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. To receive 'Business Word/Phrase of the Day' by email, just subscribe to our newsletter. You can choose whether to receive notifications daily, weekly or monthly. Simply click on the link on the right to subscribe. It's free!

BEAN COUNTER bin kaʊntər

14 Aug 2020

Phrase

  • an accountant.
Example Sentence: We asked the bean counters to look at the figures in the new budget.
 

EXPLOIT ɛksplɔɪt

14 Jul 2020

Verb

  • use to your benefit.
Example Sentence: The country's resources are not being fully exploited.
 

TO HIT A GLASS CEILING  

14 Jun 2020

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  

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.
 

TO EMBEZZLE ɛmˈbɛzəl

14 Apr 2020

Verb

  • to steal money that belongs to your employer.
Example Sentence: The bank's manager was able to embezzle thousands of dollars from his employer.
 

TAX AVOIDANCE tæks əˈvɔɪdns

14 Mar 2020

Noun

  • Is working within the law to minimise the tax you owe.
Example Sentence: Richard has a really switched-on accountant who specialises in tax avoidance for self-employed people.
 

BLUE COLLAR WORKERS  

14 Feb 2020

Phrase

  • Are people who do physical or unskilled work in a factory or outdoors rather than office work. Blue-collar workers are often poorly educated and poorly paid.
Example Sentence: More than 500 blue-collar workers, employed by the mining company, have gone on strike. They’re demanding better pay and working conditions.
 

REDUNDANCY PAYMENT /rɪˈdʌndənsi peɪmənt/

14 Jan 2020

Noun

  • A redundancy payment is what a company pays to workers who are no longer needed.
Example Sentences: How was your redundancy payment calculated?
After working for the company for 20 years, I received a very generous redundancy payment.
 

BREAK INTO /breɪk ɪntʊ/

14 Dec 2019

Phrasal Verb

  • to start to use money that you have saved.
Example Sentence: I broke into my savings to buy a beautiful diamond engagement ring for my girlfriend.
 

PRINCIPLE prɪnsəpəl

14 Nov 2019

noun

  • A principle is a basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works.
Example Sentences: The principle of democracy is important to Americans.
I agree with you in principle but I think it will be difficult to achieve in practice.
 

TO BE IN THE MARKET FOR SOMETHING  

14 Oct 2019

phrase

  • If you are in the market for something, you are looking for something particular that you want to buy.
Example Sentences: No, I do not like this car. Actually, I am in the market for a new Mercedes.
We were in the market for a new house, but we decided instead to move to an apartment.
 

COMMERCIAL kəˈmɜrʃəl

14 Aug 2019

Noun

  • an advertisement on the television.
Example Sentence: He went to make a coffee during the commercial break.
 

LETTER OF CREDIT /ˈbɛt ər ʌv ˈkrɛd ɪt/

14 Jul 2019

phrase

  • A Letter of Credit or L/C is a binding document that a buyer can request from his bank in order to guarantee that the payment for goods will be transferred to the seller. Basically, a letter of credit gives the seller reassurance that he will receive the payment for the goods. In order for the payment to occur, the seller has to present the bank with the necessary shipping documents confirming the delivery of goods within a given time frame. It is often used in international trade to eliminate risks such as unfamiliarity with the foreign country, customs, or political instability.
Example Sentences:We never release a shipment until a letter of credit has been issued.
The buyer applies to the bank for a letter of credit to be issued.
 

VOLUME vɒlyum

14 Jun 2019

Noun

  • the total amount of something.
Example Sentence: The volume of trade has dropped in recent months.
 

COLD-CALL koʊld kɔl

14 May 2019

Noun

  • to call somebody to try to sell something without permission or warning.
Example Sentence: I hate it when people cold-call to sell me things.
 
Menu