Business English Idioms

[PROESL]

Do you think the government should bail out more companies or let them go under?

I don't know, but I don't want to see the taxpayers picking up the tab for more corporate irresponsibility.

I suppose they had to do it this time around to keep the economy from sinking lower than it has already.

That's true, but I hope things start picking up soon.

Well, at least we have a new manager at the helm.

Yeah, but I hope he can turn things around soon.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
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bail out - save from going out of business

go under - go out of business

pick up the tab - pay the price

start picking up - start improving

at the helm - in charge

turn things around - make things improve - change things for the better

[PROESL]

The Finance Department has given us the green light, so we're ready to go with the program.

give "someone" or "something" the green light - give approval to do something

[PROESL]

If you don't shape up and get with the program, you're gonna be out of here.

shape up - improve - do better work

get with the program - do what's expected of you

[PROESL]

She didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of talking me down.

a snow ball's chance in hell - no chance - no chance at all

Rewrite the sentence using the word "chance".

talk "someone" down - convince someone to accept a lower price

[PROESL]

We need to increase our profit margin for next quarter. If we don't, we're toast.

be toast - go out of business - not be successful

[PROESL]

Someone just called me to ask me what I charge - a competitor. People never cease to amaze me. He wanted to make sure he wasn't going to undercut me. Of course...

undercut - charge a lower price than a competitor

Further into the short conversation he said he didn't think we were competitors because of our exact locations. Of course, then that's why he wants to be sure he doesn't "undercut me". How considerate of him.