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Speak Business English Like an American

Speak Business English Like an American

Date: May 25 2007

Topic: Business English

Author: TanyaPeterson

Lesson

A sample chapter from the book "Speak Business English Like an American" that teaches over 300 important business-related idioms and expressions through 30 lively and realistic dialogues. For more information, go to www.languagesuccesspress.com.

 

Talking about a New Project

Carl, Greg, and Anne work for WaterSonic Corporation. Recently, the company has come up with an idea for a new electric toothbrush.

Carl: I think we’ve come up with a winner.

Anne: I agree. The new Brush-o-matic toothbrush should be a blockbuster!

Carl: Our designers have already made up some prototypes. The toothbrushes have a tooth-whitening attachment and many other bells and whistles.

Greg: We should fast track this project. Let’s try to launch it in time for the holiday season.

Anne: This will be a great stocking stuffer!

Carl: We definitely need a big win for the holidays.

Anne: This is a great idea. We’re going to make a killing.

Greg: Let’s not talk about this project to anybody who doesn’t need to know. We’ll keep it under wraps.

Carl: I agree. Mum’s the word. We don’t want any of our competitors to get wind of the idea and rip it off!

Anne: Right. Let’s meet again on Monday morning and discuss our game plan for getting this project off the ground!

IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS

(to) come up with a winner
to think up a very good idea

EXAMPLE: Everybody likes Pepsi’s new advertising campaign. Their advertising agency has come up with a winner.

blockbuster
a big success; a huge hit

EXAMPLE: Eli Lilly made a lot of money with the prescription drug, Prozac. It was a real blockbuster.

ORIGIN: This term comes from the blockbuster bombs used during World War Two by the British Royal Air Force. They were huge and created a large explosive force. Blockbuster ideas similarly create a big impact — and hopefully don’t cause destruction like blockbuster bombs!

bells and whistles
extra product features, usually using the latest technologies; product features which are attractive, but not essential for the product to function

EXAMPLE: Our office just got a new copier with all the bells and whistles. I’ll probably never learn how to use all of its features!

(to) fast track a project
to make a project a high priority; to speed up the time frame of a project

EXAMPLE: Let’s fast track this project. We’ve heard rumors that our competitors are developing similar products.

stocking stuffer
a small gift given at Christmas time

EXAMPLE: These new mini travel pillows will make great stocking stuffers!

NOTE: This expression comes from the practice of kids hanging up stockings that Santa Claus fills (or “stuffs”) with small gifts.

big win
a huge success; a successful product

EXAMPLE: The drug company spent millions on research and development, hoping that one of their new products would be a big win.

(to) make a killing
to make a lot of money

EXAMPLE: Suzanne made a killing on her Google stock and retired at 40.

SYNONYM: to make a fortune

(to) keep something under wraps
to keep something secret; to not let anybody know about a new project or plan

EXAMPLE: I’m sorry I can’t tell you anything about the project I’m working on. My boss told me to keep it under wraps.

NOTE: “Wraps” are things that provide cover, so if something is “under wraps” it’s covered up and hidden.

mum’s the word
let’s keep quiet about this; I agree not to tell anyone about this

EXAMPLE: Please don’t tell anybody about our new project. Remember: mum’s the word!

ORIGIN: The word “mum” comes from the murmur “mmmmm,” the only sound you can make when your mouth is shut firmly. Try making other sounds besides “mmmmm” with your lips and mouth shut firmly, and you will see that it’s impossible!

(to) get wind of
to find out about something, often sensitive information

EXAMPLE: When the restaurant owner got wind of the fact that one of his waiters was stealing money from the cash register, he was furious.

(to) rip off
to copy an idea; to steal

EXAMPLE: Why doesn’t the Donox Company ever think up any original ideas? All they ever do is rip off their competitors!

NOTE: “Rip off” is also a noun. Example: We were charged $10,000 for a small advertisement in the newspaper. What a rip off!

game plan
an action plan; a plan for how a project will proceed

EXAMPLE: The software company’s game plan is to expand its operations into China and India over the next year.

ORIGIN: In football, a “game plan” is a strategy for winning.

(to) get something off the ground
to get started on something, often a project

EXAMPLE: We’ve been sitting around talking about this project for months. It’s time to take action and get it off the ground!

QUIZ: PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

Choose the best substitute for the phrase or sentence in bold.  To take this quiz online in an interactive format, please click here.


    1) Did the company think of this new product idea themselves? No, they ripped it off from an inventor.



      a. No, they paid an inventor for the idea.
      b. No, they stole the idea from an inventor.
      c. No, they discussed it with an inventor and he agreed to sell it to them.

 


    2) Andrea is planning to quit her job at the end of September, but mum’s the word.



      a. don’t tell anybody
      b. don’t tell her mother
      c. she may change her mind

 


    3) Sony has made a killing on its popular PlayStation line.



      a. lost money on
      b. made a lot of money on
      c. decided to stop producing

 


    4) After receiving a large loan from the bank, the company was finally able to get its project off the ground.



      a. get started on the project
      b. cancel the project
      c. borrow money

 


    5) That new software company seems very disorganized. Do they have a game plan?



      a. a plan for closing down their business
      b. a plan for developing new games
      c. a plan for how they will proceed to grow their business

 


    6) Some experts recommend that when you’re interviewing for a new job, you keep your current salary under wraps.



      a. you should tell the interviewer what your current salary is
      b. you should say you’re making twice as much as you’re really earning
      c. you should not say how much you’re currently earning

 


    7) Don’s new cell phone has a video camera and all sorts of other bells and whistles.



      a. fancy features
      b. things that make loud ringing noises and whistle tones
      c. features typical in a low-priced product

 


    8) When investors got wind of the fact that the pharmaceutical company’s major drug increased the risk of heart attacks, the company’s stock price fell.



      a. hid
      b. discovered
      c. got fed up over

 

Comments

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Peter2008

Peter2008

China

Very Well!Follow It!

01:16 AM Dec 05 2007 |

omar_beyaty

Iraq

thanx for your efforts

11:58 AM Dec 01 2007 |

khaled1987

Kuwait

not bad

06:34 AM Sep 25 2007 |

GarO

GarO

China

quite useful English material, enjoy it so much. however, if the script can be voiced by native English speaker will be much more better.

i think it's a good book for us to learn a number of updated Business English. Expecting for the next topic could be coming up soon.

THANKS A MILLION!

02:52 PM Aug 05 2007 |

soczekm

soczekm

Poland

gr8 lesson. i love it!

respect for author!

10:48 AM Aug 04 2007 |

josephsanthanam

India

first ofall i thanks to u ,this conversation & idioms is very useful for  little bit of known in english,coming days i expected from u give more conversation for us

07:16 AM Aug 04 2007 |

aseerg

aseerg

United Arab Emirates

very nice

04:27 PM Aug 03 2007 |

wisecode

wisecode

Mali

I find the lesson very interesting. Please more lesson. Thank you

11:43 AM Aug 01 2007 |

ginachen0301

China

it is good

11:28 AM Aug 01 2007 |

Samithra

Sri Lanka

ya.this is
a good website.follow it.

12:46 PM Jul 31 2007 |

dinosaur_wang

China

today is my first intervinew.

08:20 AM Jul 31 2007 |

Ejlal

Ejlal

Egypt

it is my first lesson here on e-baby !!!!

05:27 PM Jul 29 2007 |

wittbarnia

Ghana

i liike it and i will ike to even learn more.

10:54 AM Jul 26 2007 |

ginachen0301

China

I like it very much !but sometime i still wonder if we can listen it online?you know there are different between chinese and english

12:46 AM Jul 25 2007 |

louise_wade

China

thanks a lot,

the Enlish learning material is quite good, so I appricieate it very much,but, I still wonder if it has the trainning material about translation bettween Chinese and English,What is more,I am looking forward to hearing the letters from the native English or Chinese speakers who engage in translation or has been a translator so that the mutual improvement can be realized.

10:44 PM Jul 20 2007 |

saeedsirtex

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i never had a carfree moment
it s mean i had never been relax and safe

03:24 PM Jul 20 2007 |

Gomana

Gomana

Saudi Arabia

real fantastic lesson i hope u keep continiouing thaaaaanks

12:41 PM Jul 20 2007 |

boff

United States

hi

 

02:28 AM Jul 19 2007 |

sisilena

China

these idioms such amazing, thanks for putting it up.

06:08 AM Jul 04 2007 |

english point

Pakistan

IN MY OPINION THE FIRST LESSON I LIKE IN BABY ENGLISH IS BUSINESS ENGLISH. I LIKE IT TO MUCH BECAUSE I WANT IT. ANY ONE HELP ME?

01:43 PM Jun 06 2007 |

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