idiom
Ahead of the pack
Back to square one
Ballpark number/figure
Big picture
By the book
Corner the market
Cut-throat
Easy come, easy go
Game plan
Get down to business
Get something off the ground
Go down the drain
Go the extra mile
Hands are tied
In a nutshell
meaning
To be more successful than
the competition
To start something over again
because a previous attempt
failed
A very inexact estimate
Everything that is involved
with a particular situation
To do things exactly
according to the rules or the
law
To dominate a particular
market
Very intense, aggressive, and
merciless competition
Something gained easily is
also lost easily
A strategy or plan for
achieving success
Stop making small talk and
start talking about serious
business topics
To start something (e.g. a
project or a business)
Something is wasted or lost
To do more than what people
expect
Not being free to behave in
the way that you would like
Using as few words as
possible
example
If we want to stay ahead of the
pack, we’ll have to increase
our marketing budget.
To make this software finally
work, we have to go back to
square one.
To give you a ballpark figure,
how much the border wall to
Mexico is going to cost, I’d
say about 30 million dollars.
Working on all these details,
we have lost sight of the big
picture.
We told our auditors that we
do everything by the book.
Amazon more or less corners
the online retailing market.
Competition in the food
retailing business is cut-throat.
I lost 500 Euros in a poker
game last night, but that’s life
– easy come, easy go.
What is our game plan for
dealing with our new
competitor?
Now that everyone’s here,
let’s get down to business and
start with the presentation.
Now that we have finished the
planning phase, we’re eager
the get the project off the
ground.
All our efforts in entering this
new market went down the
drain.
To give our customers the best
shopping experience, we go
the extra mile.
I’d love to help you, but my
hands are tied.
In a nutshell, we will run out
of cash in three months time.
In full swing At a stage when the level of
activity is at its highest
In the driver’s seat To be in charge or in control
of a situation
Keep one’s eye on the ball To give something one’s full
attention and to not lose focus product offering too much, but
Learn the ropes Learn the basics of something I’m learning the ropes in my
(e.g. a job)
Long shot Something that has a very low Winning the lottery is a long
probability of happening
No-brainer Something that is really
obvious or easy
No strings attached Something is given without
involving special demands or
limits
Not going to fly Something isn’t expected to
work out
On the same page To be in agreement about
something
Out in the open Something that is public
knowledge and not secret
anymore
Put all one’s eggs in one To rely on only one thing to
basket bring success
Put the cart before the horse To do or think about things in
the wrong order
Raise the bar To set standards or
expectations higher
Red tape Official rules and processes
that seem excessive and
unnecessary
Rock the boat To do or say something that
will upset people or cause
problems
Safe bet Something that is certain to
Construction of our new
production site is in full swing
now.
Being offered the position of
managing director, I’ll soon
be in the driver’s seat.
We should not diversify our
rather keep our eyes on the
ball.
new position.
shot.
Making money working for an
investment bank is a no-
brainer.
They will let you try the
product for free with no
strings attached.
This product is definitely not
going to fly.
Let’s go over the contract
details once more to make
sure we’re on the same page.
Our financials our out in the
open anyway.
It’s not smart to invest in
American tech stocks only
and put all one’s eggs in one
basket.
Trying to find an investor
without having a business
plan is like putting the cart
before the horse.
The iPhone raised the bar for
smartphone makers.
The new law is going to create
a lot of red tape.
Don’t rock the boat until the
negotiations are finished.
It’s a safe bet that computer

Same boat
See eye to eye
See something through
Sever ties
Shoot something down
Smooth sailing
Stand one’s ground
Take the bull by the horns
Talk someone into something
Talk someone out of
something
The elephant in the room
Think outside the box
Time’s up
Touch base
happen
To be in the same difficult
situation as someone else
To agree with somebody
To continue until something is I want to see this project
finished
To end a relationship
To reject something (e.g. an
idea or a proposal)
A situation where success is
achieved without difficulties
To not change one’s opinion
or position
To directly confront a difficult My mid-level managers
situation in a brave and
determined way
To convince someone to do
something
To convince someone not to
do something
An obvious problem or
controversial issue that no one pending litigation, but no one
wants to discuss.
To think of creative,
unconventional solutions
instead of common ones.
Time for something or
someone has ended.
To make contact with
someone.
processor speed will more
than triple within the next 10
years.
None of us has any money
left, so we’re all in the same
boat.
My boss doesn’t see eye to
eye with me about our
marketing campaign.
through before taking on
another one.
We had to sever ties with
several suppliers due to poor
product quality.
You shouldn’t shoot down
your co-workers ideas during
a brainstorming session.
Once our largest competitor
went out of business, it was
smooth sailing.
They tried to cut my travel
budget, but I stood my
ground.
constantly delayed projects, so
I took the bull by the horns
and fired several of them.
I was reluctant to redesign our
website, but my employees
talked me into it.
We wanted to take on more
debt, but our CFO talked us
out of it.
We should have discussed our
wanted to talk about the
elephant in the room.
Our current approach will get
us nowhere. We have to think
outside the box.
I think his time’s up as the
CEO.
I will touch base with you
later today.
Twist someone’s arm To convince someone to do My boss thought the budget
something that he or she does was a little high, so I had to
not want to do. twist his arm to get him to
agree to it.
Up in the air Something is undecided or Our international expansion
uncertain plan is still up in the air.
Uphill battle Something that is difficult to Gaining market share in this
achieve because of obstacles country will be an uphill battle
and difficulties due to tough competition.
Upper hand To have more power than Due to my experience, I had
anyone else and so have the upper had in the argument.
control
Word of mouth Something is given or done by Many local stores rely on
people talking about word of mouth to get new
something or telling people customers.
about something