Fluent At Work: 12 Business English Idioms EVERY Professional Should Know

Imagine you've just arrived at a meeting with a British and American colleague you've never met before.

You want to make a GREAT first impression. 

Seems easy enough, you think. 

After all, you've been speaking English for years, and you're confident you've reached a strong C1 level. 

And the meeting seems to be going well.

You can understand 95% of what your colleagues are saying. 

So far everything's good.

Until it's not...

"Let's cut to the chase," the American colleague says. 

You are instantly confused by that phrase. As you try to figure out what it means, you ignore the rest of the conversation. 

30 seconds later, the British colleague chimes in: "As far as I can tell, it's still up in the air."

You freeze up.

"Cut to the chase?" "Up in the air?" What do those sentences mean, you wonder.

Be honest with me... does this kind of situation sound familiar? 

The reason you can't understand native speakers at work is because they are using business English idioms and vocabulary. 

Yes, it's no secret that English has become the international language of business.

If you want to expand your network, advance your career, and make professional connections around world, speaking English at a high-level (C1-2) is essential.

But knowing "standard" English is not enough. You also need to know the ins-and-outs of business English. 

That means common phrases and vocabulary that native English speakers use EVERY DAY at work! 

So, let's explore 12 essential business English idioms that EVERY professional should know! 

(Yes, you can also use these idioms and vocabulary outside of the workplace, in everyday conversation)

#1: To bring something to the table

To provide or contribute something of value.

• She is a valuable member of our team. With 5 years of experience, she brings a lot to the table.
• I don’t think we should hire him. What does he bring to the table?
  
  

#2: To do something by the book

To do something properly and according to the rules.

• I like to do things by the book – correctly and properly!
• When it comes to following international regulations, he does everything by the book.
   

#3: To hit the nail on the head

To say something and be 100% correct.

• He really hit the nail on the head when he warned us of this exact problem
• You really hit the nail on the head when you said that expanding our business into the global market was a smart idea.
  
  

#4: To see eye to eye

When you see eye to eye with someone about something, you agree with them.

• We see eye to eye about how the project should be completed.
• I see eye to eye with my wife about how our children should be raised.
  
  

#5: To be up in the air

When something is up in the air, it is not certain or clear yet.

• I’m still not sure whether I’ll be able to come to Paris with you. My plans are still up in the air.
• We are restructuring our department, but everything is still up in the air. We’re not quite sure how it’s going to work out.
  
  

#6: To cut to the chase

To get to the point and be direct when speaking.

• Just cut to the chase… I don’t have time for nonsense.
• Jeff never cuts to the chase. He always spends too long explaining things! 
  
  

#7: To cut corners

To work in a rushed manner and not do things the correct way.

• The builders cut corners when constructing this house. I don’t know if it’ll survive an earthquake!
• As a manager, it is my duty to make sure that my team doesn’t cut corners.
  
  

#8: To touch base with someone

To get in contact with someone to check on the status of something.

• Let’s touch base in two months to discuss how the plan is unfolding.
• Every once and a while, the manager touches base with his employees to make sure they are doing OK.
  
  

#9: No-brainer

A no-brainer is a noun describing something that is simple or obvious to do and does not require much thinking.

• I’ve made a lot of money this year, so hiring a good accountant was a no-brainer for me.
•  After being in politics for 30 years, his decision to run for president was a no-brainer.
  
  

#10: To get something off the ground

To start or begin something.

• After months of planning, the team finally got the project off the ground.  
• Government restrictions are making it difficult to get this project off the ground.
   

#11: To tweak

To make small changes or edits.

• I think we should tweak this paragraph before submitting the proposal.
• Could you please tweak the wording of this letter?
  
  

#12: Win-win situation

A win-win situation is a noun describing something that benefits all people involved.

• When a famous actor partners with a brand, it’s a win-win situation: the brand can benefit from the actor’s fame, and the actor gets money in return. 

There we have it: 12 essential business English idioms (and vocabulary) that EVERY professional should know. 

Yes, learning Business English is critical to understanding your boss and your colleagues. 

But it goes beyond that: knowing the right idioms can make you sound more professional and help you further your career, make new connections, and even earn more money. 

I hope you found this article useful, and I hope you will soon be able to start using some of these idioms in your conversations.

If you want more lessons and tips on all things English, don't forget to follow me on social media! 

Bye for now, 

Michael