100 Daily Use Idioms for Business and Daily

Life

1. Think outside the box

Meaning: to think creatively
Examples:

 The team needs to think outside the box to solve this problem.
 Our manager encourages us to think outside the box during
brainstorming sessions.

2. Touch base
Meaning: to make contact or reconnect
Examples:

 Let’s touch base next week to discuss the updates.

 I touched base with my client to confirm the delivery details.

3. On the same page

Meaning: to agree or share understanding
Examples:

 Before we begin, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.

 The team was finally on the same page about the new project goals.

4. In a nutshell
Meaning: to summarize briefly
Examples:

 In a nutshell, the project was a great success.

 She explained the idea in a nutshell to save time.
5. Back to square one
Meaning: to start over
Examples:

 The design failed, so we’re back to square one.

 After the deal fell through, they were back to square one.

6. Go the extra mile

Meaning: to do more than what is expected
Examples:

 She always goes the extra mile for her clients.

 Our team went the extra mile to finish before the deadline.

7. Break the ice

Meaning: to start a conversation in a friendly way
Examples:

 The manager told a joke to break the ice.

 Small talk can help break the ice in a meeting.

8. Hit the ground running

Meaning: to start a task or job energetically
Examples:

 The new employee hit the ground running on his first day.
 We need to hit the ground running to meet our targets.

9. By the book
Meaning: strictly following rules or procedures
Examples:

 Auditors expect us to work by the book.

 The accountant did everything by the book.

10. Call it a day

Meaning: to stop working for the day
Examples:
  We finished the report, so let’s call it a day.
 They decided to call it a day after the long meeting.

11. Ballpark figure

Meaning: an approximate estimate
Examples:

 Can you give me a ballpark figure for the costs?

 He quoted a ballpark figure to start the negotiations.

12. Think on your feet

Meaning: to respond quickly and effectively
Examples:

 You need to think on your feet during client presentations.

 She was praised for thinking on her feet when problems arose.

13. The big picture

Meaning: the overall view of a situation
Examples:

 Let’s focus on the big picture instead of small details.

 Good leaders always consider the big picture.

14. Learn the ropes

Meaning: to learn how to do a job
Examples:

 It took him a month to learn the ropes at his new office.

 The mentor helped me learn the ropes quickly.

15. Cut to the chase

Meaning: get to the point
Examples:

 Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the budget.

 The CEO cut to the chase without wasting time.
16. Ahead of the curve
Meaning: to be more advanced than others
Examples:

 Our company is ahead of the curve in technology.

 Staying ahead of the curve keeps you competitive.

17. Tighten the belt

Meaning: to reduce expenses
Examples:

 During the recession, many families had to tighten their belts.

 The company tightened its belt to survive the crisis.

18. Get the ball rolling

Meaning: to start something
Examples:

 Let’s get the ball rolling on the new project today.

 She got the ball rolling by preparing the first draft.

19. On the back burner

Meaning: given lower priority
Examples:

 We put that project on the back burner for now.

 Hiring new staff is on the back burner until next quarter.

20. Think long and hard

Meaning: consider carefully
Examples:

 Think long and hard before making that investment.

 He thought long and hard about changing careers.

21. Keep me in the loop

Meaning: to keep someone informed
Examples:
  Please keep me in the loop about any changes.
 She kept the entire team in the loop during the transition.

22. Pull strings

Meaning: to use influence to get something done
Examples:

 He pulled some strings to get the contract approved.

 If you need that position, I can pull a few strings.

23. A win-win situation

Meaning: an outcome beneficial to all parties
Examples:

 Their agreement created a win-win situation for both companies.

 We always look for a win-win situation during negotiations.

24. Raise the bar

Meaning: to set a higher standard
Examples:

 The new software has really raised the bar in the industry.
 Her leadership raised the bar for customer service.

25. Get down to business

Meaning: to start working seriously
Examples:

 Let’s get down to business and finalize this report.

 After chatting, they got down to business quickly.

26. In the loop

Meaning: informed or involved
Examples:

 Stay in the loop so you don’t miss any changes.

 The project manager kept everyone in the loop.
27. Red tape
Meaning: excessive rules and regulations
Examples:

 There’s a lot of red tape in government contracts.

 We faced red tape when applying for the license.

28. Take the bull by the horns

Meaning: face a challenge directly
Examples:

 He decided to take the bull by the horns and address the issue.
 It’s time to take the bull by the horns and fix this problem.

29. The bottom line

Meaning: the most important point or result
Examples:

 The bottom line is that we need to cut costs.

 In any business, profit is the bottom line.

30. Bring to the table

Meaning: to provide something useful
Examples:

 What skills can you bring to the table?

 She brought valuable experience to the table.

31. Move the goalposts

Meaning: to change rules unfairly
Examples:

 The manager moved the goalposts after we met the deadline.

 It’s frustrating when they keep moving the goalposts.

32. Rock the boat

Meaning: to cause trouble
Examples:
  Don’t rock the boat with unnecessary complaints.
 He rocked the boat by challenging company policy.

33. Step up to the plate

Meaning: to take responsibility or action
Examples:

 Someone has to step up to the plate and lead the project.

 She stepped up to the plate when no one else would.

34. Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: to work late into the night
Examples:

 He burned the midnight oil to finish the proposal.

 We had to burn the midnight oil to meet the deadline.

35. In hot water

Meaning: in trouble
Examples:

 She was in hot water after missing the deadline.

 He got in hot water for violating company policy.

36. Cut corners

Meaning: do something badly to save time or money
Examples:

 Don’t cut corners with safety checks.

 They cut corners and the product failed quality tests.

37. Crunch the numbers

Meaning: to analyze data or do calculations
Examples:

 Let’s crunch the numbers before making a decision.

 She spent the afternoon crunching the numbers for the report.
38. Keep your eye on the ball
Meaning: stay focused
Examples:

 Keep your eye on the ball to reach your targets.

 The team needs to keep its eye on the ball during this busy period.

39. Learn the hard way

Meaning: learn from negative experience
Examples:

 He learned the hard way about missing deadlines.

 I learned the hard way to double-check my work.

40. Game changer

Meaning: something that significantly changes a situation
Examples:

 The new technology is a real game changer.

 Remote work has been a game changer for our company.

41. Down the road

Meaning: in the future
Examples:

 We may expand to other markets down the road.

 Think about how this decision will affect us down the road.

42. Think big

Meaning: to have ambitious goals
Examples:

 Successful entrepreneurs always think big.

 She encouraged the team to think big about the new product.

43. Ahead of the pack

Meaning: better than the competition
Examples:
  Their product puts them ahead of the pack.
 Staying innovative keeps you ahead of the pack.

44. Raise a red flag

Meaning: to signal a problem
Examples:

 The quality issues raised a red flag during inspection.

 If you see any delays, raise a red flag immediately.

45. Keep your options open

Meaning: not commit to one decision yet
Examples:

 I’ll keep my options open before signing the contract.

 It’s wise to keep your options open until negotiations end.

46. In the driver’s seat

Meaning: in control
Examples:

 She’s in the driver’s seat of the entire project now.

 He likes to be in the driver’s seat when making decisions.

47. A blessing in disguise

Meaning: something good that seems bad at first
Examples:

 Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.

 The delay turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

48. Play it by ear

Meaning: to act without a fixed plan
Examples:

 We don’t have an agenda, so let’s play it by ear.

 Sometimes you have to play it by ear in a crisis.
49. All hands on deck
Meaning: everyone must help
Examples:

 It’s all hands on deck for the product launch.

 We need all hands on deck to finish before the deadline.

50. Back to the drawing board

Meaning: to start over with a new plan
Examples:

 The idea failed, so it’s back to the drawing board.

 They went back to the drawing board after the test results.

51. By word of mouth

Meaning: spread by spoken recommendation
Examples:

 Their brand grew through word of mouth.

 We get new clients by word of mouth referrals.

52. Cold call

Meaning: an unannounced sales call
Examples:

 Sales reps often make cold calls to find leads.

 He closed a big deal from a cold call last week.

53. Go back to basics

Meaning: return to simple methods
Examples:

 Let’s go back to basics and fix the process.

 Good managers know when to go back to basics.

54. In full swing

Meaning: at the peak of activity
Examples:
  The holiday sale is now in full swing.
 The project was in full swing by June.

55. In the same boat

Meaning: in the same situation
Examples:

 We’re all in the same boat during these tough times.

 Everyone felt in the same boat after the budget cuts.

56. Jump the gun

Meaning: to act too soon
Examples:

 Don’t jump the gun before hearing all the facts.

 He jumped the gun by announcing the product early.

57. Learn the ropes

Meaning: to learn how to do something
Examples:

 It takes time to learn the ropes in a new role.

 Her mentor helped her learn the ropes quickly.

58. On the right track

Meaning: making progress correctly
Examples:

 We’re on the right track with these marketing strategies.

 The team is finally on the right track after months of confusion.

59. Out of the blue

Meaning: unexpectedly
Examples:

 She called me out of the blue after years.

 The offer came out of the blue, surprising everyone.
60. The ball is in your court
Meaning: it is your responsibility to act
Examples:

 I’ve given you the proposal, so the ball is in your court.

 The manager said the ball is in our court now.

61. A long shot

Meaning: something unlikely to succeed
Examples:

 Winning the contract is a long shot, but we’ll try.

 His promotion is a long shot, given the competition.

62. Back to basics

Meaning: return to simple, fundamental methods
Examples:

 Let’s go back to basics with customer service.

 The trainer suggested going back to basics to improve skills.

63. Bite the bullet

Meaning: face something unpleasant bravely
Examples:

 You’ll have to bite the bullet and apologize.

 She bit the bullet and accepted the criticism.

64. On the back burner

Meaning: given lower priority
Examples:

 We put that project on the back burner.

 Staff hiring is on the back burner this quarter.

65. Bring home the bacon

Meaning: to earn money for the family
Examples:
  He works hard to bring home the bacon.
 She brings home the bacon as the main earner.

66. In a bind
Meaning: in a difficult situation
Examples:

 We’re in a bind with this tight deadline.

 He found himself in a bind when funding ran out.

67. Learn by heart

Meaning: memorize
Examples:

 Please learn these phrases by heart.

 She learned the company policies by heart before training.

68. Play hardball

Meaning: act aggressively or firmly
Examples:

 They played hardball in negotiations to win the contract.

 Sometimes you have to play hardball with tough clients.

69. Put all your eggs in one basket

Meaning: risk everything on one opportunity
Examples:

 Don’t put all your eggs in one basket with one client.
 Investing in just one stock is putting all your eggs in one basket.

70. Put your cards on the table

Meaning: be open and honest
Examples:

 Let’s put our cards on the table and discuss the budget.
 She put her cards on the table about her expectations.
71. The sky’s the limit
Meaning: no limits to what can be achieved
Examples:

 With your talent, the sky’s the limit.

 In this industry, the sky’s the limit for success.

72. Raise eyebrows

Meaning: cause surprise or concern
Examples:

 Their low pricing raised eyebrows among competitors.

 His decision to leave raised eyebrows at the office.

73. Run out of steam

Meaning: to lose energy
Examples:

 The project ran out of steam after two years.

 He ran out of steam working overtime for months.

74. Play your cards right

Meaning: make good decisions
Examples:

 If you play your cards right, you’ll get promoted.

 She played her cards right and closed the deal.

75. Smooth sailing

Meaning: easy progress
Examples:

 After fixing the bugs, development was smooth sailing.

 It was smooth sailing once the new system was installed.

76. A level playing field

Meaning: fair situation for everyone
Examples:
  Regulations create a level playing field for businesses.
 We want to ensure a level playing field for all applicants.

77. Bring to light

Meaning: make known
Examples:

 The audit brought many issues to light.

 Her research brought new facts to light.

78. On the same wavelength

Meaning: have the same understanding
Examples:

 The team is on the same wavelength about the project.

 They work well because they’re on the same wavelength.

79. Get your foot in the door

Meaning: gain an initial opportunity
Examples:

 This internship will help you get your foot in the door.
 He took a junior role just to get his foot in the door.

80. Know the ropes

Meaning: understand how something works
Examples:

 She knows the ropes after years in this role.

 It helps to know the ropes before leading a team.

81. Think on your feet

Meaning: react quickly and effectively
Examples:

 You’ll need to think on your feet during the client pitch.

 She can think on her feet when problems arise.
82. Ring a bell
Meaning: sound familiar
Examples:

 That name rings a bell, but I can’t place it.

 Does this design ring a bell for you?

83. Up in the air

Meaning: uncertain or undecided
Examples:

 Our vacation plans are still up in the air.

 The deadline is up in the air until funding is confirmed.

84. Water under the bridge

Meaning: past problem that is forgiven or forgotten
Examples:

 Their old argument is water under the bridge now.

 Let’s move on; it’s all water under the bridge.

85. Work against the clock

Meaning: to work with urgency
Examples:

 They worked against the clock to finish the report.

 We are working against the clock to meet the launch date.

86. Word of mouth

Meaning: recommendations passed verbally
Examples:

 Our brand grew through word of mouth.

 Word of mouth is still the best advertising.

87. Keep your chin up

Meaning: stay positive in hard times
Examples:
  Keep your chin up — things will get better.
 Even during challenges, he kept his chin up.

88. In black and white

Meaning: written clearly
Examples:

 The agreement was set out in black and white.

 Always get promises in black and white.

89. In a nutshell
Meaning: summarized simply
Examples:

 In a nutshell, sales are up this year.

 Let me explain in a nutshell what happened.

90. Jump on the bandwagon

Meaning: join something popular
Examples:

 Many companies jumped on the bandwagon of AI tools.

 He jumped on the bandwagon after seeing the profits.

91. Put a pin in it

Meaning: temporarily pause a topic
Examples:

 Let’s put a pin in this discussion for now.

 They put a pin in it and came back later.

92. Get a head start

Meaning: begin early to gain an advantage
Examples:

 I came in early to get a head start on the reports.

 You’ll do well if you get a head start on your studies.
93. Off the cuff
Meaning: spontaneous, without preparation
Examples:

 He gave an off-the-cuff answer during the meeting.

 Her speech was off the cuff but impressive.

94. Burn bridges

Meaning: damage relationships permanently
Examples:

 Try not to burn bridges when you resign.

 He burned bridges with the team after the argument.

95. By the skin of your teeth

Meaning: barely succeed
Examples:

 They finished the project by the skin of their teeth.

 We caught the train by the skin of our teeth.

96. In the pipeline

Meaning: in progress
Examples:

 Several projects are in the pipeline for next year.

 The manager has a new idea in the pipeline.

97. Put your money where your mouth is

Meaning: back up words with actions
Examples:

 If you believe in this, put your money where your mouth is.
 Investors asked him to put his money where his mouth is.

98. See eye to eye

Meaning: agree
Examples:
  We don’t always see eye to eye on strategy.
 The partners see eye to eye on company culture.

99. Think outside the box

Meaning: think creatively
Examples:

 Leaders need to think outside the box in tough markets.

 The team was praised for thinking outside the box.

100. On the ball

Meaning: alert and quick to respond
Examples:

 We need someone on the ball to handle these challenges.

 She’s always on the ball and catches mistakes early.