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Business Word/Phrase of the Day

word-phrase-descEvery day we publish a business word or phrase together with audio pronunciation, phonetics, definition and example sentences. This is a great way to improve your workplace vocabulary as well as your pronunciation. To receive 'Business Word/Phrase of the Day' by email, just subscribe to our newsletter from the link above. 

RUN SHORT rʌn ʃɔrt

Phrase

  • to not have enough of something.
Example Sentence: They ran short of gasoline at the gas station and had to close early.
 

IN THE MARKET FOR (SOMETHING)  

Phrase

  • to be ready to buy something, to want to buy something.
Example Sentence: We have been in the market for a new computer for a long time.
 

GET A BREAK  

Phrase

  • to get an opportunity or good deal.
Example Sentence: We were able to get a break on the price of the paint and we saved a lot of money.
 

BANKER’S HOURS bæŋkərs aʊərs

Phrase

  • short work hours (similar to when a bank is open)
Example Sentence: My sister's husband owns his own company and works banker's hours most days.
 

FLAW flɔ

Verb

  • a problem or defect with something, especially a plan.
Example Sentence: The plan was flawed because of the lack of funds.
 

TO HIT A GLASS CEILING  

Phrase

  • the phenomenon when a career seems to be advancing for a while and then – for no apparent reason – promotions stop and the person is stuck in a certain position or at a certain level on the career ladder.
Example Sentence: They often say there's an invisible glass ceiling women hit at their workplace – certain positions are simply available only for men.
 

TO HAVE ONE’S FEET ON THE GROUND  

Phrase

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

TO INFILTRATE ɪnˈfɪltreɪt

Verb

  • to enter an organization/company secretly in order to gain information about it or cause harm to it.
Example Sentence: The company was infiltrated by Russian agents who stole the description of the new technology.
 

TAX ALLOWANCES tæks əˈlaʊəns

Noun

  • Are concessions by the Inland Revenue which can be used to reduce a person's Taxable Income.
Example Sentence: Do you know how much the tax allowance is for a married person in Hong Kong?
 

OUTSOURCING aʊtˌsɔrs

Verb

  • Is when one company uses a different company to provide some product or service.
Example Sentence: British Airways outsources its in-flight catering to American firm Gate Gourmet.
 

MERCHANT BANK /mɜrtʃənt bæŋk/

Noun

  • A merchant bank is a bank involved with companies rather than with people.
Example Sentence: Agro National Bank is a merchant bank which specialises in lending to the farming industry.
 

SAVE UP /seɪv ʌp/

Phrasal Verb

  • to keep money for a large expense in the future.
Example Sentence: It took me ages to save up enough money to go travelling.
 

ACCEPT ækˈsɛpt

verb

  • Accept means to consider something or someone as satisfactory. It can also mean to agree to take something.
Example Sentences: My boss accepted my excuse for coming late to work.
Do you accept credit cards?
 

TO GAIN GROUND  

phrase

  • To gain ground is to begin to see a profit, or to start to do better at something.
Example Sentences: Our stock was dropping for weeks but now it is gaining ground.
If the store sells off all of its old merchandise, it might gain some ground in three months.
 

CONTRACT OF SALE / kän′trakt′ ʌv sāl/

phrase

  • Formal contract by which a seller agrees to sell and a buyer agrees to buy, under certain terms and conditions spelled out in writing in the document signed by both parties. An invoice, for example, is a contract of sale. Also called agreement of sale, contract for sale, sale agreement, or sale contract.
Example Sentences:An invoice is an example of a contract of sale.
Another term for contract of sale is agreement of sale.
 
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