Business Idioms

1) Have an ace up your sleeve.

If you have an ace up your sleeve, it means that you have
    something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage.

2) To hold all the aces 

  A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong position
  because they have more advantages than anyone else.

  "Given the high unemployment figures in some countries,

  employers hold all the aces."

3) A blank cheque 
  If you give someone a blank cheque, you authorize them to do
  what they think is best in a difficult situation.

  "Tom was given a blank cheque and told to negotiate the best deal
  possible."

 
4)  Above board  
If a situation or business is described as above board, it is open,
  honest and legal.

  "There are no secret negotiations.  Our dealings have always been

  above board."

5) Get down to brass tacks  

People who get down to brass tacks start to discuss and deal with the
practical details of something

   "It was decided to get down to brass tacks and discuss the cost of
  the project."

6) Pass the buck  

  If you say that someone is passing the buck, you are accusing them
  of not taking responsibility for a problem and expecting someone else
  to handle it.

7 Business as usual  
After an unpleasant or unexpected event, this expression means
  that everything is continuing in a normal way in spite of the difficulties.
  "It was business as usual at the supermarket the day after the
  hold-up."

8) To  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.

  "In today's competitive market it's better to carve out a niche and try to
  become the best in that area."

9)  A cash cow  
A product or service which is a regular source of income for a company
  is called a cash cow.

  "His latest invention turned out to be a real cash cow."  

10 ) to Clinch a deal
  In a business relationship, if you clinch a deal, you reach agreement
  on a proposal or offer.
  "Tom's final argument enabled us to clinch the deal."  

11) Make cold calls

  If you make cold calls, you telephone potential customers from
  a list of people you do not know.
  "In my first job I had to make cold calls using the telephone directory."  

12) Dead wood

refers to people or things which are no longer
  considered useful or necessary.
  "The management wants to reduce costs by cutting out the dead wood."

13)  Do the spadework

    Someone who does the spadework does the preparatory work
  or the preliminary research for something.

  "Although I did all the spadework, my name was never mentioned."

 14) Dog eat dog  

This expression refers to intense competition and rivalry in pursuit of
  one's own interests, with no concern for morality.

  "The business world is tough today.  There's a general dog-eat-dog

  attitude."  
15) In the doldrums  
 To say that a person, a business or the economy in general is in the
  doldrums means that the situation is gloomy and that nothing new is
  happening.
  "Despite the recent measures by the govt , the economy remains in the doldrums."

 
16) Done and dusted  
finished or ready.
  "I've nearly finished preparing the presentation. When it's all done and
   dusted I'll be able to relax."  

17) Donkey work  

This expression is used to describe the unpleasant, boring parts of a job.
  "I do the donkey work - my boss gets the credit!"  

.
18) Down the drain  
 To say that money, time or effort has gone down the drain, means
  that it has been wasted or lost.
  "His years of research went down the drain when the company
  went bankrupt."  

19) Have all your eggs in one basket 

  If you have all your eggs in one basket, you depend on one plan
  or one source of income.
  "If you invest your savings in one bank, you'll have all your eggs in one
  basket."  

20) to Drag one's feet

  If you say that a person is dragging their feet, you think they are
  unnecessarily delaying a decision which is important to you.  

21) Think on one's feet   

A person who thinks on their feet is capable of making good decisions
  without previous thinking or  planning.
  "Good lawyers need to be able to think on their feet when pleading a case."

 22) A finger in every pie  

If someone has a finger in every pie, they are involved in many
  activities
My father is always busy. He has a finger in every pie."  

23)To have a free hand  

If you have a free hand, you have permission to make your own
  decisions, especially in a job.
  "My boss has given me a free hand in the choice of selecting furniture "  

24)  Get down to brass tacks  

When people get down to brass tacks, they start to discuss the
  essential aspects of a problem or situation.

  "The situation was so serious that after a few polite exchanges,

  they immediately got down to brass tacks."

 25) Get the hang of something  

 When you get the hang of an activity, you now know how to do it
  correctly.

26)  Get something off the ground  

If you get something off the ground, you put it into operation after
  having organized it.

  "After a lot of hard work, we finally got the campaign off the ground.
 

27 ) Give someone a run for their money

  If you give someone a run for their money,you present strong
  competition in   circumstances where the other person expects to
  win easily.

  "We didn't win the match but we gave the other team a run for their
  money."

  

28) Golden opportunity

 A golden opportunity is a favourable time or excellent occasion

  which should not be missed.

29 ) Keep one's head above water

  To keep one's head above water means to try to survive

  by staying out of debt, for example a small business.  

 
30)  Let me bounce this off you.   You say this when you present an idea or plan to
someone in order to test
  their reaction or obtain feedback.
  "I think I've found a way of making money.  Let me bounce this off you."  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------