Here is a list of various English business idioms. These idioms are focused on things you will hear in everyday business conversations.

Long Haul

Definition:	Example:
The long road; the option that takes the most time	Peter told his boss that he wouldn’t quit. He’s in it for the long haul.

At a Premium

Definition:	Example:
At a high price; at a relatively high price	When flat-screen televisions first came out, they were selling at a premium.

Bean-counter

Definition:	Example:
An accountant	We asked the bean-counters to look over the figures in the new budget.

Belt-tightening

Definition:	Example:
Reduction of expenses	When worldwide demand for software decreased, Microsoft had to do some belt-tightening.

Be in the Red

Definition:	Example:
At a deficit; running at a loss; losing money	The company has been in the red since September.

Calculated Risk

Definition:	Example:
An action that may fail but has a good chance to succeed	They took a calculated risk when they introduced the new computer screen onto the market.

Cash Cow

Definition:	Example:
A product, service, or business division that generates a lot of cash for the company, without requiring much investment	With strong sales every year and a great brand name, Mercedes is a cash cow for DaimlerChrysler.

Climb to the Top of the Career/Corporate Ladder

Definition:	Example:
Advance in one’s career; the process of getting promoted and making it to senior management	You want to climb the corporate ladder? It helps to be productive and to look good in front of your boss.

Deliver the Goods

Definition:	Example:
Succeed in doing well what is expected	The new owner of the company is not very popular but he is able to deliver the goods.

Drum Up Business

Definition:	Example:
To create business; to find new customers	Sales have been very slow lately. Do you have any ideas for drumming up business?

Face the Music

Definition:	Example:
To admit that there’s a problem; to deal with an unpleasant situation realistically	Enron executives finally had to face the music and admit that they were involved in some illegal activities.

Fair Play

Definition:	Example:
Justice, equal and right action to someone	The company is very good to work for as they always use fair play when they are bargaining with their employees.

Fill the Bill

Definition:	Example:
Be just what is needed	That new machine should fill the bill as to what we need to finish the job.

Gain Ground

Definition:	Example:
Go forward, make progress	Our company has been gaining ground in our attempt to be the best in the industry.

Generate Lots of Buzz

Definition:	Example:
To cause many people to start talking about a product or service, usually in a positive way that increases sales	Procter & Gamble generated lots of buzz for its new toothpaste by giving away free samples to people on the streets of New York City.

Go Through With

Definition:	Example:
Finish, do as planned or agreed	We have decided not to go through with our plans to launch the new product until we have solved all of its problems.

Have a Lot on One’s Plate

Definition:	Example:
To have a lot to do; to have too much to do; to have too much to cope with	Carlos turned down the project, explaining that he already had a lot on his plate.

Heads Will Roll

Definition:	Example:
Someone will be punished	Heads will roll when our boss learns about the money that we have lost recently.

In Charge of

Definition:	Example:
In control of, responsible for	My sister has been in charge of buying supplies at her company for many years.

In the Market for

Definition:	Example:
Ready to buy something	We have been in the market for a new computer for a long time but still we haven’t bought one.

In the Works

Definition:	Example:
In preparation, being planned or worked on	The camera company has a new automatic camera in the works but nobody knows about it yet.

Jack Up

Definition:	Example:
Make a price higher	The steel companies decided to jack up the price of steel at the beginning of the year.

Jump Through Hoops

Definition:	Example:
To go through a lot of difficult work for something; to face many bureaucratic obstacles	We had to jump through hoops to get our visas to Russia, but we finally got them.

Keep Track of

Definition:	Example:
Keep a count or record, stay informed	They have been making a great effort to keep track of the number of visitors to their store.

Know/Learn the Ropes

Definition:	Example:
The process of learning about sth so you are comfortable with it	It took me a month to learn the ropes at my new job.

Make a Go of

Definition:	Example:
Produce good results, succeed	Although he works very hard in his small business he has been unable to make a go of it and may soon go out of business.

My Gut Tells Me

Definition:	Example:
I have a strong feeling that; my intuition tells me	It’s true that I don’t know him well, but my gut tells me that James is the right person for the sales director position.

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Definition:	Example:
If you don’t try to do something, you’ll never succeed.	It’s risky to spend so much money developing a new brand, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

On the Back Burner

Definition:	Example:
Set as a lower priority	The project was put on the back burner while the company focused on a more immediate problem.

On the Block

Definition:	Example:
For sale	As soon as they purchased the company they began to put some of the equipment on the block.

On Top of Trends

Definition:	Example:
Modern; aware and responding to the latest tastes	The Gap is on top of trends. They always have the latest styles in their stores.

Pass the Buck

Definition:	Example:
To shift the blame; to blame somebody else	It’s your fault. Don’t try to pass the buck!

Piece/Slice of the Action

Definition:	Example:
A share in the activity or the profits of something	The inventor wanted a large piece of the action of the profits from the new computer that he had invented.

Pull One’s Weight

Definition:	Example:
To do one’s share of the work	Don’t rely on others to get your job done. You need to pull your own weight.

Rally the Troops

Definition:	Example:
To motivate others; to get other people excited about doing something; to do something to improve the morale of the employees and get them energized about doing their work	After the lay-offs and salary cuts, the airline president organized a meeting to rally the troops and plan for the next year.

Red Ink

Definition:	Example:
Debt (red ink on a financial statement)	The automobile company has been drowning in red ink since the US dollar began to rise.

Sell Like Hotcakes

Definition:	Example:
Sell very quickly	The children’s toys were selling like hotcakes at the end of the year.

Shape Up or Ship Out!

Definition:	Example:
Improve your behavior or leave; if you don’t improve your performance, you’re going to get fired	Martin finally had enough of Todd’s negative attitude. “Shape up or ship out!” he told Todd.

Sweetheart Deal

Definition:	Example:
A deal made between friends so that both may make a big profit	We were able to make a sweetheart deal with our landlord and got the rent greatly reduced.

Take on

Definition:	Example:
To give a job to or hire someone	The company took on many new workers during the busy holiday season.

Through the Roof

Definition:	Example:
Very high; higher than expected	No wonder people are complaining about the cost of heating their homes. Oil prices have gone through the roof!

Throw Cold Water on

Definition:	Example:
To present reasons why something will not work; to discourage	The managers threw cold water on the plans to close down the factory for one week in August.

Tight Spot

Definition:	Example:
A difficult situation	The computer manufacturing company has been in a tight spot since the shortage of computer chips appeared.

Work Down to the Wire

Definition:	Example:
To work until the last minute; to work until just before the deadline	The investment bankers need to turn in their report at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, and they’ve still got many hours of work left on it. They’re going to be working down to the wire.

Write Off

Definition:	Example:
Remove from a business record, cancel a debt	It was impossible for the bank to collect the money so they were forced to write off the loan.

Yes Man

Definition:	Example:
An employee who always agrees with the boss or does whatever the boss says	Don’t expect Larry to argue with the boss. He’s a yes man.