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30 Business English Idioms and Phrases
1. Cutting corners
If we cut corners, the new filing system won't work.
To "cut corners" is to finish a task in a hurry. Do something without paying attention to details so as to make mistakes or cause new problems.
2. Go back to the drawing board
The client didn't like your proposal, so we had to go back to the drawing board.
He was going back to the drawing board on the issue.
"Going back to the drawing board" means starting from scratch with a fresh idea. This phrase makes you think of a blackboard that has been wiped clean. It is most often used when an idea or project is rejected.
Sound friendly when you use it to show that you are letting go of your ideas. Asking someone to "redo" a project is usually a bit tough!
3. Call it a day
With the right team, we've made a lot of progress and I think it's time to call it a day!
"Calling it a day" means you are giving up on something. This can mean taking a break on a project because you've reached a point in time where you stop, or stopping something altogether. It can be either negative or positive, depending on the context.
Literally, it's a phrase that officially ends a workday: that was the whole day, and I declare the day over!
4. Workflow
I'm having some workflow issues and won't be able to help you until next week.
What is your current workflow?
This extremely ungrammatical business language has become very common in the office. Not surprisingly, "workflow" refers to the speed at which employees set tasks and expect them to be completed.
When someone says they have "workflow issues," they usually mean they are overworked. It places the blame on the "flow" of incoming tasks - that is, communication within the workplace - rather than the work itself, which is very clever and a great way to explain missed deadlines! In rare cases, the term "workflow problem" also describes a lack of work. Most companies actually use project management software to manage their workflow and projects to avoid workflow problems.
"What's your workflow like?" Is a way of asking colleagues if they have too much work to do, or if they feel underutilized. People may be reluctant to answer directly or ask how busy they are at work, so this is a polite way to talk about the problem.
5. Touch the base
To "touch base" with someone is to talk to them, either digitally or in person, usually briefly. It usually describes keeping someone up to date on something you're both working on.
It's a business term adapted from the world of sports.
6. Reach out
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
To "reach out" means to get in touch with someone, usually someone you don't know well. This is common, but when you first hear it, it seems like an odd use of the word "reach," which suggests physical extension or initiative
包括汇报、即时信息、及时知会、最新结果等等。很宽泛，很有内涵。不同的角色和场合有不同的含义。
7. Keep me up to date
Include reports, instant messages, notifications, latest results, and so on. It's very broad, very informative. Different roles and situations have different meanings.
8. Dig deep
I think we can dig deeper when we meet with the product team.
To "drill" something is to explore it more deeply.
9. So far
As of now, we have no plans to hire a social media manager.
This is common in emails, meaning "at the moment," and it's another example of business jargon violating the rules of English grammar, but still coming across as formal!
10. Long-term planning
I think we need a degree of forward planning on this issue.
Many business terms make basic concepts sound complicated in order to impress, and this is one of them. "Forward planning" means only "plans" because all plans are for activities that will occur in the future.
Feeling inspired? Check out our article on 63 phrases to take your business presentation to the next level.
11. At the end of the day
Ultimately, we make the best of a difficult situation.
Despite referring to the end of the day, the phrase has nothing to do with time, or getting home from work. It means "when everything is taken into account" and is used to indicate that a speaker is making a concluding statement about something. You could use the word "eventually" instead
"at the end of the day" is often used in business English, but it's also very informal.
12. Be proactive
George, I would appreciate it if you could be proactive in attracting new clients.
The word is not only used in company speeches, but is also overused in office Settings. To be "proactive" is to take the initiative on something -- which usually means starting a new task yourself, rather than waiting for your colleagues or boss to prompt you. It may also mean taking the first step and contacting the people you will be working with.
13. Action points
I left the meeting with three action points. One - Email about printer facilities......
As an action point, I will listen to some training blogs.
As you might guess, "action points" are recommendations for specific actions to be taken. This is often heard near the end of a meeting, or written at the end of a long email.
It's ungrammatical, but it's useful because it shows that you intend to turn the ideas under discussion into actual results.
14. Make it possible /Actionable
I like your idea of painting the fence, but I don't think it's feasible at the moment.
That's a good idea. I'll take action this afternoon.
Technically, the word "action" is a noun. But in business English, it is often used as a verb. "To act" simply means "to do" it. The word "action" makes the mundane act of getting a task done sound more energetic and important!
Similarly, describing something as "actionable" means that it is possible to accomplish it.
15. Cut to the chase
Let's cut to the chase: Will you finish the report on time?
To cut to the chase means to cut to the chase without wasting time. It was originally used in the film industry and means "jump into the car chase" - the most fun, dynamic part!
This is a very informal and little-used business idiom, but it's a useful term to be aware of.
16. Get the ball rolling
Hopefully we can have success on the new pitch next week.
To "get the ball rolling" means to start doing something; Beginning to make meaningful progress.
17. Stay ahead of the game
We need to stay ahead of the game, or our competitors will knock us out.
Something "ahead of the curve" -- a product or company, for example -- is more advanced than its peers. A "curve" is a line on a fictional graph showing trend growth. Instagram, for example, was "ahead of the curve" in predicting that people would like to share photos of their lunch.
To "stay ahead" is to keep any advantage you gain over the competition. It is also sometimes used more generally to describe the need to work hard to avoid losing progress.
18. Do due diligence
We have done our due diligence and none of the other contractors appear to be qualified.
Until recently, "due diligence" was a term used only in a legal context. It is used to describe actions that people take in order to stay safe that are considered reasonable and on the right side of the law.
In business terms, "due diligence" refers to the research necessary to make a good decision. If you have done your "due diligence," then you have given due attention to the problem and weighed alternatives to the solution you intend to pursue.
19. Best practices
The CEO thinks it's best practice to clear his desk.
I uploaded it following all SEO best practices.
"Best practice" is a method that is considered to be the most efficient way of doing something. They can be industry-wide or company-specific. Many businesses encourage employees to follow a set of "best practices" - rules, procedures and techniques used in day-to-day operations - described in company manuals.
20. Improve your skills
We chose to upgrade the skills of junior staff rather than hire senior staff directly.
This business term is another formal but ungrammatical alternative to an existing word: training. To some people, "upskilling" sounds younger than "training.
21. Dynamic
We launched a vibrant new website in February.
The word "dynamic" is not reserved for companies, but it is overused in professional life. It's often considered a more office-appropriate way of saying "exciting," "interesting," or "novel."
22. Streamline
We need to simplify the filing process. There are too many missing files.
To "streamline" something is to simplify the process and get rid of unnecessary work. If anyone talks about "streamlining" your team, beware: the term is sometimes used to imply that non-essential employees will soon be out of a job.
24. Redouble your efforts
We always go the extra mile for our customers.
To "double down" means to put more effort into a task in order to get a better result than necessary. If someone says you "went the extra mile" on a project, they are complimenting your work ethic!
25. Speed up
Could you please ask Basil to speed up the payment process?
expedite. The word "expedite" is a bit of a cliche in a standard conversation, but it is very common in business English. This is a formal way of saying "speed up".
26. Go offline
They won't make a difference now, but we will benefit from positive comments in the future.
"Down the line" is a friendly way of saying "at some point in the future" and generally refers to an action that will take place months or years from now, but this time frame is vague. Anything that promises to "go offline" will almost certainly happen. That said, it's a useful phrase for making promises you won't necessarily keep or referring to results you're not confident of!
27. Every detail
Olga is a good boss. She doesn't micromanage her team.
This is a negative word that co-workers might use to discuss controlling the boss's behavior. To "micromanage" someone literally means to manage them on a micro level. Paying too close attention to the details of their work rather than giving them the opportunity to get on with it and take responsibility for it themselves. If your boss is standing behind your desk editing your email, you might feel like they're "micromanaging" you.
28. Moving Forward
We need to find out whether the increased budget is sustainable.
Going forward, I want you to work on your time management.
The phrase "going forward" is very common in business English, especially in email. More formally, "From now on,"
It refers to an action that begins now and continues indefinitely in the near future.
29. Let go
We need to let Simon go. He's been late almost every day this month.
Half the video team was laid off due to budget cuts.
"Letting go" is a gentle way of talking about an employee being fired or made redundant. It is heard more often than "fired" because it is considered more polite.
The word "let" may sound like it means someone is voluntarily leaving a job, but it's not: "let go" is never used to talk about someone who has voluntarily left a company. If there is a rumor that an employee may be "fired" at your workplace, see our handy guide on how to send a message to a recruiter on Linkedin.
30. The game is over
We'll need that report by the end of the game on Wednesday.
It's one of many English idioms stolen from the world of sport. In cricket, the term "match over" refers to the end of a day's play. In the office, it means the end of the working day.
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