500 Business English Expressions

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 500 Business English Expressions

English Your language

A
Accounts Department
After careful consideration
A ground-breaking idea
ahead of the curve
ahead of the pack
An alternative to consider
All things considered
Are you certain about this?
Are you following me?
Are you free on Friday?
Are you one hundred percent positive?
Are you sure you have the right number?
a room with bath and shower
a room with a child's bed
a room which faces the sea
ASAP (as soon as possible)
as a rule of thumb
As I said before
As I was explaining
As opposed to
As you no doubt remember
at stake (at risk)
B
back-of-the-envelope calculations
back to square one/ back to the drawing board
backroom deal
Bait and switch tactic
ballpark number
Bed & Breakfast
behind someone's back
Before we move on
be in the red
belt-tightening
Black market
blank cheque
blue chip company
blue collar worker
Break a leg!
break the ice
bricks and mortar
bricks and clicks
Broadly speaking
burn your bridges
business as usual
bottom line

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 500 Business English Expressions

burn the candle at both ends ( To overwork or exhaust yourself by doing too many things, esp. late at night)
bury your head in the sand (ignore a problem, fact, or situation by pretending it doesn't exist)
By the way (talk about something that has no connection to previous topic)
C
Can I add something? (Can I give you more information, make another request, add something to this topic?
Can I get back to you on that? (Can I talk to you about that topic at a later time or date?)
Can I talk to you for a minute? (I just have something very quick I need to say to you or talk about)
Can we get your input? (Can I get your advice, your ideas, your thoughts about this problem, project, plan, situ..
Can you illustrate that with an example?(It's uncear so can you give me an example?
Can you take my place for an hour?(I have to go somewhere so can you do my job for one hour)
cash cow (a business that generates a large and consistent profit)
Catch someone off guard (to surprise someone, to engage them or take advantage when they are not ready)
Christine is not in today.
climb the corporate ladder (one's advancement within a company through promotions)
Cold call (make an unsolicited call on (someone), by phone or in person, in an attempt to sell goods or services:
common knowledge (everyone knows that)
compare apples to oranges (compare things that are very different)
Correct me if I'm wrong but…(I believe I'm saying something true but maybe you have something to add)
Could I contact you about this?
Could I have your address?

Could I say something?

Could you add more information?
Could you ask him to call me back, please?
Could you clarify this?
Could you explain?
Could you give me directions?
Could you give me some more information on this?
Could you give me your fees?
Could you give us further details?
Could you hold on a minute?
Could you please?
Could you please send me ...
Could you provide us with more information?
Could you replace me tomorrow?
Could you supply me with…?
crunch time (A period when pressure to succeed is great, often toward the end of an undertaking. )
Cut-throat competition (Opposition that is especially fierce, relentless, or merciless.
Cutting edge technology (technological devices, techniques or achievements that employ the most current and
high-level IT developments) D
data-driven
Deal with it
Don't get me wrong but
Do something by the book
Do we agree that…?
Do you have a minute?
Do you have any questions?
Do you have any suggestions?

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 500 Business English Expressions

Do you mind if I jump in here?

Do you think we should wait for her?
E
easy come, easy go
Excuse me.
F
facts speak for themselves
fifty-fifty
Finally
Find a loophole
Firstly
First things first
For instance/ example
G
Gain/ lose ground
get the ball rolling
Get the big picture
Get your foot in the door
Give the thumbs down/ up
glass ceiling
go around in circles
go down the drain
Good to meet you too.
go the extra mile
go through the roof
go viral
H
hand luggage
hard sell
Has anyone else got anything?
Have a look at…
Have you already met Stella?
Have you considered…?
Have you reserved seats for the concert yet?
Having seen your advertisement, I would like to...
headhunter
He has a foot in the door.
He has an ace up his sleeve.
He holds all the aces.
He is in a meeting.
Help yourself.
Her line of work includes…
He recruits and trains new employees.
Here you have…
Hold on, please.
Hold the line, please.
How about… ?
How are you?

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 500 Business English Expressions

How big is it?

How can I reach you?
How can we work it out?
How come?
How do I get in touch with you?
How do you do?
How do you feel about this?
How do you normally get paid?
How high is it?
How kind of you.
How much does it cost?
How much does it weigh?
How will you back that up?
Human Resources
Hurry up please.
I
I am contacting you for the following reason
I am delighted to
I am looking for a suitable hotel near…
I am sorry to hear that
I am writing to complain about …
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction
I appreciate it.
I can put in a good word for you.
I can see your point of view.
I'd like to add that…
I’d like to apologize
I’d like to emphasize on…
I'd like to express my doubts about…
I’d like to file a complaint.
I’d like to have a word with you.
I’d like to introduce myself
I’d like to make a comment.
I’d like you to meet Jenny Jones.
I’d like you to see this graph.
I don't agree with you at all.
I don't follow you.
I don't mean to be rude but…
I don't think so.
I don't think you've actually understood me.
I don't understand why…
I’d rather…
I guess you might…
I hate to tell you
I have a previous engagement
I have some bad news
I have some reservations.
I have to agree with you.

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 500 Business English Expressions

I highly recommend this product.

I like your idea.
I'll call you if I need anything.
I'll connect you.
I’ll give you a call.
I’ll give you free hand here.
I'll have my secretary schedule an appointment.
I’ll put it simply.
I'll put you through.
I’m afraid…
I'm afraid the line's engaged.
I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding.
I’m delighted to meet you
I’m in charge of…
I’m not absolutely confident
I'm not sure I get what you mean.
I’m not totally convinced
I'm rather worried about…
I’m ready to answer any questions.
I’m really pleased with…
I’m responsible for…
I'm sorry about the confusion.
I’m sorry to bother you
I missed that.
In a few words
in a hurry
In a nutshell
in case
in charge of
In reply to your request, ...
in stock
I need an air-conditioned room with bath
In full swing
Initially
In other words
In spite of the evidence
I recently heard about…
It all comes down to…
It has just crossed my mind that
It’s a key issue
It’s an honor
It’s been a pleasure
I really enjoyed meeting you
I regret
Is everybody already here?
Is everything clear?
Is there any additional aspect?
Is there anything you’d like to know?

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 500 Business English Expressions

Is this included in the price?

I urge you to
It comes with…
I think I’ll manage, thank you.
It’s against regulations
It’s all set then.
It’s a safe bet.
It's our best selling product.
It was a pleasure meeting you last month
It was not my intention to offend you.
It would be helpful if you…
I’ve been delighted to
I've got another point of view.
I wonder if you could…
I should be grateful if you would confirm my booking
I would appreciate your immediate attention to this
I would favour
I would like to confirm the main points we discussed
I would like to confirm the appointment.
I would like to place an offer.
I would start by…
J
jump through hoops
Just a second, please.
just in case
K
keep something under wraps
keep your options open
kick off
L
Last but not least
leading brand
learn the ropes
Let me assure you that
Let me end
Let me illustrate
Let me introduce myself
Let me put this another way
Let me show you
Let’s call it a day.
Let’s concentrate on…
Let's get back on track.
Let’s get down for business.
Let’s get going.
Let's get started
Let's move on.
Let's move onto point two.
Let's postpone the discussion.

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 500 Business English Expressions

Let’s start by the beginning

line of work
live beyond your means
Lose-lose situation
Lovely to meet you
M
Make up your mind, please.
manage expectations
managing director
maternity leave
May I have a word?
May I interrupt?
May I introduce Jenny Jones?
May I offer my assistance?
move heaven and earth
Much obliged.
My aim is…
My company produces…
My hands are tied.
My initial reaction is favourable.
My objective is…
My opinion is…
My pleasure.
N
Nice to meet you
Nice to see you
Nine-to-five job
No brainer
No strings attached
No time to lose
Not so fast!
Now she’s in the driver’s seat.
Now, where were we?
O
Off the top of my head, I’d say…
On condition that
On the face of it
On top of something
on top of trends
Our primary concern is…
P
paradigm shift
Pardon?
part time
pass the buck
Please accept my apologies.
Please give me an indication of your rates
Please go ahead

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 500 Business English Expressions

Pleased to meet you

Please lower your voice.
Please observe…
Production Department
pull the plug
Purchasing Department
Put all someone’s eggs in one basket
Put the cart before the horse
R
Raise the bar
read between the lines
reality check
round-the-clock
S
Sales Department
see eye to eye
Shall we continue?
Shall we proceed onto the next point?
Shall we start?
Shall we take turns?
She’s busy right now.
She’s hit the nail on the head.
She’s learning the ropes.
She’s not available.
She’s on a roll.
She’s on the ball.
Small talk
Smooth sailing
Snail mail
Sorry but I'm already committed.
Sorry, I didn't catch that.
Sorry, that is not quite right.
Sorry to interrupt
Start a business from the ground up
start off on the right/wrong foot
state of the art
T
take notes
take the bull by the horns
take the minutes
talk someone into something/ out of something
Thanks for your hospitality.
Thank you for your letter of November 28
Thank you for contacting us.
That needs correction
That's outside the scope
team player
The ball is in your court

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 500 Business English Expressions

The benefits are

The enterprise went broke.
the first item on the agenda is…
The line is busy.
The opening issue
They are in the black.
They are in the red.
There’s another alternative
There's another issue we have to deal with
think outside the box
This is a key issue.
This is a minor issue.
This is an interesting question.
This is different to what we had agreed.
This is highly significant.
This is irrelevant.
This is not significant.
This is one of our top products.
This isn’t quite what I meant.
This is of secondary importance.
This is where the rubber meets the road
This leads us back to the subject.
This will allow you to…
throw in the towel
To begin with
To bring up something else
To conclude
To end
To finish
To put it briefly…
touch base
To start with
To summarize
To sum up
U
Unfortunately we are unable to ...
up-and-coming
V
video conference
W
Wait a minute
We are at your disposal.
We are involved in…
We are on the same page.
We are pleased to announce that ...
We are quite willing to ...
We assure you…
We can't all speak at once.

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 500 Business English Expressions

We can't discuss that issue today.

We consider
We could go with…
We have rejected
We intend to…
We need a substitute
We need more information.
We need to discuss…
We're digressing.
We'll defer the matter.
Well done!
We'll do our best to settle the matter
We’ll solve this affair
We really need to…
We regret to inform you that ...
We want to notify you that
We want you to see
We will study
We will talk about…
We would be happy to ...
What are you developing?
What are your current projects?
What are your main products?
What are your payment conditions?
What are your plans?
What are your shortest delivery times?
What are you up to?
What are you working on?
What brings us here?
What business are you in?
What can you tell me about...?
What can you tell me about this product?
What does it look like?
What does it include?
What does your company do?
What do you charge?
What do you expect?
What do you mean?
What do you know about?
What do you specialize in?
What do you think?
What did you say?
What else can you add?
What evidence do you have?
What features does your product have?
What I mean is…
What I am trying to say is…
What is he good at?

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 500 Business English Expressions

What is your main line of business?

What is your specialty?
What services do you provide?
What’s more…
What’s the current situation?
What’s the price?
What’s your e-mail?
What’s your job?
What’s your line of work?
What's your opinion on…
What’s your projection?
What was that again?
What were we saying?
When could we receive the product?
Where are you calling from?
Where are you located?
Where can I buy your product?
Where do you work?
Which company are you with?
Which route do you recommend?
While we are on the subject
white collar
With reference to our telephone conversation
Who do you intend to back?
Who do you represent?
Who is accountable for this?
Who is calling please?
Who is in charge of the division?
Who is running the division?
Who is speaking?
Why is it that?
Win-win situation
Would you mind?
Would you mind waiting a minute?
Would you take a message, please?
word of mouth
Y
You have a good point
You’ll have to wait.
You ought to
You're not interrupting at all.
your letter regarding ...
You’ve raised an interesting point.
You will be pleased to learn that ...

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