Choose the business idiom

Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence:

1. The patient’s condition is so serious that he needs to be watched ..........................

a. round the clock

b. nine-to-five
c. behind the scenes
d. under the table

2. We need to finish this ………………….., the deadline is tomorrow!

a. 24/7
b. by the book
c. ASAP
d. Fifty-fifty

3. Flexible working hours are a …………….. situation for employers and employees.
a. win-win
b. lose-lose
c. lose-win
d. no-win

4. The prime minister has an …………………………. in the decision making.

a. upper hand
b. at stake
c. up in the air
d. on the roll

5. I think you are …………………………………………. by leaving your permanent job before getting new one.
a. getting your foot in the door
b. going the extra mile
c. putting the cart before the horse
d. running around in circles

6. OK, team, we really need to ……………………………… if we’re going to impress the CEO.
a. read between the lines
b. stand our ground
c. think big
d. think outside the box

7. We are all in the ………………………….., in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.
a. tough break
b. black
c. same boat
d. red
8. If he keeps …………………………………….., in 5 years he’ll have a managerial position – you just wait and see!
a. on a roll
b. going around in circles
c. up in the air
 d. throwing in the towel

9. If our proposal is not accepted, we’ll go …………………………………………….

a. around in circles
b. back to the drawing board
c. up in the air
d. off the top of our head

10.John's  had  some  …………………………….  lately,  between  losing  his  job  and  getting  in  that  horrible  car  accident 
just  two  weeks  later.
a. safe bets
b. big pictures
c. tough breaks
d. second natures

11. I think we have done enough work today. I am feeling tired now, let's ……………………………
a. call it a day
b. cut corners
c. get back into the swing of things
d. go the extra mile

12. My father's company is now ………………………….. because of the incompetent new CEO.
a. going down the drain
b. going the extra mile
c. in the black
d. starting off on the right foot

13. I've been trying to …………………………………… moving to France, but he's dead set on going.
a. start off on the wrong foot
b. talk him out of
c. talk him into
d. Start off on the right foot

14. They paid her ………………………………… so as to avoid taxes.
a. under the table
b. in a nutshell
c. no time to lose
d. from the ground up

15. They’ve been trying to …………………………….. by buying up all the wheat in sight.
a. call it a day
b. corner the market
c. cut corners
 d. go broke

16. It takes a little time …………………………………………………….. after such a long holiday.
a. to get back into the swing of things
b. run around in circles
c. see something through
d. throw in the towel

17. It’s a bit early to ………………………………….. — you’ve only just started the job.
a. cut your losses
b. get down to business
c. go broke
d. throw in the towel

18. Tom works really hard. He is always at work late and ready to ………………………… to get the job done."

a. stand his ground

b. sever ties
c. go the extra mile
d. read between the lines

19. She said she could afford it, but ……………………………………. I don't think she has enough money.

a. playing hardball
b. reading between the lines
c. shooting it down
d. no strings attached

20. This is a very large company to manage, so I ……………………… for me.
a. give you a pat on the back
b. sever ties
c. am not going to fly
d. have my work cut out