Work & Business Idioms — Idioms
The idioms of meetings, projects, and office decisions — the language of American business. · 10 idioms · Level B2
get the ball rolling
Meaning: to start something and make it move forward
neutral meetings, projects, sports
Example: Let's get the ball rolling on the new website today.
A Shall we get the ball rolling?
B Yes — first task goes to marketing.
⚠️ Common mistake: Get the ball rolling = START it. Keep the ball rolling = continue it. Different verbs!
back to the drawing board
Meaning: to start again from the beginning because the plan failed
neutral projects, design, planning
Example: The design failed testing, so it's back to the drawing board.
A The client rejected everything.
B Then it's back to the drawing board, team.
⚠️ Common mistake: It's back TO the drawing board (with 'to') — the board is where plans are drawn.
think outside the box
Meaning: to think creatively, beyond the usual rules
neutral business, marketing, problem-solving
Example: We need to think outside the box to win younger customers.
A Think outside the box for this campaign.
B What if the ad has no product in it at all?
⚠️ Common mistake: Outside THE box — one specific box: the box of normal thinking.
on the same page
Meaning: to agree and understand each other
neutral meetings, teams, couples planning
Example: Before we start, let's make sure we're on the same page about the budget.
A Are we on the same page about Friday?
B Yes — launch at nine, no changes.
⚠️ Common mistake: On the same page — not 'in the same page'. Pages are ON surfaces in this idiom.
cut corners
Meaning: to do something quickly and cheaply, skipping quality or rules
informal work, building, quality warnings
Example: Never cut corners on safety.
A The paint is peeling already.
B The contractor cut corners, clearly.
⚠️ Common mistake: Cut corners is always a criticism — it means quality suffered.
the bottom line
Meaning: the most important fact or result; the final profit/loss
neutral business, finance, decisions
Example: The bottom line is we can't afford it.
A Cut to it — what's the bottom line?
B We need two more weeks and ten thousand dollars.
⚠️ Common mistake: Two lives: the FACT (the bottom line is…) and the MONEY (the bottom line improved). Context decides.
a learning curve
Meaning: the speed and difficulty of learning something new
neutral jobs, training, technology
Example: The new software has a steep learning curve.
A New system on Monday.
B Expect a learning curve for the first month.
⚠️ Common mistake: STEEP learning curve = hard to learn (the curve climbs fast). Students mix this up — steep means difficult here.
by the book
Meaning: following the rules exactly
neutral rules, officials, procedures
Example: The inspector does everything by the book.
A He approved it in one day?
B Impossible — Marta does everything by the book.
⚠️ Common mistake: By the book is neutral — it can praise honesty or criticize stiffness. Tone decides.
raise the bar
Meaning: to make standards higher
neutral work, sports, quality
Example: Her presentation raised the bar for the whole team.
A This quarter raised the bar.
B Then next quarter we jump higher.
⚠️ Common mistake: Raise the bar — from high jump: the bar goes UP, so jumping gets harder.
call the shots
Meaning: to make the decisions; to be in charge
informal work, families, sports teams
Example: In this project, Maria calls the shots.
A Who calls the shots here?
B The founder — always has.
⚠️ Common mistake: Call the shots — like a director calling shots in a film. The decider, not the loudest person.
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