Contents
Let’s take a look at some of the most common business idioms starting with C.
Don’t forget to click on the links at the bottom for the rest.
meaning – a risk that is worth taking as the result would be great
example – It’s a calculated risk partnering with Richards and Co., but the profits would be immense.
meaning – stop working on a job/task/relationship because you’re tired or it’s not working
example – Let’s work for another 15 minutes then we’ll call it a day.
meaning – be in charge, make the decisions
example – Luke is in charge of the project. He’ll be calling the shots.
meaning – can’t see the whole situation as you are too preoccupied with minor details
example – I hate the people who run this country, they can’t see the wood for the trees.
meaning – develop expertise in a particular area
example – We need to carve out a niche for our business if we want to succeed.
meaning – something that generates income
example – Donald’s parents are rich! He has a constant cash cow.
meaning – take advantage of/capitalise on
example – Every magazine in the country will be cashing in on the upcoming royal wedding.
meaning – quit or exchange your winnings for money
example – The business isn’t making money, we should cash in our chips in and move on.
meaning – something/someone surprises you as you weren’t expecting it
example – I’ll tell the boss about my holiday at the end of the day. I want to catch him off guard.
meaning – be in charge of a meeting
example – My boss has asked me to chair our annual pensions meeting.
meaning – different from the normal
example – I’m moving to Canada, it’ll be a complete change of pace for me.
meaning – a person/object that is impressive/outstanding/high quality
example – The new manager is a class act, we’ve seen vast improvements since he arrived.
meaning – the hierarchy of power in a big company
example – I work for a big company. Hopefully, I can climb the corporate ladder and earn mega bucks.
meaning – succeed in getting a deal
example – If we clinch this deal, we’ll need to employ lots more staff.
meaning – go immediately of the offensive
example – The young boxer came out swinging and knocked out his opponent in 30 seconds.
meaning – still have a good reputation despite being involved in something negative
example – It was Connor’s idea to rob the safe, but he still comes out smelling of roses.
meaning – insufficient, lacking what you need, unsuccessful
example – I keep coming up short on auditions, maybe I should quit singing.
meaning – illegally manipulate official financial records
example – I think someone has been cooking the books, the business looks much better on paper.
meaning – the best person/idea will always be recognised in the end
example – Tucker cheated and won the race. I’ll win next time, cream always rises to the top.
meaning – finish a job/task
example – After 3 years working on a high-profile case, I’ve finally crossed the finish line.
meaning – take shortcuts to save time/money/effort
example – If we cut a few corners, we could finish the project by the weekend.
meaning – a very slight margin
example – If we leave at 6, we’ll be cutting it fine. We should leave earlier.
meaning – withdraw from a losing situation
example – Gary and I have cut our losses, we’re getting divorced and selling the house.
meaning – ruthless/relentless people or companies
example – The fashion industry is cut-throat.
meaning – get to the point
example – She cut to the chase and asked me to lend her £1,000.
meaning – the most modern/advanced
example – Cutting-edge technology means we can now go into space.
Did you enjoy learning common business idioms? I thought so! Click the links below to learn some more.