Master Essential Business Idiom Examples with Simple Exercises for Students
Learn business idiom examples to be confident with usage of business idioms in both writing and conversation.
Idioms are expressions that have a different meaning than their individual words suggest. To improve understanding and learn business idioms it is good to read example sentences and complete practice exercises.
Common Business Idiom Examples
- Think outside the box
- Cut corners
- Blue-sky thinking
- Out of the blue
- Raise the bar
- Game changer
- In the loop
- Get the ball rolling
- On the same page
- Hit the ground running
Definitions of Business Idioms
- Think outside the box – to think creatively, beyond the normal conventional or traditional ideas
- Cut corners – to do something quickly and without care or attention to detail
- Blue-sky thinking – to think about new and original ideas that are not limited by practical considerations
- Out of the blue – something unexpected or surprising
- Raise the bar – to set higher standards or expectations
- Game changer – something that significantly changes the way things are done
- In the loop – to be informed or involved in a project or decision-making process
- Get the ball rolling – to start a project or process
- On the same page – to have a shared understanding or agreement
- Hit the ground running – to start something quickly and effectively
Business Idiom Synonyms
- Think outside the box – think innovatively, think creatively, think imaginatively
- Cut corners – take shortcuts, rush through, skimp on
- Blue-sky thinking – creative brainstorming, imaginative thinking, visionary planning
- Out of the blue – unexpected, sudden, unanticipated
- Raise the bar – improve, elevate, up the ante
- Game changer – breakthrough, game-changing innovation
- In the loop – up-to-date, in the know, well-informed
- Get the ball rolling – begin, initiate, kick-start
- On the same page – in agreement, in ‘sync’, on the same wavelength
- Hit the ground running – get off to a good start, start strong, begin on a ‘high note’
Business Idiom Use in Sentences
- Think outside the box – Let’s try to think outside the box and come up with a new solution to this problem
- Cut corners – We can’t cut corners if we want to produce high-quality work
- Blue-sky thinking – Let’s do some blue-sky thinking and come up with a completely new approach to marketing.
- Out of the blue – I received a job offer out of the blue
- Raise the bar – We need to raise the bar on customer service if we want to stand out from our competitor
- Game changer – The introduction of the internet was a game changer for the way people communicate and access information.
- In the loop – Make sure everyone is in the loop about the changes to the schedule.
- Get the ball rolling – Let’s get the ball rolling on the new marketing campaign by brainstorming some ideas.
- On the same page – I think we’re on the same page about the goals for this project.
- Hit the ground running – We need to hit the ground running on this new project if we want to meet our deadline.
Business Idiom Exercises
Match each idiom with its meaning:
1. Think outside the box | A. Make significant changes or improvements |
2. Cut corners | B. Start something, initiate a plan or project |
3. Blue-sky thinking | C. To innovate or think creatively |
4. Game changer | D. To suddenly and unexpectedly happen |
5. In the loop | E. To be knowledgeable or informed about something |
6. Out of the blue | F. To be in agreement or understanding with someone |
7. Raise the bar | G. To work hard and productively from the beginning |
8. Get the ball rolling | H. To take shortcuts or do something in a quick and easy way |
9. On the same page | I. To set higher standards or expectations |
10. Hit the ground running | J. To approach a problem or task in a new or different way |
Fill in the blanks:
1.We need to _____________ if we want to come up with a creative solution to this problem.
2.I’m not sure where this idea came from. It just came to me _____________.
3.Let’s make sure everyone is _____________ before we start the meeting.
4.He’s always looking for ways to _____________ and improve his performance.
5.Don’t _____________ just to save time. Do the job properly.
6.The new technology was a real _____________ for the industry.
7.We need to _____________ if we want to succeed in this project.
Choose the correct idioms:
1.We need to ____________ if we want to come up with a new solution to this problem. (think outside the box / cut corners / blue-sky thinking)
2.I got a job offer ____________ last week. (out of the blue / in the loop / game changer)
3.We need to ____________ if we want to stay ahead of our competitors. (raise the bar / get the ball rolling / on the same page)
4.Let’s have some ____________ about how we can improve our products and services. (blue-sky thinking / cut corners / think outside the box)
5.The invention of the smartphone was a ____________ for the tech industry. (game changer / out of the blue / hit the ground running)
6. We need someone who can ____________ and take charge of the project from day one. (cut corners / hit the ground running / get the ball rolling)
7. Make sure everyone is ____________ about the changes to the schedule. (in the loop / on the same page / think outside the box)
8. We can’t ____________ if we want to produce high-quality work. (cut corners / raise the bar / get the ball rolling)
9. Let’s try to use ____________ and come up with a new solution to this problem. (blue-sky thinking / hit the ground running / out of the blue)
10. I think we’re ____________ about the goals for this project. (on the same page / raise the bar / cut corners)
Give an example of a situation where someone might need to:
- Get the ball rolling
- Hit the ground running
- Cut corners
- Think outside the box
- Raise the bar
Reading Comprehension Exercises
The English for study skills lessons will have a section to improve reading skills. Follow this link to read the reading texts and answer the simple reading comprehension questions.
Comprehensive List of Idioms
If you are interested in learning idiom then visit our special page where you will find many idioms with the definitions and example sentences.
Business Idiom Examples: Questions & Answers
1. What does “break even” mean in business?
It means a company makes enough money to cover its costs without making a profit or a loss.
Example: “After three months, the new café finally broke even.”
2. What does it mean if someone wants to “get the ball rolling”?
It means to start a project or activity.
Example: “Let’s get the ball rolling on the marketing plan.”
3. What does “back to the drawing board” mean?
It means to start again because the first plan failed.
Example: “The design didn’t work, so the team went back to the drawing board.”
4. What does it mean when a manager “thinks outside the box”?
It means to think in a creative or different way.
Example: “We need new ideas, so try to think outside the box.”
5. What does “in the red” mean in accounting?
It means a company is losing money.
Example: “Sales dropped, and the company ended the year in the red.”
6. What does “in the black” mean?
It means a company is profitable.
Example: “After strong holiday sales, the company was back in the black.”
7. What does it mean if someone has “a lot on their plate”?
It means they have too much work or too many tasks.
Example: “I can’t take another project. I already have a lot on my plate.”
8. What does it mean to “hit the deadline”?
It means to finish a task on time.
Example: “We must work fast if we want to hit the deadline.”
9. What does “touch base” mean?
It means to quickly contact someone to give an update or check progress.
Example: “Let’s touch base tomorrow about the report.”
10. What does it mean to “take the lead” on a project?
It means to be the person in charge of the project.
Example: “Sarah will take the lead on the new product launch.”
11. What does “on the same page” mean?
It means everyone understands the plan and agrees on what to do.
Example: “Before we start, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
12. What does “a win-win situation” mean?
It means a result that benefits everyone involved.
Example: “Sharing research is a win-win situation for both companies.”
13. What does it mean to “cut corners”?
It means to do something in a quick or cheap way that is not the best quality.
Example: “Don’t cut corners when checking the safety reports.”
14. What does “up in the air” mean?
It means something is not decided yet.
Example: “The budget is still up in the air, so we can’t make plans.”
15. What does “take it offline” mean in a meeting?
It means to stop discussing something in the meeting and talk about it privately later.
Example: “We’re short on time—let’s take that issue offline.”