ALL RIGHT PRIVATE ENGLISH

Name ___________________________________________________Date: ______________

14 Useful business English expressions

Carve out a niche

Means to find a special market that you can control. Niche markets are
very small and specific.

Some examples of niche markets are organic recipes for pregnant woman,
life size teddy bear making courses, law services for single fathers, you get
the idea.

For example, to succeed in a competitive world, you have to specialize on

a part of it. Try to carve out a niche and be the best in that field.

A similar phrase to ‘carve out a niche’ is to corner the market. This means
you control part of a certain market; this is easier to do in niche markets.

Get something off the ground

Means to start a project or business.

For example, we’re glad all the lease contracts are signed. We’re looking
forward to getting the project off the ground and opening our new café.

Red tape

Means excessive rules, procedures, and regulations (usually from the

government) that make it difficult to to do business (such as getting trade
licenses or registering tax numbers).

For example, the city of Philadelphia now requires all bloggers to purchase
a $300 business privilege license.

A similar phrase is to do something by the book. This means to follow the

rules. Some people might try to skip the red tape but I prefer to do
something by the book, so I got all of my licenses.
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We also say our business is in the red, this has nothing to do with red tape
but rather means that the business is not making a profit (we are running
at a loss).

Get the ball rolling

Means to start something (a project, for example) and to try get some
results. It is similar to the expression ‘to get something off the ground’ (for
example to open your café or release your product) but to get the ball
rolling means that you have some momentum or results (such as your first
few customers, clients or profits).

For example: James get the ball rolling we must have this done soon.

Multitask

Means to do many things at the same time.

For example, when you’re a new business owner you have to learn to
multitask because there are always 10 things you need to so at the same
time.

State of the art

Something that is state of the art is modern and technologically advanced.

For example, Japanese capsule hotels are state of the art, they even have
self cleaning toilets.

Go the extra mile

Means to do more than is necessary or to put in extra effort.

For example: It is necessary to walk the extra mile to reach your goals.

For example, I love working with our German suppliers, they always go the
extra mile to make sure we understand everything about the product.
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To get ahead of the game

Means to try to do better than your competitors by offering better, more

unique or different services.

We could also say keep or stay ahead of the game (once you already have
the advantage).

For example, I try to get ahead of the game by using state of the art
technology, or we stay ahead of the game because we always go the extra
mile.

We can also say to get or be ahead of the curve (or behind the curve). This
means to be ahead or leading in a trend, product development or some
part of a business.

For example, Apple is always ahead of the curve when it comes to their
smartphone design.

Cut corners

To do something the cheapest or easiest way possible.

For example, I try to cut corners by multitasking but it hasn’t been working.

The Bottom Line

The net income after all taxes have been deducted.

For example, the best way to find out how well your company did that year
is to look at your bottom line.

It can also mean the least amount of money you are willing to accept in a
negotiation or the most important thing to consider.

For example, she told me her bottom line was $2000.00 and she wouldn’t accept
any lower, the bottom line for us was to sign the contract (at any offer), so we
accepted her offer.