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 The eleventh hour
/ðiː/ /ɪˈlev(ə)nθ/ /ˈaʊə(r)/
Meaning: The eleventh hour is used to describe something that’s done or
happens at the last minute.

Sample sentence: The project manager won’t be pleased about them

changing the design at the eleventh hour.

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 By the book
/baɪ/ /ðə/ /bʊk/
Meaning: Doing something by the book means doing it strictly according to
the rules, policies or the law.

Sample sentence: I don’t think John will listen to your suggestion. He insists on
doing everything by the book.

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 Run around in circles
/rʌn/ /əˈraʊnd/ /ɪn/ /ˈsɜː(r)k(ə)ls/
Meaning: To run around in circles means to keep doing something without
achieving any real results. In other words, you’re doing a lot of unnecessary
work but not getting anywhere.

Sample sentence: The deadline is coming up, but we’ve been running

around in circles because the client keeps changing their mind about
the design.

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 Cut corners
/kʌt/ /ˈkɔː(r)nə(r)s/
Meaning: If you cut corners, you’re taking shortcuts and using the easiest,
quickest and cheapest way to do something

Sample sentence: If we cut corners, we can probably meet our sales

target for the last quarter.

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 The bottom line
/ðə/ /ˈbɒtəm//laɪn/
Meaning: You may know that the last or bottom line on a financial statement
is the most important. The bottom line is what shows the total profit or loss.
So then, the phrase the bottom line is used in general to refer to the final
outcome, or the most important point to consider.

Sample sentence: It’s true that we’re very short-handed, but the bottom line is
we must still deliver the project on time.

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 In a nutshell
/ɪn/ /ˈa/ /ˈnʌtˌʃel/
Meaning: Have you seen a nutshell? Think of how small it is and how little it
can hold. So, in a nutshell means in summary, or in as few words as possible.

Sample sentence: This book is about successful business people and how they
reached the top. In a nutshell, it’s about how to grow a successful business.

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 Fifty-fifty
/ˈfɪfti/-  /ˈfɪfti/
Meaning: Fifty-fifty simply means dividing something into equal parts so that
both parties get 50%.

Sample sentence: Since I’m as busy as you are, let’s split the work for this
project fifty-fifty.

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 The big picture
/ðə/ /bɪɡ/ /ˈpɪktʃə(r)/
Meaning: The big picture means to look at the overall view of something, or
the situation as a whole and not at the details.

Sample sentence: I think his presentation was too long and detailed. He
should’ve just given us the big picture.

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 Long shot

Meaning : Imagine you’re throwing a dart from a long distance. What are the
chances of it hitting the bullseye (the exact center of the target)?

Well, a long shot is an idiom that’s usually used to describe something that
has a very small chance of happening or succeeding.

Sample sentence: Landing such a high-paying job is a long shot but I’m still
going to give it a try.

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