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Business Word/Phrase of the Day

word-phrase-descEvery day we publish a business word or phrase together with audio pronunciation, phonetics, definition and example sentences. This is a great way to improve your workplace vocabulary as well as your pronunciation. To receive 'Business Word/Phrase of the Day' by email, just subscribe to our newsletter from the link above. 

CONSIDERABLE kənˈsɪdərəbəl

16 Dec 2024

Adjective

  • significant, large.
Example Sentence: The earthquake last week was devastating. The damage to our business operations was considerable.
 

TO BRIBE braɪb

15 Dec 2024

Verb

  • to give someone (e.g. a civil servant) money (usually illegally) in the hope that they will do something for you in exchange.
Example Sentences: My son didn't want to do his homework so I bribed him with a big bar of chocolate.
Today someone tried to bribe me to give him a loan with better conditions but I refused to do so and immediately reported her to the management of the bank.
 

TO PLUMMET plʌmɪt

14 Dec 2024

Verb

  • to decrease/go down very quickly (and perhaps unexpectedly).
Example Sentence: We wanted to sell our share in the business but then share prices plummeted and we decided to wait some more time.
 

TO DOWNSIZE daʊnˌsaɪz

13 Dec 2024

Verb

  • to cut the number of employees because the company wants to reduce costs.
Example Sentence: When the company decided to 'let me go' because they were downsizing, I started to panic. It took me two weeks to calm down and start thinking about what's next.
 

TO RELOCATE riˈloʊkeɪt

12 Dec 2024

Verb

  • to find a new location for a company to operate.
Example Sentence: The minimum wage in this country has gone up significantly. I'm afraid we'll have to relocate soon. How about South East Asia?
 

TO GET INTO GEAR  

11 Dec 2024

Phrase

  • to find the right pace of work and to become effective.
Example Sentence: It was very hard to get into gear at work this morning after last night's party but I think now I'm more or less OK
 

TO FREEZE friz

10 Dec 2024

Verb

  • to hold the price of a product, service, salaries, wages etc at the same level for some time.
Example Sentence: The government has decided to freeze wages in the public sector due to the after-effects of the economic crisis.
 

TO FIRE SOMEONE faɪər sʌmˌwʌn

09 Dec 2024

Verb

  • to officially terminate somebody's employment; to make someone leave their job.
Example Sentences: He was so bad at handling customer complaints that in the end we had to fire him.
Andy got fired last week because he turned out to be the spy of our competitor.
 

TO PUT YOUR EGGS ALL IN ONE BASKET  

08 Dec 2024

Phrase

  • to choose one particular thing over another and not rely on several choices at the same time.
Example Sentence: He really put all his eggs into on one basket and decided to leave all the other markets and concentrate solely on India.
 

INSOLVENT ɪnˈsɒlvənt

07 Dec 2024

Adjective

  • unable to pay debts.
Example Sentence: In order to avoid becoming insolvent he decided to open a savings account.
 

TO COME TO A HALT  

06 Dec 2024

Phrase

  • come to a stop in the process.
Example Sentence: The expansion of his company came to a halt when one of his employees embezzled a considerable
 

TO HAVE ONE’S FEET ON THE GROUND  

05 Dec 2024

Phrase

  • to be sensible.
Example Sentence: Despite his huge sudden success in business he manages to keep his feet on the ground.
 

BREAKEVEN breɪkˈivən

04 Dec 2024

Noun

  • the point at which a business operation can begin to make profit, and no longer loses money.
Example Sentence: I'm sure my husband's company will reach breakeven within a year.
 

UPMARKET ʌpˌmɑrkɪt

03 Dec 2024

Adjective

  • a product or service intended for people who can afford to buy or pay for expensive things.
Example Sentence: I really want to impress him so I've decided to take him somewhere really upmarket for breakfast; we might try the newly opened buffet near the parliament with golden teaspoons and a complimentary glass of champagne with everything.
 

TO OFFSET ɔfˌsɛt

02 Dec 2024

Verb

  • to compensate for something; to counterbalance.
Example Sentence: I'm afraid we will have to raise our prices in the restaurant in order to offset the increased cost of ingredients – vegetables are especially expensive this season.
 
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