Do you understand phrases like:
💼 neck and neck
💼 in the driver’s seat
💼 move the goalposts?
These are common English business idioms used in meetings, negotiations, and workplace conversations.
If you don’t understand them, it’s easy to feel lost.
In this lesson, you’ll learn useful business idioms in English with clear explanations and practical examples so you can follow conversations and sound more confident at work.
Scroll down to see the idioms and their meanings. You can also listen to the full lesson in the podcast below.
List of Business Idioms
English Idioms about Business
Here I try to help you get a better understanding of the English language. Help you with your conversational English, business English, all aspects to do with grammar, phrasal verbs, idioms and other particular expressions.
What I’m going to talk to you about today is connected with business. These are English idioms that are related to business; or that we can use when we’re referring to business.
Every ESL student would like to speak English fluently and confidently. In order to develop good speaking skills in English, you not only have to speak properly and correctly but also to use certain English phrases and expressions in your speech. Native speakers use English idioms in their speech all the time, even in a business conversation.
Today, let’s take these English business idioms one by one.
Work English that sounds natural and professional
A short PDF with the phrases I actually let my private students use at work. Pick a phrase, use it today, and feel more confident in meetings and emails.
neck and neck
Meaning: to be level with or at the same stage as a competitor
Example:
Both businesses were performing well, their profits were neck and neck.
You can also use this idiom in relation to competition in life or in sport.
Example:
The two teams at the top of the league had the same number of points. They were neck and neck.
in the driver’s seat
Meaning: to be in control of a situation
Example:
The CEO retired due to ill health. His deputy was appointed to replace him. He was now in the driver’s seat.
10 English Business Idioms
to move the goalposts
Meaning: to change the rules or the targets at any time without consultation
Example:
The Director gave the sales manager his sales target for 2020. However, after 4 months he increased the target by 20%. He moved the goalposts without discussion.
to throw someone in at the deep end
Meaning: to be given a difficult task without having much experience
Example:
The business was struggling. The competition was very strong. The directors took a decision and appointed a young man to try and recover their business. He was thrown in at the deep end as he had no previous experience in management.
like flogging a dead horse
Meaning: used to describe a pointless exercise that is not going to work
Example:
The retailer went into liquidation (bankrupt). It owed the supplier a lot of money. They had no chance of getting the money back. Chasing them for the money would be like flogging (beating) a dead horse. They decided to give up.
book your trial English Lesson
10 English Business Idioms
a level playing field
Meaning: when everything is equal and fair to all competitors
Example:
The economic situation was the same for everyone. Interest rates were high. The banks were not eager to lend money to anyone. It was a level playing field.
keep your eye on the ball
Meaning: to stay alert and watch what your completion is doing
Example:
He always looked at his competitors’ products and advertising campaigns. Although he thought he had a better product he always kept his eye on the ball.
my hands are tied
Meaning: not being able to behave freely or in the way, you would like to due to some existing restrictions (rules, laws)
Example:
I’d love to help you and get this deal over the line but my hands are tied.
speak better English with Harry podcast - episode 213
smooth sailing
Meaning: literal meaning is when the sailing conditions are smooth, there are no winds, no clouds, the stars are extremely clear. If we’re talking about business, it is a situation where something is achieved without difficulties, when everything goes according to plan.
Example:
We’d been preparing this deal for several weeks now, and everything was smooth sailing so far.
to shoot oneself in the foot
Meaning: to cause oneself difficulty, to make a situation worse for yourself without intention
Example:
The ABC company has just shot itself in the foot for losing the best sales manager ever! englishclass101
Shoot Yourself in the Foot Meaning
More Information
For more information on English Expressions, English Phrasal Verbs and English Grammar Rules, check out the following links:
ENGLISH IDIOMS RELATED TO MONEY
