Business English Idioms

[PROESL]

'bail a company out'

Sweetsugar Ltd is being bailed out by the government.

Right, the phrase "bail out' orginally referred to using a bucket to remove water from a sinking boat. So a company could be "sinking" or "about to go under".

The US government bailed out a few large corporations in order to avoid more economic difficulties.

[PROESL]

Euphemism

The company is downsizing and reorganizing a few departments.

The company is getting rid of some employees.

[PROESL]

All right, let's get down to business.

Let's start working, or let's start doing what we came here to do.

[PROESL]

Look, the bottom line is that we've got to do something now. We can't just sit around waiting for the economy to get better.

the bottom line - the most important thing - the thing that really counts or matters

[PROESL]

He keeps his cards close to his chest.

He doesn't let anyone know what he's thinking about, planning, or has in mind. He doesn't let anyone what he's doing, or at least he doesn't let anyone know a lot about what he's doing.

[Tdol]

in black and white

MEANING: in writing


EXAMPLE:

The company refused to deal with the customer's complaints until they saw them in black and white.

When you're pasting things from other sites, please give the source: and please don't reproduce too much from a single source here. Copyright must be respected. Thank you.

[misiania]

red tape

It means that there is too much bureaucratic paperwork, therefore it slows things down.

It is about time to cut the red tape.

[PROESL]

red tape

It means that there is too much bureaucratic paperwork, therefore it slows things down.

It is about time to cut the red tape.

Here's something with a similar idea, but a different context.

bottleneck - something that slows a process, or slows down a process

Once they figured out where the bottleneck was and how to fix it, the production schedule was back on track, and the customers started receiving their orders on time.

[PROESL]

We tried to talk him down, but he wouldn't budge. He drives a hard bargain.

We tried to convince him to lower the price, but he wouldn't even consider it. He's a tough businessman.

I couldn't believe he just let us walk out of his office without even trying to negotiate with us. I guess the ball is in our court now.

I guess the ball is in our court now. - Now we have to make the next contact, the next offer, or the next move.

[PROESL]

He runs a tight ship, but he, generally, gives everyone a fair shake.

He's very strict and has high expectations, but he's, generally, a fair person.