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[10:29] Essential Workplace English Idioms Explained: Enhance Business Communication Skills

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This article explains common workplace English idioms to help learners improve their communication skills in business contexts. It covers useful expressions such as 'go back to the drawing board,' 'keep me in the loop,' and 'rule of thumb,' with clear examples to enhance listening and speaking abilities in professional settings.

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Idioms are short phrases with meanings that are different from the meanings of their individual words. Idioms are different from slang. Idioms are in between formal and informal, so they are acceptable in everyday English conversations and emails, including some communication at work. Slang is very informal and is usually used in humor, music, and conversations between close friends. Formal English is used in official business, legal, and academic contexts. Casual English includes idioms and is used in everyday conversation and emails, whereas informal English, which includes slang, is used in humor and music. Slang is almost never used in business English, but idioms are often used in conversations and emails. Understanding the difference between idioms and slang is crucial for effective business communication. The method for learning idioms involves first looking at an example in context and trying to guess its meaning, then checking the explanation. This approach encourages active thinking and helps learners understand new expressions more quickly. We showed the president 20 ideas for new products, but she didn't like any of them, so we had to go back to the drawing board. "Go back to the drawing board" means to start again from the beginning. Designers and engineers often draw a picture of a product as the first step in its development. The idiom implies returning to the initial stage of a process when the first attempt fails. Another common idiom is "way off the mark," which describes something very wrong or inaccurate. It originates from archery, where arrows that do not hit the target are off the mark. The word "way" emphasizes the extent of inaccuracy. Both idioms illustrate how imagery from practical activities can convey abstract meanings in business English. The text for the article is almost perfect, but I just want to tweak one or two sentences. "Tweak" means to make small adjustments. It can be used as either a noun or a verb, as in "I want to tweak one or two things" or "I want to make a few tweaks." Another idiom is "keep me in the loop," which means being informed or updated. Its opposite is "out of the loop," meaning not being informed about a project or news. These idioms show how subtle adjustments in communication or staying informed can significantly impact work efficiency and clarity. Three people from my department are on vacation, so I've got a lot on my plate at the moment. This means having many responsibilities. Imagine going to a buffet and putting a lot of food on your plate — you are obligated to eat it all. Similarly, having a lot on your plate in business refers to managing many tasks simultaneously. The idiom "rule of thumb" means a general practice or guideline that may have exceptions. Using the thumb as a rough measuring tool symbolizes estimating rather than precise calculation. Both idioms highlight how everyday experiences can shape useful expressions for workplace communication. Bob said I missed the deadline, but I want to set the record straight. This means to correct a mistake and tell the truth. Misunderstandings or false reports should be clarified with the correct facts. Another idiom is "put on the back burner," meaning to give something low priority temporarily. It originates from cooking, where less important items are placed on the back burners. These idioms emphasize prioritizing tasks and maintaining clarity in professional interactions. That program never produced significant results, so the director finally decided to pull the plug, meaning to stop or discontinue. Pulling a plug in a literal sense stops an electrical device, while metaphorically it applies to projects. Another idiom, "in a nutshell," means to summarize. Just as a nutshell is small, the phrase condenses complex information into concise statements. Both idioms demonstrate practical strategies for efficient communication in business settings. Laura didn't attend the meeting. Could you send her a summary to bring her up to speed? This idiom means giving someone the most recent information to be fully informed. "Calling the shots" means making important decisions. The person calling the shots has the authority to direct actions and ensure that others follow instructions. Understanding these idioms helps learners navigate workplace dynamics, stay informed, and recognize who holds decision-making power. Applying these expressions in conversations and emails improves clarity and professionalism in business English.

This concludes the business English listening material on presentations, meetings, negotiations, and phone conversations collected by Xiao Wu from qicai.com. We hope you gain some valuable insights!

Listening Comprehension

  • summary

    noun

    1. a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form

    e.g. he gave a summary of the conclusions

    Synonym: sum-up

  • update

    noun

    1. news that updates your information

  • authority

    noun

    1. official permission or approval

    e.g. authority for the program was renewed several times

    Synonym: authorizationauthorisationsanction

    2. the power or right to give orders or make decisions

    e.g. he has the authority to issue warrants
    deputies are given authorization to make arrests
    a place of potency in the state

    Synonym: authorizationauthorisationpotencydominancesay-so

    3. freedom from doubt
    belief in yourself and your abilities

    e.g. his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular
    after that failure he lost his confidence
    she spoke with authority

    Synonym: assuranceself-assuranceconfidenceself-confidencesureness

    4. an authoritative written work

    e.g. this book is the final authority on the life of Milton

    5. an administrative unit of government

    e.g. the Central Intelligence Agency
    the Census Bureau
    Office of Management and Budget
    Tennessee Valley Authority

    Synonym: agencyfederal agencygovernment agencybureauoffice

    6. an expert whose views are taken as definitive

    e.g. he is an authority on corporate law

    7. (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others

    e.g. the authorities have issued a curfew

  • loop

    noun

    1. a flight maneuver
    aircraft flies a complete circle in the vertical plane

    Synonym: loop-the-loop

    2. a complete electrical circuit around which current flows or a signal circulates

    Synonym: closed circuit

    3. fastener consisting of a metal ring for lining a small hole to permit the attachment of cords or lines

    Synonym: cringleeyeletgrommetgrummet

    4. an intrauterine device in the shape of a loop

    5. the topology of a network whose components are serially connected in such a way that the last component is connected to the first component

    Synonym: loop topology

    6. a computer program that performs a series of instructions repeatedly until some specified condition is satisfied

    7. the basic pattern of the human fingerprint

    8. an inner circle of advisors (especially under President Reagan)

    e.g. he's no longer in the loop

    9. (computer science) a single execution of a set of instructions that are to be repeated

    e.g. the solution took hundreds of iterations

    Synonym: iteration

    10. anything with a round or oval shape (formed by a curve that is closed and does not intersect itself)

  • priority

    noun

    1. preceding in time

    Synonym: antecedenceantecedencyanteriorityprecedenceprecedency

    2. status established in order of importance or urgency

    e.g. ...its precedence as the world's leading manufacturer of pharmaceuticals
    national independence takes priority over class struggle

    Synonym: precedenceprecedency

  • thumb

    noun

    1. a convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipse

    Synonym: ovoloquarter round

    2. the part of a glove that provides a covering for the thumb

    3. the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb

    Synonym: pollex

  • tweak

    noun

    1. a squeeze with the fingers

    Synonym: pinch

  • mistaken

    adj

    1. arising from error

    e.g. a false assumption
    a mistaken view of the situation

    Synonym: false

    2. wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment

    e.g. well-meaning but misguided teachers
    a mistaken belief
    mistaken identity

    Synonym: misguided

  • discontinue

    verb

    1. prevent completion

    e.g. stop the project
    break off the negotiations

    Synonym: breakbreak offstop

    2. put an end to a state or an activity

    e.g. Quit teasing your little brother

    Synonym: stopceasegive upquitlay off

    3. come to or be at an end

    e.g. the support from our sponsoring agency will discontinue after March 31

  • responsibilities
  • idioms