For better or worse, the American workplace is full of idioms, which are used everyday. Here are some idioms you're likely to encounter in the workplace. To help you decipher what they may mean, VanSight has collected a list of some of the most common of them. Here we will put in plain words so as you can apply them in business environment.

1. Business English American
idioms
By VanSight

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3. Introduction
 For better or worse, the American workplace is full of
idioms, which are used everyday. Here are some idioms
you're likely to encounter in the workplace. To help you
decipher what they may mean, VanSight has collected a list
of some of the most common of them.
 Here we will put in plain words so as you can apply them in
business environment.
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4. Make it
Example: I am going to make it in this quarter. it here
means his target
Meaning: to be successful, specially in a job
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5. Be ahead of the pack
Example: this month I would be the employee of the month
as I am ahead of the pack.
Meaning: more successful than others who is trying to
achieve the same like you.
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6. Corner the market
Example: with the new service our company captured corner of
the market.
Meaning: to be successful in selling or marketing a product or
service which in nearly a monopoly. very few people sell the
same
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7. At a premium
Example: When LCD televisions first came out, they were
selling at a premium.
Meaning: at a high price; at a relatively high price
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8. Back-of-the-envelope calculations
Example: I don't need the exact numbers right now. Just give
me some back-of-the-envelope calculations.
Meaning: quick calculations; estimates using approximate
numbers, instead of exact numbers same as ball-park figure in
British English.
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9. Belt-tightening
Example: When worldwide demand for software
decreased, Microsoft had to do some belt-tightening.
Meaning: reduction of expenses
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10. To bite the bullet
Example: When recession set, all industries’ had to bite the
bullet and cut jobs.
Meaning: to make a difficult or painful decision; to take a
difficult step
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11. Bitter pill to swallow
Example: After Uma spent six months of training as an
intern for Amazon, failing to get a full-time job offer from the
company was a bitter pill to swallow.
Meaning: bad news; something unpleasant to accept.
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12. Block buster
Example: Uma made a lot of money with the cooking classes
idea. It was a real blockbuster.
Meaning: a big success; a huge hit
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13. Brownie points
Example: Jaya scored brownie points with her boss by
volunteering to organize the company's holiday party.
Meaning: credit for doing a good deed or for giving someone
a compliment usually a boss or teacher
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14. Cash cow
Example: With strong sales every year and a great brand
name, Mercedes is a cash cow for Daimler Chrysler.
Meaning: a product, service, or business division that generates
a lot of cash for the company, without requiring much
investment
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15. To cash in on
Example: Anthony Bourdain, No Reservation star of the
cookery TV show, cashed in on his popularity by writing
cookbooks and opening restaurants.
Meaning: to make money on; to benefit financially from
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16. To climb the corporate ladder
Example: You want to climb the corporate ladder? It helps to
be productive and to look good in front of your boss.
Meaning: advance in one's career; the process of getting
promoted and making it to senior management
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