Thursday, October 18th, 2012 | Posted by Bren Brennan

Business English Idioms: Idioms Test

Business English idioms are the focus here in our latest English test. Using idioms can really widen your Business English vocabulary and make you sound more like a native-speaker of English.

The sentences here come from authentic business documents and recorded conversations. This is real Business English in action and some of the vocabulary is quite advanced.

As with all our tests, you get your results immediately after finishing the test. If you get any questions wrong, you can also the correct answers!

Business English Idioms

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There is a gap in each sentence. After each gap there is a definition of the missing Business English idiom written in brackets . Click on the correct option: A, B, C or D. There is only ONE correct answer for each question.

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Thank you for taking the Business English Idioms.

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Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

I asked them for a _________________ (estimate) just to get the negotiations under way.

A	ball park number
B	ball figure
C	ball park figure
D	park value

Question 2

The US government _________________ (rescued) GM Motors to save thousands of blue-collar jobs.

A	bailed out
B	threw up
C	bounced up
D	broke even

Question 3

The ________________ (result/summary) is that the failure of the discussions makes losers of us all.

A	bottom dollar
B	bottom drop
C	bottom line

Question 4

The large GCOS servers installed in current customers' businesses are an important __________________. (product generating lots of profit)

A	business drummer
B	cash cow
C	kickback
D	nest egg

Question 5

Our sales team are arguing that we are fighting a losing battle in this region, and we're better off ___________________ (accept the loss you have made) and start looking for new markets.

A	selling our losses
B	cutting our losses
C	cooking our losses
D	landing our losses

Question 6

Perhaps the odd local petrol station would __________________ (go bankrupt), sure, but it would quickly be replaced by part of a more reasonable chain that earns its money.

A	pay an arm and a leg
B	grease your palm
C	go belly up

Question 7

The Chairman informed the board in 2011 of his total waiver of the ___________________ (a large sum of money given to a person leaving a company) clause originally established in his contract, consisting of a net compensation equivalent to the gross annual salary of two years.

A	golden handshake
B	gravy train
C	golden handcuffs
D	nest egg

Question 8

Because no company has unlimited __________________ (an excess of money), we have to carefully weigh each decision for new investment in cooperation with our partners.

A	win-win
B	number crunchers
C	money to burn
D	brownie points

Question 9

The loss of their income can have an immediate and profound impact on families already struggling to _____________________ (to survive financially).

A	make ends meet
B	pay an arm and a leg
C	learn the ropes
D	cash in their chips

Question 10

I believe these subsidised organisations should work with ________________ (smallest number of people to operate) and outsource as much work as possible to local vendors.

A	an eager beaver
B	a lame duck
C	a skinny crew
D	a skeleton staff

Question 11

The exchange can be a ________________ (benefitting all parties) situation; for instance, both administrators and private suppliers can be in a mutually beneficial situation after the fraud of a public procurement.

A	yes man
B	win-win
C	up and running
D	quick buck

Question 12

After exhausting all efforts to recover the outstanding account receivable, UNBS would proceed with _________________ (to accept a debt will never be repaid) procedures under UNBS financial regulation 10.4.

A	walking orders
B	write-off
C	in the red
D	flat broke

Question 13

Once your new program is _________________ (started and working successfully), you'll be able to directly import your e-mail into it at the click of a button.

A	wheeling and dealing
B	making a killing
C	above board
D	up and running

Question 14

The shareholders will demand that the consumers ________________ (pay for something) for the R&D budget.

A	foot the bill
B	feather the nest
C	talk shop
D	turn over

Question 15

As my boss always told me, "You shouldn't be a ______________ (someone who always agrees with superiors); you have to tell a guy that's five pay grades higher than you that something is not workable."

A	chicken feed
B	bean counter
C	yes man
D	cheapskate

Question 16

It's not surprising to hear that more and more small and medium-sized enterprises are complaining that they ____________________ (exceptionally busy) with paperwork due to the new stricter regulations.

A	in the crossfire
B	holding the fort
C	sticking to their guns
D	are snowed under

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 16 questions to complete.

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After you get the correct answers, if you still have a problem understanding a question, leave me a comment below and I will try to explain the answer for you.

You may like our other Advanced/Business English tests:

1. Business English Vocabulary

2. Advanced English (C1 – C2)

Posted by Bren Brennan on Oct 18 2012. Filed under Business English, English Test. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Get: Get phrasal Verbs test - The English Blog | The English Blog

November 27, 2012 - 5:40 pm

[...] test2. Business English3. FCE Exam Preparation Vocabulary4. Beginner’s Elementary English5. Common Business English Idioms6. Listening Exercise: James Bond profits Posted by Bren Brennan on Nov 27 2012. Filed [...]

Phrasal Verbs English test - The English Blog | The English Blog

December 14, 2012 - 12:15 am

Sandra

January 30, 2013 - 11:46 pm

Hi Bren,

Another very good post!

Keep them coming, please.

Bren Brennan
January 31, 2013 - 12:42 am
Thanks for commenting , Sandra. I’m glad you like the English tests… we aim to please!
There are more on the way soon, don’t worry!

olfa bedhiafi

March 5, 2013 - 3:07 pm

Thank you for this interesting test .It is really helpful.

Business English Idioms: Idioms Test

Business English Idioms

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