English Idioms - Learn Business Idioms and Business Phrases

I’ve gathered ten of the most common idioms used in business for this article. I’m sure you have heard some of them, if not in American films and television shows, then maybe at work.

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Business before pleasure

This idiom means that you should take care of your responsibilities before you relax and enjoy yourself.

I’d love to have lunch with you, but I’ve got a report to finish – business before pleasure I’m afraid!
I can’t come to the party. I have to work – business before pleasure.

Too many chiefs, not enough Indians

This idiom means that there are too many bosses/supervisors and not enough people to actually do the work.

There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians in this agency.
This company has too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

Down the drain

This idiom refers to something that has been wasted. Similar expressions in English are to cast money, time or effort to the wind.

His years of research went down the drain when the company went bankrupt.
All my efforts to get this job for you went down the drain!

Keep one’s head above water

This phrase is used when it comes to dealing with a difficult financial situation which is on the verge of collapse. To “keep one’s head above water” means to continue operating a business.

Our business is bad. I’m not sure how long we’ll be able to keep our heads above water.
He was trying to keep his head above water for a year, without saying a word to me.

Cutting edge

This expression is used to describe the newest, most modern level of development of something, especially when referring to technology, medicine, science, etc.

The company is at the cutting edge of aeronautics.
His project is at the cutting edge of Internet marketing strategies.

A dead duck

This idiom refers to an unfortunate plan or event that will undoubtedly fail, so it is not even worth discussing.

The project was a dead duck due to a lack of funding.
Your plan is a dead duck. It won’t work!

Sell ice to Eskimos

This expression in English means to convince someone to act against their own interests or to buy something they don’t need.

Billy is a great salesman. He can sell ice to Eskimos.
It seems she can sell ice to Eskimos. She’s got a great selling strategy.

Eager beaver

An expression that is used to describe a very hardworking person or a person who is very enthusiastic about doing something.

John is an eager beaver. He will certainly become a successful economist.
His father wasn’t an eager beaver, so he had to work hard from an early age.

Wear many hats

To have many responsibilities. This idiom can also mean to combine duties or to perform many different tasks.

For example, in a small company, many employees have several responsibilities and perform a variety of different tasks.

Our company is small so the employees need to be flexible and understand that they need to wear many hats.
I had to wear many hats at my last job.

Given the pink slip

To be fired. When a person is fired, it said that he was “given the pink slip.”

They gave him the pink slip. He wasn’t doing his job very well.
Martin got the pink slip. His project failed.

What idioms related to business do you know? I’m awaiting your answers in the comments!

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