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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. 

TAKE A PAY CUT  

Phrase

  • to accept a decrease in one's salary.
Example Sentence: The telephone workers were forced to take a pay cut after the strike.
 

ON HAND ɒn hænd

Phrase

  • to be in one's possession, to be ready.
Example Sentence: We did not have enough supplies on hand and were unable to finish the job.
 

IN THE WORKS  

Phrase

  • to be in preparation, to be in the process of being done.
Example Sentence: The camera company has a new camera in the works but nobody knows about it.
 

BUYOUT baɪˌaʊt

Noun

  • when a person or group buys control of a company.
Example Sentence: A private equity firm has completed its $3.5bn buyout of the UK music group.
 

AXE æksɪz

Verb

  • to suddenly reduce or stop providing something.
Example Sentence: The product was axed a mere five weeks after it was launched.
 

LAISSEZ-FAIRE lɛseɪ ˈfɛr

Noun

  • a style of management when the manager sets the task and then allows the employees to complete it with more or less independence and with only a minimal involvement from his side.
Example Sentence: The laissez-faire management style of the CEO really inspires colleagues and spurs growth.
 

SLUSH FUND slʌʃ slʌʃ

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.
 

TO INFRINGE ɪnˈfrɪndʒ

Verb

  • to violate/break a law, rule or regulation.
Example Sentence: If you infringe copyright regulations, you can expect a heavy fine.
 

HEDGE FUNDS hɛdʒ fʌnd

Noun

  • Hedge funds are speculative funds which make large bets on market movements. They utilize borrowed money to substantially leverage their returns (and losses), often at a factor of ten to one, or more. They purchase exotic securities and also take substantial short positions when they think the market or a particular sector of the market will go down.
Example Sentence: Hedge funds are extremely risky and are suitable for high-wealth investors only.
 

EQUITY ɛkwɪti

Noun

  • The value of stocks and shares; the net value of mortgaged property.
Example Sentences: He sold his equity in the company last year.
The rights give holders the opportunity to purchase additional equity interests in the company at a big discount.
 

FOUNDED /faʊnd/

Verb

  • started, set up, established a company or organisation
Example Sentences: She founded the company with a $10,000 bank loan
We were founded in 1981.
 

A RECEIPT /rɪˈsit/

Noun

  • the act of receiving or a written record of a transaction.
Example Sentence: The teller gave the customer a receipt for his deposit.
 

PROVE pruv

verb

  • Prove is the verb form of the noun proof. To prove is to show that something is true.
Example Sentences: They suspected that she'd killed him but they could never actually prove that it was her.
Computers have been used to prove mathematical theorems.
 

TO CUT A DEAL  

phrase

  • To cut a deal is to make a successful, usually business, arrangement with someone or another company.
Example Sentences: We're both competing for the same business. Perhaps we can cut a deal to share out the work.
We've cut a deal with the sales staff. They've agreed to reduce their basic salary in return for more commission.
 

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN /sər tif′i kit ʌv ôr′ə jin/

phrase

  • A certificate stating the country in which a commodity has been grown, milled, produced, manufactured or assembled.
Example Sentences:According to the certificate of origin, this lamp shade was made in Thailand.
 
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