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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 STICK TO THE POINT  

Phrase

  • to continue with a topic without changing it or digressing from it.
Example Sentence: Could you please stick to the point? We've been listening to you for long minutes now and you still haven't explained your real reasons.
 

FORECAST fɔrˌkæst

Noun

  • prediction; a statement concerning the future of something (e.g. a market segment, a product, exchange rates).
Example Sentence: The agency issued a gloomy forecast about the future of the sector.
 

TO REVIVE rɪˈvaɪv

Verb

  • to make something strong and healthy again after a difficult period.
Example Sentence: Policy makers have been struggling to revive the economy and experts say the right measures have been introduced to this end.
 

TO LUBRICATE lubrɪˌkeɪt

Verb

  • to make something run/operate more smoothly.
Example Sentence: The government intended to lubricate the financial wheels with the help of a series of measures.
 

TO LOSE OUT TO  

Phrasal Verb

  • to not get a deal/business because a competitor has offered better conditions/lower prices etc and thus got it
Example Sentence: Artists of the music and film industry are losing out to piracy so it's a question of life and death to work out ways in which to get back at least some of the revenues.
 

TO QUADRUPLE kwɒˈdrupəl

Verb

  • to become four times bigger.
Example Sentence: Sales of this particular product have quadrupled in the past 2 months owing to the especially successful marketing campaign.
 

CASUAL WORK kæʒuəl wɜrk

Noun

  • work that is not permanent, with no obligation for the employer to provide the usual employment conditions such as sick leave.
Example Sentence: Casual jobs which last for a few days only are available throughout the year in my favourite country, New Zealand.
 

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.
 

TO REAP rip

Verb

  • to get something as a result of an activity.
Example Sentence: The German car maker expects to reap 56% of its profits in Asia next year.
 

WORD-OF-MOUTH ADVERTISEMENT  

Phrase

  • a type of advertisement when a product or service is popularized because people tell each other about it and not because they read about it or watch adverts on TV.
Example Sentence: Experts say that word-of-mouth advertising is much more influential than any other form of publicity because it is more genuine.
 

BANDWAGON bændˌwægən

Noun

  • an activity or popular view that a lot of people join or share, usually because it is fashionable; a current trend .
Example Sentence: Among others a lot of brand-name sports companies have jumped on the Japanese tsunami bandwagon and campaign with it.
 

TO PIGEONHOLE pɪdʒənˌhoʊl

Verb

  • to categorise somebody, to label somebody.
Example Sentence: Almost everybody gets pigeonholed for one reason or another. My boss, for example, thinks I am the one who is always late, although I only miss my train to work every second week.
 

TO BE ON THE BALL  

Phrase

  • to be able to understand and react to any situation or fact quickly.
Example Sentence: Although the new marketing manager is really on the ball, the CEO doesn't like her. He must be jealous – she is much younger and probably much more talented than he is.
 

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.
 

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT  

Noun

  • the total value of all the services and goods produced by a certain country a year including the income from abroad.
Example Sentence: Why should we be happy when our GNP increases?' It is a question every economist can answer very easily.
 
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