Idioms (Basic 2) Go the extra mile To do more than what To give our customers the

people expect best shopping experience,

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