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Idioms for Business

Listen to the conversation in the video and read along with the script. Review the definitions of each idiom below. Studying idioms will help you understand other people. Using a few idioms in your own speech will increase your fluency. Choose idioms that fit your personality.

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Conversation

A: Hi. Thanks for meeting today. We need to get our ducks in a row concerning the next software project.

B: No problem. Thanks for taking a rain check.  I wanted to talk yesterday, but I was cutting it close on a project deadline.

A: So at this point, our next project isn't set in stone. Of course, the objective is always to make a bundle, if possible.

B: Actually, I think our team needs a crash course in prioritizing. For the record, I think two of our people aren't pulling their weight.

A: You think we need to hand out a few pink slips before the next project starts?

B: Well, it's never a fun process, but I've tried to give these guys a reality check more than once. We don't want our team to come under fire for not being able to deliver.

A: All right. Looks like we will start with our personnel issue.

make a bundle: make a lot of money

                 
need a crash course: need to learn very quicky, often to meet a deadline (also take a crash course)
not set in stone: not finalized, able to be changed
cutting it close: doing something risky or last minute (as if you were cutting vegetables and the knife is too close to your finger)
get a reality check: realize how something really is (as opposed to how you might imagine it)
take a rain check: accept changing a meeting to another day

give a rain check: change a meeting to another day; often, the new day will be chosen later (i.e., "can I give you a raincheck?")
for the record: a very neutral way of stating an opinion (personal emotion/intent to act are not being expressed)
pulling (his/her/your/their) weight: doing a fair part of something, providing an equal share of effort.
(to have/to get) ducks in a row: having/getting things in order (from the fly-formation of ducks)
come under fire: getting public criticism (getting shot at with criticism)
get a pink slip: get laid off (originates from use of carbon copies)

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