
specialize
increase
education
OF TO FOR AT
advantage invitation cheque someone’s disposal
cause with reference need someone’s expense
cost alternative order a profit
experience replay a change a lost
example solution lunch someone’s risk
hope addition sale short notice
lack responsible pleasure good
knowledge see good the latest
method agree famous such
price apologise responsible expert
means talk sorry
case to be accountable be ABOUT
favour report apologize sorry
spite contribute critise hear
account respond work talk
behalf relevant requirements care
rise adherence demand serious
fall in order reputatuin excited
guilty look forward thank annoyed
consist due detailes
hear prior sufficient OUT OF
composed owing suitable date
is complain application order
is made up similar wait business
to be in charge related request work
take lake opposed allow
in the course with reference blam UNDER
on the basis access account pressure
in terms subject applied way
as a result infirior separate cover
because amount
samples accustomed UP TO
speciments date
proud you
date
order
change
spirit
in the benefit
afraid
approve
capable
think
convince
quality
 EASILY CONFUSED WORDS

BRANCH/SUBSIDIARY/AGENCY
AGENCY – a business or place of business providing a (usually) specified service
BRANCH – a local office belonging to a national firm or organisation
SUBSIDIARY – a company which is controlled by a parent company

EX.
Coca-Cola has a(n) _SUBSIDIARY_ in more countries than there are in the United
Nations
A travel _AGENCY_ can organize business trips as well as holidays
A(n) _SUBSIDIARY_ is a company of witch more than half the share capital is
owned by the holding company
The major banks have at least one _BRANCH_ in all large cities
Each _SUBSIDIARY_ company trades under it’s own name
I’ll be working in an over seas _BRANCH_ for a while
I’m currently working for an advertising _AGENCY_
Applications for major loans are dealt with by the _BRANCH_ manager
There are now five _SUBSIDIARY_ companies in the group
She finally succeeded in finding a job at a major employment _AGENCY_

PERSONALE/PERSONNEL
PERSONAL – your own, private, aimed at one person
PERSONNEL – people who work for a company or organization, department
responsible for looking after all the people working there and for choosing new
workers

EX.
Does your Managing Director have a _PERSONAL_ assistant
Does your company have a _PERSONNEL_ Department or a Human Resources
Division
We weren’t able to offer the new service because we hadn’t got enough trained
_PERSONNEL_
Do you agree that you shouldn’t mix your _PERSONAL_ and professional life
She recruits and trains employees and deals with their problems. She works in
_PERSONNEL_ management
He’s recently taken out a _PERSONAL_ loan to buy a new car
Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their
_PERSONNEL_
Most people in big companies are administered, not led. They are treated as
_PERSONNEL_, not people
I need to speak to someone in _PERSONNEL_
 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 I’ve ever had – she knows where
everything is
Inflation is down from eight per cent to less than two per cent so the government’s
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
they’re 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