To master the English language you need to know not only grammar rules but also the most common expressions in different contexts.
To help students in their careers and the professional environment, we made a list of some of the most common expressions in the business world, with explanations so that you may know what they mean and how they can be used.
- Ballpark number/figure: an estimated value that’s not precise, exact.
Ex.: How many seats we’ll need, can you give us a ballpark number?
- By the book: to make things following exactly the rules or the law.
Ex.: We told our shareholders we do everything by the book.
- Corner the market: to dominate a specific market.
Ex.: They cornered the online retail market.
- Get something off the ground: to start a new project, business model or enterprise (or anything that applies).
Ex.: Now that we finished the planning phase, we hope to get the project off the ground.
- No strings attached: something given with no conditions ou limits involved.
Ex.: We’ll let you try the new version, no strings attached.
- On the same page: to be in agreement about something.
Ex.: Let’s review the main topics, to make sure we’re on the same page.
- Red tape: rules and official processes (bureaucracy) considered excessive or unnecessary.
Ex.: This new shipping law is going to create a lot of red tape.
- Sever ties: to end a relationship with someone.
Ex.: We had to sever ties with several suppliers.
- Shoot something down: reject a new idea or proposal before its realization.
Ex.: After careful consideration, we shot the new concept down.
- The elephant in the room: a controversial issue or topic about nobody wants to talk about (which is obvious to all involved).
Ex.: No one wanted to talk about the elephant in the room, the mass layoffs.
- Word of mouth: exchange of information about a product or service from person to person.
Ex.: Many local services rely heavily on word of mouth to get new customers.
Fixation Exercises
- Complete the sentences below:
- Our boss __________ Richard’s idea. He was very disappointed.
- Doing business with the government is hard because it involves a lot of __________.
- We hope the __________ among clients gets the new product __________.
- The meeting was very tense, everyone tried to avoid __________.
- That supplier let us down, we’ll have to __________.
11 expressões de negócios em inglês comuns que você precisa saber
Um bom domínio do inglês requer não apenas conhecer as regras da gramática do idioma, mas também as expressões mais comuns em diversos contextos.
Para ajudar os estudantes em sua carreira e no âmbito profissional, preparamos uma lista das expressões mais comuns no mundo dos negócios, com explicações para saber o que significam e como podem ser usadas.
- Ballpark number/figure: uma estimava de valor que não é precisa, inexata.
Ex.: How many seats we’ll need, can you give us a ballpark number?
- By the book: fazer as coisas exatamente de acordo com as regras ou com a lei.
Ex.: We told our shareholders we do everything by the book.
- Corner the market: dominar um mercado em específico.
Ex.: They cornered the online retail market.
- Get something off the ground: dar início a um novo projeto, modelo de negócios ou empreendimento (ou qualquer outra coisa que se aplique).
Ex.: Now that we finished the planning phase, we hope to get the project off the ground.
- No strings attached: algo dado sem exigir nada em troca, condições ou limites.
Ex.: We’ll let you try the new version, no strings attached.
- On the same page: estar de acordo sobre alguma coisa.
Ex.: Let’s review the main topics, to make sure we’re on the same page.
- Red tape: regras e processos oficiais (burocracia) considerados excessivos ou desnecessários.
Ex.: This new shipping law is going to create a lot of red tape.
- Sever ties: encerrar um relacionamento.
Ex.: We had to sever ties with several suppliers.
- Shoot something down: rejeitar uma nova ideia ou proposta.
Ex.: After careful consideration, we shot the new concept down.
- The elephant in the room: um problema ou assunto controverso sobre o qual ninguém na sala quer falar (mas que é óbvio para todos).
Ex.: No one wanted to talk about the elephant in the room, the mass layoffs.
- Word of mouth: troca de informações sobre um produto ou serviço feita de pessoa para pessoa; boca a boca.
Ex.: Many local services rely heavily on word of mouth to get new customers.
Exercícios
1. Complete as frases a seguir:
- Our boss __________ Richard’s idea. He was very disappointed.
- Doing business with the government is hard because it involves a lot of __________.
- We hope the __________ among clients gets the new product __________.
- The meeting was very tense, everyone tried to avoid __________.
- That supplier let us down, we’ll have to __________.