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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. 

SET UP A MEETING  

Phrase

  • to make arrangements for a meeting.
Example Sentence: I am trying to set up a meeting with the manager of our department.
 

GIVE (SOMEONE) THE GREEN LIGHT  

Phrase

  • to give someone permission to go ahead with a project.
Example Sentence: Our boss gave us the green light to begin work on the new sales campaign.
 

HEADS WILL ROLL  

Phrase

  • someone will be punished.
Example Sentence: Heads will roll when our boss learns about the money that we have lost.
 

BOTTOM LINE bɒtəm laɪn

Phrasal Verb

  • the total, the final figure on a balance sheet.
Example Sentence: After we examined the bottom line of the company we decided not to invest in it.
 

CLARIFY klærəˌfaɪ

Verb

  • to make something clear.
Example Sentence: Can we please clarify who will be responsible for the project?
 

TO COMMISSION kəˈmɪʃən

Verb

  • to officially ask someone to do something for you.
Example Sentence: Leonardo was commissioned to make an altar piece in 1483 in the Church of S. Francesco Grande.
 

TO GET INTO GEAR  

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
 

ESPIONAGE ɛspiəˌnɑʒ

Noun

  • the activity of secretly acquiring information about another company/competitor/country etc in order to gain an unfair advantage.
Example Sentence: Industrial espionage has always been a real threat in this country, and things don't seem to be improving under the new regulations either.
 

TAX RETURN tæks rɪˈtɜrn

Noun

  • Is a form on which certain tax payers annually list their salary (including pensions), or income from self employment together with benefits in kind, other income and capital gains.
Example Sentence: Don’t forget to get your tax return in by the end of the month. There’s a penalty if you send it in late.
 

BID bɪd

Verb

  • The price a buyer is willing to offer for shares in a company.
Example Sentences: When trading online, be careful that you don't bid too high for the shares.
How much did you bid for the shares?
 

SICK PAY /sɪk peɪ/

Noun

  • Sick pay is money given by an employer to someone who cannot work because of illness.
Example Sentences: Surely your company won't give you indefinite sick pay; don't they specify a time limit?
 

TO AUTHORIZE /ɔθəˌraɪz/

Verb

  • to permit.
Example Sentence: By signing his name, he authorized the bank to take money out of his account.
 

FORMALLY fɔrməli

adverb

  • Formally is an adverb based on the adjective formal, which describes language, clothes and behaviour that are serious and correct.
Example Sentences: He was formally dressed in a grey suit.
The head teacher greeted us very formally.
 

TO MAKE A KILLING  

phrase

  • If you make a killing, you earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort.
Example Sentences: I bought the shares cheap and sold them for a lot. I really made a killing.
They made a killing with the sale of their London house.
 

STANDING ORDER /stan′diŋ ôr′dər/

phrase

  • Purchase order covering repeated deliveries of goods or services in specified quantities, at specified prices, and according to a specified schedule.
Example Sentences:We have a standing order for 100 reams of A4 paper each month.
Since we’re ordering regularly from this supplier, I suggest we set up a standing order with them.
 
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