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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. 

WORK OUT A PROBLEM  

Phrase

  • to solve a problem, to provide the details of something.
Example Sentence: I spent the weekend trying to work out the budget estimates for next year.
 

PUT (SOMETHING) ON HOLD  

Phrase

  • to postpone a project.
Example Sentence: The construction company put the project on hold while they researched the background.
 

MOVE TO (DO SOMETHING)  

Phrase

  • to propose to do something (usually at a meeting)
Example Sentence: I moved to have another meeting next week when we can discuss the problem.
 

A HARD SELL  

Phrase

  • a way of selling something that is very aggressive.
Example Sentence: The car salesman gave us a hard sell so we went to another car dealer.
 

ACQUISITION ækwəˈzɪʃən

Noun

  • the process of getting or buying something, especially another business
Example Sentence: The company will pay $210 million in cash to complete the acquisition.
 

BEAR MARKET bɛər mɑrkɪt

Phrase

  • a downward market trend when prices of shares, commodities etc are falling and the market is pessimistic. When this occurs there is usually high inflation and unemployment.
Example Sentence: Investment in a bear market might make sense.
 

OVERHEADS oʊvərˈhɛds

Adjective

  • regular costs that a business must pay, such as electricity, salaries, etc.
Example Sentence: Internet companies have much lower overheads.
 

RETAIL riteɪl

Adjective

  • related to the selling of goods in small quantities (e.g. in a store).
Example Sentence: The retail price was reduced by 30% after the holidays.
 

SPECULATOR spɛkyəˌleɪtər

Noun

  • Someone who buys and sells stocks and shares in the hope of making a profit through changes in their value.
Example Sentence: A property speculator is interested in buying some farmland from us. He hopes to be able to build houses on it one day.
 

STOCK OPTIONS stɒk ɒpʃən

Phrase

  • Are options, usually given to employees, to purchase stock in the company at a future date.
Example Sentence: After working for Microsoft for more than 10 years, I was able to cash in my stock options and retire comfortably at the age of 42.
 

LOAN SHARK /loʊn ʃɑrk/

Phrase

  • A loan shark charges very large amounts for lending money to someone.
Example Sentence: The loan shark, Gary Mills, made his money by charging a massive 25% interest a week.
 

GET BY /gɛt baɪ/

Phrasal Verb

  • to have just enough money for your needs.
Example Sentences: How can he get by on so little money?
He earns just enough to get by.
 

PERSONNEL pɜrsəˈnɛl

noun

  • Personnel means employees or staff.
Example Sentences: The personnel department looked after 100 employees.
If you want to apply for a job please contact the personnel department.
 

TO MAKE A COLD CALL /tu; meɪk eɪ koʊld kɔl/

phrase

  • To make a cold call is to make a sales call to a stranger.
Example Sentences: If you become an employee with our company, you will start in the sales department making cold calls.
The salesman looked in the phone book, started with A and just made cold calls all week until he got to the letter Z.
 

INVESTMENT BANKING /ɪnˈvɛst mənt ˈbæŋ kɪŋ/

phrase

  • Investment Banking is a division of banking which includes business entities dealing with creation of capital for other companies. In addition to acting as agents or underwriters for companies in the process of issuing securities, investment banks also advise companies on matters related to the issue and placement of stock.
Example Sentences:What percentage of HSBC’s profits come from its investment banking division?
The bank’s investment banking division performed poorly last year due to the stock market crashes in South America.
 
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