3.2.2. Business Idioms

1. Study these idioms and their meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

across the board - including everyone or everything

at a loss - sell something and lose money

bail a company out - help or rescue a company with financial problems

ball park figure/estimate - a rough estimate or figure

bang for the buck - value for the money spent

banker's hours - short work hours

bean-counter - accountant

big gun/cheese/wheel/wig - an important person, a leader

bottom fall out/drop out - to fall below an earlier lowest price

bottom line - the total, the final figure on a balance sheet

 

1.2 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. The computer company decided to give the workers an across-the-board increase in their salary. 2. We were forced to sell the computers at a big loss. 3. The government decided to bail out the failing bank in order to maintain stability in the economy. 4. The contractor gave us a ball park figure for the cost of repairing the new building. 5. We were able to get a big bang for our buck when we advertised on the Internet. 6. My sister's husband owns his own company and is able to work banker's hours with his large staff. 7. We asked the bean-counters to look over the figures in the new budget. 8. The new director was a big wheel in his previous company but is not so important now. 9. When the bottom fell out of the coffee market many companies had to stop doing business. 10. When they examined the bottom line of the company they decided not to invest in it.

 

1.3 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (1); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (1); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (1); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (1); Student H translates them into English.

 

2. Study these idioms and their meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

bottom out - reach the lowest or worst point of something

boys in the backroom - a group of men making decisions behind the scenes

break even - have expenses equal to profits

budget squeeze/crunch - a situation where there is not enough money in the

budget

buy off - use a gift or money to divert someone from their duty or purpose

buy out - buy the ownership or a decisive share of something

by a long shot - by a big difference, by far

calculated risk - an action that may fail but has a good chance to succeed

captain of industry - a top corporation officer

carry over - save for another time

 

2.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. The value of the stock has begun to bottom out and should soon begin to increase in value. 2. The boys in the backroom told us that we must close down the factory as soon as possible. 3. After only three months the company was able to break even and start making profits. 4. We have been going through a severe budget squeeze at our company and must begin to stop spending money in a wasteful manner. 5. The land developer tried to buy off the politician but he was not successful. 6. The company was bought out by another large company in the textile industry. 7. The soap company was able to beat out the bids of the other companies by a long shot. 8. They took a calculated risk when they introduced the new computer screen onto the market. 9. The president of our company was a captain of industry and after he retired he was appointed to many government boards. 10. We were forced to carry over the sale to the Monday after the national holiday.

 

2.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (2); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (2); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (2); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (2); Student H translates them into English.

 

3. Study these idioms and their meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

carry over - transfer (a figure) from one column or book to another

carry the day - win completely

carry through - put into action

close out - sell the whole of something, sell all the goods

close the books - stop taking orders, end a bookkeeping period

cold call - call a potential customer from a list of persons one has never seen

come on strong - overwhelm with excessively strong language or personality

company man - a person who always works hard and agrees with his

employees

company town - a town dominated by one industry or company

cut back - use fewer or use less

3.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. Our company is still facing difficult times and we will have to carry over last year's losses to this year. 2. The president's new idea carried the day and everyone supported him energetically. 3. The steel company carried through their plan to restructure all of their operations. 4. They decided to close out the store and sell all of the remaining stock very cheap. 5. They usually close the books at the end of February every year. 6. When he first started to work at his company he was asked to make cold calls using the telephone book. 7. The salesman came on too strong at the meeting and angered the other members of the team. 8. My father was a true company man and was always putting in an extra effort for his company. 9. When the coal mine closed down the company town faced severe economic times. 10. The company has been cutting back on entertainment expenses for over a year now.

 

3.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (3); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (3); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (3); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (3); Student H translates them into English.

 

4. Study these idioms and their meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

cut corners - economize

cut off - interrupt or stop

cut one's losses - do something to stop losing money or something

deliver the goods - succeed in doing well what is expected

double-check - check something again to confirm

face value - the official worth or trust of something

fair play - justice, equal and right action to someone

figure out - find an answer by thinking about something

fill the bill - be just what is needed

finger in the pie - involved in what is happening, receiving money for

something

 

4.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. We have been forced to economize on stationary expenses during these severe economic times. 2. The speech of the president was cut off when the electricity went off in the building. 3. We should sell the old machinery as soon as possible and try and cut our losses. 4. The new owner of the company is not very popular but he is able to deliver the goods. 5. We were unable to double-check the costs of the new products before the price list was printed. 6. Although the face value of the postage stamp was very low it sold at the auction for much money. 7. The company is very good to work for as they always use fair play when they are bargaining with their employees. 8. Everyone in our company is trying to figure out what our boss is going to do with the new equipment. 9. That new machine should fill the bill as to what we need to finish the job. 10. The new manager has his finger in the pie in all aspects of our company's business.

 

4.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (4); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (4); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (4); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (4); Student H translates them into English.

 

5. Study these idioms and their meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

gain ground - go forward, make progress

get a break - get an opportunity or good deal

get off the ground - make a successful beginning, go ahead

give someone the green light - give permission to go ahead with a project

go public - sell shares of a privately owned company to the public

go through with - finish, do as planned or agreed

hard sell - sell something by being very aggressive

heads will roll - someone will be punished

in black and white - in writing

in charge of - in control of, responsible for

 

5.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. Our company has been gaining ground in our attempt to be the best in the industry. 2. We were able to get a break on the price of the paint and saved a lot of money. 3. We were unable to get the new product off the ground and will have to wait until next year. 4. Our boss gave us the green light to begin work on the new sales promotion. 5. The stock of the Internet company rose very quickly when they went public. 6. We have decided not to go through with our plans to launch the new product until we have solved all of its problems. 7. The car salesman gave us a hard sell so we decided to go to another dealer. 8. Heads will roll when our boss learns about the money that we have lost recently. 9. The company refused to deal with the customer's complaints until they saw them in black and white. 10. My sister has been in charge of buying supplies at her company for many years.

 

5.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (5); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (5); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (5); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (5); Student H translates them into English.

 

6. Study these idioms and their meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

in short supply - not enough, in less than the amount or number needed

in stock - have something ready to sell or use

in the black - successful or making money

in the long run - in the final result

in the market for - ready to buy something

in the red - losing money, unprofitable

in the works - in preparation, being planned or worked on

jack up - make a price higher

keep books - keep records of money gained and spent

keep track of - keep a count or record, stay informed

 

6.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. Experienced computer programmers are in short supply at our company. 2. They didn't have any computer printer ribbons in stock at the store. 3. The new company has been in the black for over a year now. 4. The company has been losing money recently but in the long run they should do very well. 5. We have been in the market for a new computer for a long time but still we haven't bought one. 6. The company began to go into the red when the price of oil began to rise rapidly. 7. The camera company has a new automatic camera in the works but nobody knows about it yet. 8. The steel companies decided to jack up the price of steel at the beginning of the year. 9. The new assistant to the sales manager has no experience keeping books and has made many mistakes. 10. They have been making a great effort to keep track of the number of visitors to their store.

6.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (6); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (6); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (6); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (6); Student H translates them into English.

 

7. Study these idioms and their meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

kickback - money paid illegally for favorable treatment

make a go of - produce good results, succeed

mean business - be serious

number-cruncher - an accountant, someone who works with numbers

on hand - in one's possession, ready

(buy) on credit - buy something without paying cash

on the block - for sale

pay off - make a profit, be successful

piece/slice of the action - a share in the activity or the profits of something

red ink - debt (red ink on a financial statement)

 

7.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. The construction company was taken to court for giving kickbacks to the local politicians. 2. Although he works very hard in his small business he has been unable to make a go of it and may soon go out of business. 3. Our boss means business when he tells everyone to try and work harder. 4. Our president is a good number-cruncher and understands about the finances of our company. 5. We didn't have any supplies on hand and were unable to finish the job. 6. My friend had no money so he decided to but the furniture on credit. 7. As soon as they purchased the company they began to put some of the equipment on the block. 8. The furniture manufacturer was unable to pay off their loan and had to go out of business. 9. The inventor wanted a large piece of the action of the profits from the new computer that he had invented. 10. The automobile company has been drowning in red ink since the US dollar began to rise.

 

7.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (7); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (7); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (7); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

a)    Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (7); Student H translates them into English.

 

8. Study these idioms and their meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

run short - not have enough in quantity

saddled with debt - burdened with debt

sell like hotcakes - sell very quickly

sell out - sell all of a product

strike while the iron is hot - take advantage of an opportunity

sweetheart deal - a deal made between friends so that both may make a big

profit

take a nosedive - collapse, fail, decrease in value

take on - to give a job to or hire someone

take over - take control or possession of something, take charge or

responsibility

take public - sell shares in a company to the general public

take stock - count the items of merchandise or supplies in stock, take

inventory

throw cold water on - discourage, forbid

throw money at something - try to solve a problem by spending money on it

tight spot - a difficult situation

turn over - to buy and then sell something to customers

work out - plan, develop

write off - remove from a business record, cancel a debt

 

8.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. They ran short of gasoline at the gas station and had to close early. 2. Our sister company is saddled with a great amount of debt and should be sold as soon as possible. 3. The children's toys were selling like hotcakes at the end of the year. 4. Every year at least one company sells out all of their products which frustrates many customers. 5. We decided to strike while the iron was hot and began to market the product around the time of the Olympics. 6. We were able to make a sweetheart deal with our landlord and got the rent greatly reduced. 7. The stock market took a nosedive when the earnings of the oil company began to weaken. 8. The company took on many new workers during the busy holiday season. 9. The government decided to take over the bank after it declared bankruptcy. 10. We decided it was necessary to take our company public in order to raise money to expand our facilities. 11. The department store closes down for 3 days every March in order to take stock. 12. The managers threw cold water on the plans to close down the factory for one week in August. 13. The president of our company is willing to throw a lot of money at the problem in the hope of solving it. 14. The computer manufacturing company has been in a tight spot since the shortage of computer chips appeared. 15. The turn-over at that discount store is very rapid. 16. I spent the weekend trying to work out the budget estimates for next year. 17. It was impossible for the bank to collect the money so they were forced to write off the loan.

 

8.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (8); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (8); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (8); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (8); Student H translates them into English.

 

Check your knowledge of business idioms

Choose an idiom at the bottom to replace the expression in the brackets below. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.