Business Expressions

NB: The answers are in italics

I thought this time things were going to be better. Losing the contract was ........ to swallow.
a. bottom line
b. blue collar
c. a bitter pill
d. back to the drawing board.
e. blow-by-blow

We've lost the contract thanks to your incompetence. You really ........ , didn't you?
a. back to the drawing board.
b. bottlenecks
c. bottom line
d. blue collar
e. blew it

I'd be better off stopping my legal job and doing jobs for cash. The ........ is the only way to make money these days.
a. blow-by-blow
b. back to the drawing board.
c. bottlenecks
d. black economy
e. bottom line

The product didn't work in the States. As they say there, it really ........ .
a. back to the drawing board.
b. bottlenecks
c. bombed
d. blow-by-blow
e. bottom line

However, the same product sold really well in England. As they say there, it ........ .
a. back to the drawing board.
b. bottlenecks
c. bottom line
d. blue collar
e. went like a bomb

He used to work on the factory floor. Yes, he really started out as a ........ worker.
a. blue collar
b. back to the drawing board.
c. bottlenecks
d. bottom line
e. blow-by-blow

There are many reasons why this should be a success. However, the ........ is that it has been a big flop.
a. bottom line
b. back to the drawing board.
c. bottlenecks
d. blow-by-blow
e. a bitter pill

Production has been unable to keep pace with demand. We are doing our best to eliminate the ........ .
a. blow-by-blow
b. back to the drawing board.
c. blew it
d. a bitter pill
e. bottlenecks

We'll have to start again on this one -it's time to go ........ .
a. blow-by-blow
b. blew it
c. black economy
d. bombed
e. back to the drawing board.


Don't leave out any details. I want a full ........ account of what happened in the meeting.
a. blow-by-blow
b. blew it
c. black economy
d. bombed
e. went like a bomb

At the start of the meeting everybody was very quiet and reserved but he told a few jokes to ........
a. across the board
b. break the ice
c. broke the news
d. back to the drawing board
e. take on board

He's not very quick on the uptake. it takes him quite a while to ........ new ideas.
a. on to a good thing
b. take on board
c. bullish
d. breathing down
e. brief

We're going to have to reduce budgets in every single department. There will be ........ cuts.
a. back to the drawing board
b. brief
c. on to a good thing
d. brainstorm
e. across the board

My boss never gives me any freedom. She's always ........ my neck.
a. broke the news
b. brief
c. breathing down
d. back to the drawing board
e. bullish

We need a name for our new brand. The best thing is to get a few people together and try to ........ a name.
a. brief
b. on to a good thing
c. broke the news
d. bullish
e. brainstorm

I'm very happy with our sales prospects for the next year. I'm feeling really ........ .
a. bullish
b. back to the drawing board
c. broke the news
d. on to a good thing
e. brief

We would have liked to have looked at that but that wasn't part of the ........ you set us.
a. brief
b. on to a good thing
c. back to the drawing board
d. breathing down
e. broke the news

I've heard all about it. Sally ........ to me.
a. brainstorm
b. on to a good thing
c. back to the drawing board
d. breathing down
e. broke the news




I'm well aware that this is potentially a good new product and that we are probably ........ with it
a. on to a good thing
b. back to the drawing board
c. brainstorm
d. breathing down
e. across the board

I guess this market study shows that nobody wants to buy our product. It's ........ for us.
a. back to the drawing board
b. brainstorm
c. breathing down
d. across the board
e. take on board

I reckon we owe you about the same as you owe us. Why don't we just ........ ?
a. call his bluff
b. called it a day
c. calls the shots
d. chicken
e. call it quits

We've been working on this for fourteen hours now. Isn't it time we ........ ?
a. called it a day
b. call it quits
c. calls the shots
d. chicken
e. call his bluff

Let's face it, he decides. He's the boss so he's the one that ........ .
a. called it a day
b. calls the shots
c. call it quits
d. chicken
e. call his bluff

He says he will go elsewhere if we don't lower our price but I don't think he will. I think we should ........ .
a. call his bluff
b. call it quits
c. called it a day
d. calls the shots
e. chicken

I'm sure that there is a lot of corruption in that country. If we order an internal audit we may be opening ........ .
a. carry the can
b. chicken
c. can't win
d. chicken and egg
e. a can of worms

Someone is going to have to take responsibility for this disaster. Who is going to ........ .
a. can't win
b. carry the can
c. chicken
d. a can of worms
e. chicken and egg

Whatever we do, we are going to come out badly. It's a ........ situation.
a. a can of worms
b. carry the can
c. chicken
d. can't win
e. chicken and egg



She always like to think things through very carefully. She likes to ........ .
a. chicken and egg
b. chicken
c. chew things over
d. call his bluff
e. call it quits

We need a loan to start the company and we need a company to get the loan. It's a ........ situation.
a. calls the shots
b. chew things over
c. chicken
d. call his bluff
e. chicken and egg

We wanted to expand into Asia but we were a bit frightened. We were soon sorry for being so ........ .
a. chicken and egg
b. chicken
c. calls the shots
d. chew things over
e. call it quits

1. I imagine their company jet was very expensive indeed. It probably ________ .
a) cost the earth
b) clear the decks
c) cut it fine
d) cut-throat

2. Our Silicone Valley site is right at the ________ of the new technology.
a) cut our losses
b) cutting edge
c) cut it fine
d) cut-throat

3. There's lots of unfair competition in our sector from ________ outfits which don't respect the law.
a) crocodile tears
b) crashed
c) cowboy
d) cough up


4. We did badly in the Japanese market so eventually we decided to ________ and stop.
a) cut our losses
b) cough up
c) clear the decks
d) cut-throat

5. We had to threaten them with legal action before they agreed to ________ the money they owed us.
a) crocodile tears
b) cough up
c) cut our losses
d) clear the decks

6. We'll have to drop everything else. We'll have to ________ and concentrate on this.
a) clear the decks
b) crashed
c) cut it fine
d) cut-throat

7. Competition is really fierce. In fact, it's ________ .
a) crocodile tears
b) crashed
c) cut it fine
d) cut-throat





8. Bids had to be in by 6.00 and we put ours in ten minutes before the deadline. We really ________ .
a) crocodile tears
b) cut it fine
c) cut our losses
d) crashed

9. We can't access the computer files. The system ________ this morning and we cannot fix it.
a) crocodile tears
b) cutting edge
c) cut our losses
d) crashed

10. He said he was sorry about letting me go but I'm sure they were only ________ he was shedding.
a) crocodile tears
b) cutting edge
c) cut our losses
d) cost the earth

1. I've got to learn English fast. I need a real ________ to get me up to speed quickly.
a) crash course
b) closing a deal
c) coining it in
d) chew this over

2. The genuine results for the year were pretty bad but thanks to ________ we made them look OK!
a) copped out
b) cog in the machine
c) keep a cool head
d) creative accounting

3. You did it too fast. You always make mistakes when you try to ________ .
a) cut corners
b) closing a deal
c) coining it in
d) chew this over


4. I'm sure a lot of our future income is going to come from the Internet and other ________ activities.
a) copped out
b) cyberspace
c) keep a cool head
d) chew this over

5. I'm not an important person in this company. I'm just a lowly ________ .
a) keep a cool head
b) closing a deal
c) coining it in
d) cog in the machine

6. Their products are really selling well. They must be ________ .
a) copped out
b) closing a deal
c) raking it in
d) chew this over

7. Stop getting so angry. You really need to ________ and control your temper.
a) closing a deal
b) chew this over
c) copped out
d) keep a cool head

8. I cannot decide straight away. I'll need to ________ with my colleagues .
a) cog in the machine
b) chew this over
c) copped out
d) closing a deal


9. He isn't a very good salesman. He has a lot of problems when it comes to ________ .
a) cog in the machine
b) copped out
c) cyberspace
d) closing a deal

10. She didn't even try to raise the matter at the meeting. She just ________ completely.
a) crash course
b) copped out
c) cut corners
d) creative accounting