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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. 

TO BE ON THE MAKE  

18 May 2024

phrase

  • If someone is on the make they are trying very hard to obtain more money and power.
Example Sentences: I wouldn't trust Harry. He's definitely someone who is on the make.
Tom's a young man on the make - he doesn't care who he offends.
 

TO CUT A DEAL  

17 May 2024

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.
 

TO CORNER THE MARKET  

16 May 2024

phrase

  • If a company corners the market for a particular type of product, it is more successful than any other company at selling the product.
Example Sentences: He's the only person who imports this product. He's really cornered the market.
MacDonald's have cornered the fast-food market - they're in every big city in the world.
 

TO DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN  

15 May 2024

phrase

  • To drive a hard bargain is to expect a lot in exchange for what you pay or do.
Example Sentences: It's hard doing business with Maggie. She drives a hard bargain.
I had to give them a 30% discount or the deal was off. They drove a hard bargain.
 

TO STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK  

14 May 2024

phrase

  • To stay ahead of the pack is to maintain a business advantage over your competitors.
Example Sentences: If you want to succeed in this business you needto stay ahead of the pack.
The only way we can stay ahead of the pack is by making our products the best.
 

TO HANG UP ONE'S BOOTS  

13 May 2024

phrase

  • To hang up your boots is to retire from your job or profession.
Example Sentences: After 40 years in the police force, Paul finally hung up his boots.
After winning the World Rugby Cup, Martin Johnson, England's captain, hung up his boots.
 

TO HAVE ONE'S HAND or FINGERS IN THE TILL  

12 May 2024

phrase

  • If you have your fingers or hand in the till, you steal money from the place where you work.
Example Sentences: The accountant had stolen a lot of money. He'd had his hand in the till for years.
He was caught with his hand in the till and was fired immediately.
 

TO MAKE A KILLING  

11 May 2024

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.
 

TO RUN A TIGHT SHIP  

10 May 2024

phrase

  • If someone runs a tight ship, they do their job or manage their department or organization in a very efficient manner.
Example Sentences: She's an excellent manager. She runs a really tight ship.
This department used to be run as a tight ship, but look at it now!
 

TO BE IN THE MARKET FOR SOMETHING  

09 May 2024

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.
 

TO CUT ONE'S LOSSES  

08 May 2024

phrase

  • If you cut your losses, you stop wasting time or money on something, so you will not lose any more time or money.
Example Sentences: After spending weeks on the project and seeing no profit, the director decided to cut the company's losses and end the project.
The new restaurant already had a bad reputation so the owners cut their losses and closed it down.
 

TO GIVE SOMEONE THE GREEN LIGHT  

07 May 2024

phrase

  • If you give something or someone the green light, you give your permission to start something.
Example Sentences:We were all prepared to start the project. We were just waiting for the director to give us the green light.
On Tuesday, all of the new employees will be given the green light and the store will officially open for business.
 

TO SELL LIKE HOTCAKES  

06 May 2024

phrase

  • If something sells like hotcakes, it sells very quickly in large numbers.
Example Sentences: When the new iPod came out, it sold like hotcakes.
All the manufacturer did was add a new keyboard and the product sold like hotcakes.
 

TO GAIN GROUND  

05 May 2024

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.
 

TO CUT CORNERS /tu; kʌt kɔrnərs/

04 May 2024

phrase

  • To cut corners is to use faster and easier methods in return for lower quality products.
Example Sentences: My office decided that all employees should stop cutting corners, so now we must create all of our own documents.
The engineers had cut too many corners when they started saying paper was a good material for building commercial airlines.
 
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