Speak Like a Pro: Top 5 Business Idioms You Need to Know

Level: Advanced
Date: 2025-04-04

Instructions: Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

Introduction

Imagine sitting in your first big team meeting and hearing phrases like “get the ball rolling” or “touch base.” It can feel like everyone is speaking a secret language—welcome to Business English. If you’re trying to understand your boss or impress a client, idioms are a must-have in your vocabulary toolbox. Today, we’ll explore five business idioms that professionals use all the time—sometimes without even realizing it.

Let’s break them down with real-world examples so you can sound more natural and confident in your conversations. We’ll cover expressions for starting projects, being creative, staying informed, and more—idioms that pop up in everyday workplace conversations.

The Top 5 Business Idioms

1. Get the ball rolling

This idiom means to start something, especially a project or process. If you want to make a good impression in meetings, say: “Let’s get the ball rolling on the Q2 campaign.” It shows initiative.

2. Think outside the box

We hear this all the time, and for good reason. It means to be creative and approach problems in new ways. If your team is stuck, suggest, “Let’s think outside the box to solve this issue.”

3. Back to the drawing board

Not every idea works out. When something fails and you need a new plan, you can say, “It’s back to the drawing board.” It’s a humble way to admit you need to restart.

4. Touch base

This is a casual way to say you want to connect or follow up. For example, “I’ll touch base with you next week about the contract.” It’s friendly and professional.

5. In the loop

Being “in the loop” means staying informed. You can say, “Please keep me in the loop about the budget changes.” It shows you want to stay involved without sounding too pushy.

Why Use Business Idioms?

Using idioms like these can make your English sound much more fluent and natural. They help boost your confidence, make your communication feel more authentic, and help you better connect with colleagues and clients. Just remember to listen for them in real conversations and try them out in your own!

Vocabulary List

Initiative (n.) – the ability to assess and start things independently. “She showed great initiative during the project launch.”
Approach (v.) – to come near or deal with something. “We need to approach this challenge differently.”
Campaign (n.) – a series of planned activities to achieve a goal. “The marketing campaign starts next month.”
Impress (v.) – to make someone feel admiration. “He really impressed the CEO with his presentation.”
Casual (adj.) – relaxed and informal. “It was a casual meeting over coffee.”
Restart (v.) – to begin again. “After the error, we had to restart the system.”
Inform (v.) – to give someone information. “Please inform the team of the schedule change.”
Confident (adj.) – sure of yourself. “She’s confident when speaking to clients.”
Professional (adj.) – relating to a job or career. “His professional attitude impressed everyone.”
Natural (adj.) – not forced; normal. “Her English sounds very natural.”

Comprehension Questions

5 Questions about the article:

What does “get the ball rolling” mean?
When might someone say “back to the drawing board”?
How can you use “touch base” in a business email?
Why are idioms important for business professionals?
Which idiom shows you want to stay updated on a topic?

5 Open-Ended Discussion Questions:

Which business idiom do you hear the most at work?
Are there any idioms in your native language similar to these?
Can you think of a time when “thinking outside the box” helped solve a problem?
Do you feel comfortable using idioms in meetings or emails?
What other idioms would you like to learn?

Final Note

Want more tips like this? Sign up for the All About English Mastery Newsletter and level up your business English with confidence!