Let's learn business idioms - part 4 | Tutor Audrey オードリー's Column

Let’s continue business idioms– Part 4

1. 1. Go broke – means to go bankrupt or to lose all the money.

2. 2. Go down the drain – when someone wastes or loses something. E.g. John dropped out of college in his third year and never continued his studies. All of his hard work and money went down the drain.

3. 3. Go the extra mile – to do more than what people expect.

4. 4. Go through the roof - to increase rapidly. E.g. I am happy the number of our Facebook followers has gone through the roof.

5. 5. Gray area – it means that something is undefined and not easily categorized. E.g. I asked our lawyers if it was legal, and they said it wasn’t clear. It’s a gray area.

6. 6. Ground-breaking – new and innovative.

7. 7. Hands are tied - to say someone’s hands are tied, means they do not have control over a situation.

8. 8. Hit the nail on the head – means to do or say something 100% correctly. E.g. I agree with Jane 100%. I think she really hit the nail on the head.

9. 9. In a nutshell – in a few words.

1I10. In full swing – if a project is “in full swing”, it means that it has been completely started, and that it is progressing or moving as fast as it ever will.

11. 11. In the black – if a company is “in the black”, it means it is making a profit.