Business Word/Phrase of the Day

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SLUSH FUND slʌʃ slʌʃ

26 May 2020

Noun

  • a certain amount of money kept for illegal and/or dishonest purposes, mainly for politics OR a reserve fund (not necessarily in the context of corruption).
Example Sentence: We all know that almost all the parties in this country have money that can be used as a little slush fund when needed.
 

CONSIDERABLE kənˈsɪdərəbəl

25 May 2020

Adjective

  • significant, large.
Example Sentence: The earthquake last week was devastating. The damage to our business operations was considerable.
 

TO BRIBE braɪb

24 May 2020

Verb

  • to give someone (e.g. a civil servant) money (usually illegally) in the hope that they will do something for you in exchange.
Example Sentences: My son didn't want to do his homework so I bribed him with a big bar of chocolate.
Today someone tried to bribe me to give him a loan with better conditions but I refused to do so and immediately reported her to the management of the bank.
 

TO PLUMMET plʌmɪt

23 May 2020

Verb

  • to decrease/go down very quickly (and perhaps unexpectedly).
Example Sentence: We wanted to sell our share in the business but then share prices plummeted and we decided to wait some more time.
 

TO DOWNSIZE daʊnˌsaɪz

22 May 2020

Verb

  • to cut the number of employees because the company wants to reduce costs.
Example Sentence: When the company decided to 'let me go' because they were downsizing, I started to panic. It took me two weeks to calm down and start thinking about what's next.
 

TO RELOCATE riˈloʊkeɪt

21 May 2020

Verb

  • to find a new location for a company to operate.
Example Sentence: The minimum wage in this country has gone up significantly. I'm afraid we'll have to relocate soon. How about South East Asia?
 

TO GET INTO GEAR  

20 May 2020

Phrase

  • to find the right pace of work and to become effective.
Example Sentence: It was very hard to get into gear at work this morning after last night's party but I think now I'm more or less OK
 

TO FREEZE friz

19 May 2020

Verb

  • to hold the price of a product, service, salaries, wages etc at the same level for some time.
Example Sentence: The government has decided to freeze wages in the public sector due to the after-effects of the economic crisis.
 

TO FIRE SOMEONE faɪər sʌmˌwʌn

18 May 2020

Verb

  • to officially terminate somebody's employment; to make someone leave their job.
Example Sentences: He was so bad at handling customer complaints that in the end we had to fire him.
Andy got fired last week because he turned out to be the spy of our competitor.
 

TO PUT YOUR EGGS ALL IN ONE BASKET  

17 May 2020

Phrase

  • to choose one particular thing over another and not rely on several choices at the same time.
Example Sentence: He really put all his eggs into on one basket and decided to leave all the other markets and concentrate solely on India.
 

INSOLVENT /ɪnˈsɒl vənt/

16 May 2020

adjective

  • A person or company becomes insolvent if they are unable to pay their debts when they are due to be paid.
Example Sentences:Probably 90% of the adult population in this country are insolvent in real terms due mainly to mortgage debts.
After the loss of several major contracts, the company has become insolvent.
 

TO COME TO A HALT  

15 May 2020

Phrase

  • come to a stop in the process.
Example Sentence: The expansion of his company came to a halt when one of his employees embezzled a considerable
 

TO HAVE ONE’S FEET ON THE GROUND  

14 May 2020

Phrase

  • to be sensible.
Example Sentence: Despite his huge sudden success in business he manages to keep his feet on the ground.
 

BREAKEVEN breɪkˈivən

13 May 2020

Noun

  • the point at which a business operation can begin to make profit, and no longer loses money.
Example Sentence: I'm sure my husband's company will reach breakeven within a year.
 

UPMARKET ʌpˌmɑrkɪt

12 May 2020

Adjective

  • a product or service intended for people who can afford to buy or pay for expensive things.
Example Sentence: I really want to impress him so I've decided to take him somewhere really upmarket for breakfast; we might try the newly opened buffet near the parliament with golden teaspoons and a complimentary glass of champagne with everything.
 
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