15 idiomatic expressions you can use at work

1. to put off (= delay or procrastinate a task)

I put off writing the report until the last day and now I have to work overtime to
finish it.

2. to take off (= increase or become popular very quickly)

Sales have really taken off and the company is making record profits.

3. a people person (= someone who is extroverted with great social skills and who
loves interacting with people)

Ashley's been promoted to director of human resources. She'll do a great job. She's a
real people person.

4. to crunch the numbers (= do a lot of calculations)

After crunching the numbers, the accounting department informed us that we don't
have enough money to buy the equipment.

5. to have a lot on one’s plate (= currently have a lot of work and responsibilities)

Sorry I didn't call you back sooner. I have a lot on my plate right now.

6. (a product) is selling like hotcakes (= a lot of people are buying the product fast)

The new car is selling like hotcakes. We’ll need to produce more to keep up with the
demand.

7. to think outside the box (= think in a creative way that is different from usual)
We need to come up with a really good idea for an advertising campaign. Let's try to
think outside the box.

8. a win-win situation (= a co-operative arrangement that's good for both sides)

This partnership will bring them more publicity and us more customers. It's a win-win
situation.

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9. to test the waters (= try something new to see if it will be successful or not)

We're testing the waters to see if changing the product’s packaging will increase sales.

10. bang for the buck (= value for the money)

I think we should run online ads instead of TV commercials. They give more bang for the
buck.

11. a learning curve (= the time it takes to learn an activity or system)

Our database system has an easy learning curve. You'll be able to use it perfectly within
a day.

12. off the top of your head (= based on an estimate at that moment, made without
checking the information)

Off the top of my head, I'd say we spent about $ 400,000 on training last year.

The phrase “off the top of my head” shows that this number is not exact. It is an estimate.

13. on the back burner (If a project is on the back burner, it means it is less important at
the moment.)

The preliminary market analysis is on the back burner because I have some other, more
urgent projects.

14. in the red [≠ in the black ] (If a company is operating in the red, it is operating while
being in debt. If a company is operating in the black, it is operating with profit.)

Our company ended the year in the red, with a loss of $ 5 million.

15. to ramp up (= increase) one’s efforts

We need to ramp up our efforts to find new customers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YYJCk76nTM

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 Test yourself!
Do this activity without looking at pp. 1-2.

put sth off

sth takes off
crunch the numbers a people person
have a lot on one’s plate a win-win situation off the top of one’s head
sth is selling like hotcakes bang for the buck on the back burner
think outside the box a learning curve in the red
test the waters
ramp up one’s efforts

Which verbal expression (left-hand box) means…

a. currently have a lot of work and responsibilities: ____________________________________

b. try something new to see if it will be successful or not: ____________________________________

c. do a lot of calculations: _________________________________

d. a lot of people are buying a product fast: _________________________________________

e. think in a creative way that is different from usual: _______________________________________

f. delay or procrastinate a task: _________________________________

g. increase one’s efforts: __________________________________

h. rise or become popular very quickly: ____________________________

Which of the other expressions means…

i. a co-operative arrangement that's good for both sides: ___________________________________

j. a period of time spent in order to learn an activity or system: ______________________________

k. based on an estimate at that moment, without checking the information: ___________________________

l. an extroverted person with great social skills, who loves interacting with people: ___________________________

m. value for the money: _____________________________

n. operating while being in debt: ______________________

o. less important for now: __________________________