Idioms are an essential part of everyday English. Whether you’re watching a movie, reading an article, or chatting with native speakers, you’ll come across phrases that don’t always mean what they seem. Expressions like “all hands on deck” or “run a tight ship” may sound strange at first, but understanding them can help you follow conversations more easily and express yourself more naturally.
Learning idioms not only improves your comprehension but also makes your speech more engaging and fluent. Let’s take a look at some useful work-related idioms and how to use them effectively.
Read the following paragraph and see if you can guess the meanings of the idioms:
At Johnson & Co., the new manager runs a tight ship, ensuring that everyone stays on schedule and meets deadlines. With an important project due next week, it’s all hands on deck as the team works overtime to finalize the presentation. While some employees worry about the long hours, they know that climbing the corporate ladderrequires dedication. Even so, Mark, the newest hire, is struggling to keep up and often bites off more than he can chew. Luckily, his mentor reminds him that success doesn’t happen overnight and that sometimes, you just have to learn the ropesbefore excelling in a fast-paced environment.
Explanation of Some Idioms:
- Runs a tight ship – Manages a team or organization with strict discipline and efficiency.
- All hands on deck – Everyone must contribute and work together to complete a task, usually in urgent situations.
- Bites off more than he can chew – Takes on more work or responsibility than he can handle.
Can you guess the meanings of the other idioms?
Take your English to the next level, learning idioms!