I have been studying Business English for some time and sometimes I will share with you the topics which are useful for me or attract my attention. Today I would like to talk about Business English phrases. According to my friends, even on important business meetings, where million dollar budgets are discussed, you can hear corporate jargon, not to mention my daily meetings with Americans or non-native English clients. Recently in class I learned 5 Business English phrases, some of which I've heard in my daily meetings, but some of them have become new for me. Today I want to share those metaphors with you hoping they will also be useful for you.
to get/have all one's (me, your, their etc.) ducks in a row
Meaning:
put everything in order, put everything in its place, complete one's preparations, take action to become up-to-date
We need to get our ducks in a row to ensure that there are no problems during our presentation.
The trick is not to alert him until we have all our ducks in a row.
(Sue Grafton used it in "R" Is for Ricochet (2004))
to think outside the box
Meaning:
to think imaginatively using new ideas instead of traditional or expected ideas
For solving that problem you should think outside the box and look at things from an unusual point of view.
You gonna be more imaginative... Just think outside the box!
to peel back the onion
Meaning:
delve into the problem deeply
Paul need to peel back the onion and find out what's really bothering our customer.
Once the Mike started peeling the onion, he discovered just how many time he need to rewrite the solution.
idea shower
Meaning:
a discussion in which new ideas are generated and discussed, brainstorming
Let's meet today and idea shower this project. Shall we?
With all my respect we need idea shower this project instead of wasting time in idle talk.
to square the circle
Meaning:
do something that is considered to be impossible
He has squared the circle of keeping his family happy and doing something to improve his business.
Ukrainians squared the circle by fighting for freedom against Russian invasion.