Learning business English is a must when wanting to make a good impression on your colleagues and customers.
Read below to find some of the most commonly used phrases spoken in business English.
Back to the drawing board
You’ve pitched an idea but haven’t got the response you wanted so you’ll have to go back to the drawing board.
This phrase ‘back to the drawing board’ means you need to start from the beginning. So basically, if you’ve thought of an idea but heard this, you need to rethink about a completely new idea.
Drill down into
We need to ’drill down into’ this further. If you come across a co-worker saying this then they’re expressing that more research into the subject is required.
Get ready to cover whatever is being discussed in great depth!
As of yet
Although not grammatically correct, this popular saying describes the current state of something. For example, if you hear ‘as of yet, for the project’ then that is how far the project has progressed even if you’re waiting for it to move forward.
Get the ball rolling
If whatever activity you’re working on at work has been stalled or is just beginning, then the phrase ‘get the ball rolling’ is used to specify that there needs to be rapid progress.
Due Diligence
‘We’re covered by our due diligence.’ This has two different meanings; a legal one and a business one.
Legally the term describes all the necessary processes that have been done to prevent any issues that could lead to the company being taken to court or fined.
Business related, the saying means that great research has been undertaken to ensure you’re progressing with an activity in the best possible way.
Touch Base
‘Touching base’ is where you talk to someone quickly to keep them up-to-date with the goings-on that they might need to know about. For example, ‘I will touch base with Harold after our sales meeting’.
‘Keep me in the Loop’ is another common business English phrase which means the same thing as touching base.
At the end of the day
This phrase is used as a concluding statement, taking everything into consideration. This is similar in meaning to ‘ultimately’. For example, at the end of the day, we still need to reach our targets.
Cut to the chase
I’m sure you have had countless meetings where people keep talking and never seem to get to their conclusion. Luckily, business English has a word to save you from these boring meetings. ‘Cut to the chase’ means to get to the main point as quickly as possible, without wasting any more time. For example, ‘Let’s cut to the chase, have our sales targets been met yet?’
Close of play
‘Close of play’ is used to refer to the end of the working day. Different to a normal day, getting your project done by the close of play means that you have completed the work before the workday is over, which is usually 5/5:30PM.
Let Go
‘Let go’ is used to refer to someone being made redundant or fired. The reason that ‘Let go’ is used is to gently and politely inform employees that the employee will no longer be working for the company. Let go is never used if an employee has left willingly.
B20 English School
English can be hard to comprehend when it comes to the different contexts the language can be used in.
If you require additional support while studying English but not sure where to turn, try B20 British School. We were recently nominated the best UK English language online school and continue to provide long-lasting results.
