🎯

Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Differentiate between literal meaning and figurative idiomatic meaning in rapid speech
✓
Integrate fixed idiomatic expressions (e.g., touch base, get the ball rolling) into conversation to build rapport
✓
Reformulate formal or overly rigid statements into natural, approachable workplace language using appropriate register
✓
Justify the grammatical adaptation of idioms (e.g., changing verb tenses while keeping the rest of the phrase fixed)
💡
Key for this lesson

Learn the idiom as a full sentence, not just a definition. This helps you remember which prepositions (in, on, at) belong to it. Idioms are "social glue" that make you sound approachable!

📚

Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
The Rule of Invariability

Idioms are Fixed Phrases (Lexical Chunks)

You cannot substitute synonyms, even if the meaning is similar:

  • Correct: "Let's get the ball rolling."
  • Incorrect: "Let's start the ball moving."
  • Incorrect: "Let's play it by the ear." (articles are fixed)
touch base in the loop on the same page
Grammatical Integration

Conjugate the Main Verb

While nouns/prepositions are fixed, the main verb must be conjugated:

  • Future: "I will touch base with you tomorrow."
  • Past Simple: "She touched base with me yesterday."
  • Present Perfect: "Have you touched base with the client yet?"
will get got have gotten is getting
🔑
Function & Register

Formal: "We need to collaborate to find a solution."
Idiomatic: "We need to put our heads together."
Warning: Avoid idioms in formal contracts or legal warnings!

🎯

Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Professional Contexts

🚀 Get the ball rolling: "To get the ball rolling, I've scheduled a kickoff meeting." (Start a process)
📧 Keep me in the loop: "Please keep me in the loop regarding the merger." (Include in updates)
📞 Touch base: "I just wanted to touch base regarding the contract status." (Make brief contact)
📈 Learning curve: "There's always a steep learning curve with this software." (Difficulty learning)
⚡ Get up to speed: "Read the briefing to get up to speed before the client arrives." (Become current)
🤝 On the same page: "We need to be on the same page regarding the deliverables." (Shared understanding)
🏆 Win-win situation: "This deal is a win-win situation for both companies." (Mutual benefit)
⚠️ Cut corners: "We can't afford to cut corners on security." (Reduce quality to save)
🔄 Back to the drawing board: "The prototype failed, so it's back to the drawing board." (Start over)
🔒 Hands are tied: "My hands are tied until the board approves the budget." (Unable to act)

Everyday Contexts

🎵 Play it by ear: "Can we play it by ear regarding dinner?" (Decide as situation develops)
👀 See eye to eye: "My brother and I rarely see eye to eye on politics." (Agree fully)
🎓 Learn the ropes: "It took me three weeks to learn the ropes of the new system." (Learn basics)
💡

Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
✓

Correct Idiom Usage

✓
"I will keep you in the loop."

The metaphor implies being inside the circle of information

✓
"Let's touch base later this week."

"Touch base" comes from baseball - a fixed expression

✓
"The supplier agrees to streamline processes if necessary."

Appropriate formal language for contracts

✓
"She learned the ropes very quickly."

"Ropes" comes from sailing - the correct fixed phrase

✗

Common Idiom Mistakes

✗
"I will keep you on the loop."

The Preposition Trap: Must be "in" the loop, not "on"

✗
"Let's touch the ground later this week."

The Synonym Swap: You cannot substitute synonyms in idioms

✗
(In a contract) "The supplier agrees to cut corners if necessary."

Register Misalignment: Idioms are inappropriate in formal legal documents

✗
"She learned the threads very quickly."

Wrong noun: The idiom is "learn the ropes" (nautical origin)

🎧

Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to a Zoom call between Elena (Product Manager) and David (Sales Lead) discussing a product launch that is behind schedule:

🎵 Audio: Product Launch Discussion
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
🔊
Speed:

Elena: Hi David. Thanks for joining the call. I wanted to touch base about the Q4 launch timeline.

David: Hey Elena. Honestly, I'm glad you called. I'm getting a lot of questions from the sales team, and I feel like I'm a bit out of the loop.

Elena: I know, and I apologize. We ran into an issue with the supplier. Basically, the initial design proved too expensive to manufacture.

David: Ah, I see. So, are we talking a minor delay, or are we going back to the drawing board?

Elena: Somewhere in between. We don't need to restart completely, but we do need to simplify the design. If we try to launch as is, we'd have to cut corners on quality to meet the price point, and nobody wants that.

David: Agreed. We can't risk our reputation. But my hands are tied regarding the sales targets. If we delay, I miss my quota.

Elena: I understand. Look, let's play it by ear for the next 48 hours. I have a meeting with a new vendor tomorrow. If they can deliver, we might still be okay.

David: Okay, fair enough. Just please keep me in the loop the moment you finish that meeting. I need to manage my team's expectations.

Elena: Will do. I'll send a quick update tomorrow evening.

Question 1: When David says his "hands are tied," what does he imply?

💡 Hint: "Hands are tied" means being unable to act due to rules or lack of authority.

Question 2: Why does Elena refuse to "cut corners"?

💡 Hint: Listen for what Elena says about quality and reputation.

Question 3: What does Elena suggest they do for the next 48 hours?

💡 Hint: Listen for "Let's play it by ear for the next 48 hours."

Question 4: Is this conversation formal (scripted) or professional-informal (collaborative)?

💡 Hint: Notice the use of idioms and casual phrases like "Hey Elena" and "fair enough."
🧠

Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes

Choose the correct option for each professional situation:

1

You want to propose a solution that benefits both your company and the client. You call it a:

A "Double success"
B "Win-win situation"
C "Two-way street"
2

A colleague asks for a definitive schedule, but you don't have enough information yet. You suggest deciding later based on how things evolve. You say:

A "Let's play it by ear."
B "Let's touch base."
C "Let's get the ball rolling."
3

Which sentence uses the idiom INCORRECTLY?

A "I need to get up to speed on the new regulations."
B "Please keep me on the loop regarding the changes."
C "It seems we are not on the same page."
4

You want to start a new project. Which idiom means "to begin a process"?

A "Back to the drawing board"
B "Touch base"
C "Get the ball rolling"
✏️

Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Gap Fill - Selecting the Right Idiom

Complete the sentences using: get the ball rolling | back to the drawing board | play it by ear | touch base

1. Project Management

To _______ on the data migration, we need to sign the statement of work today.

💡 Hint: Which idiom means "to start a process"?
2. Project Management

The user testing failed completely. We are _______ regarding the interface design.

💡 Hint: Which idiom means "starting over after failure"?
3. Event Planning

The weather forecast for the outdoor reception is uncertain. Let's _______ and decide tomorrow morning.

💡 Hint: Which idiom means "to decide as the situation develops"?
4. Event Planning

I need to _______ with the caterers to confirm the final headcount.

💡 Hint: Which idiom means "to make brief contact"?

Exercise B: Error Correction - Grammar & Prepositions

Find the error and rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. HR & Recruiting

❌ "She learned the threads very quickly."

💡 Hint: The correct idiom uses a nautical term, not "threads."
2. HR & Recruiting

❌ "We need to make sure we are at the same page regarding the salary."

💡 Hint: The preposition is wrong. Think about where you are on a page.
3. Sales Negotiation

❌ "I would love to help, but my hands are tie regarding the discount."

💡 Hint: The verb form is wrong. Passive voice requires the past participle.
4. Sales Negotiation

❌ "Let's try to find a win-win solution for both companies."

Hint: Use the fixed idiom noun.

💡 Hint: While "solution" is logical, the fixed idiom uses a different noun.

Exercise C: Register Transformation (Formal to Natural)

Rewrite the formal sentences using the idiom in parentheses.

1.

Formal: "Please inform me continuously regarding the changes."

(Use: keep me in the loop)

💡 Hint: Replace "inform me continuously" with the idiom.
2.

Formal: "It will take time to become fully knowledgeable and operational."

(Use: get up to speed)

💡 Hint: Replace "become fully knowledgeable and operational" with the idiom.
3.

Formal: "We do not agree on the final budget."

(Use: see eye to eye)

💡 Hint: Replace "do not agree" with the negative form of the idiom.
4.

Formal: "We should not reduce quality to save money on security."

(Use: cut corners)

💡 Hint: Replace "reduce quality to save money" with the idiom.
🗣️

Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
📚
Preparation for Class

Use these tasks to practice business idioms with your teacher. Focus on using the correct idiom for each situation.

📝 Task 1: Controlled Practice (1 min)

Complete the sentences aloud using the target idiom:

  • "When I started my current job, the learning curve was very _______."
  • "I'll call you next week just to _______ (touch base)."
  • "To _______ on the new project, I'll send out the invite today. (get the ball rolling)"
💼 Task 2: Guided - The Status Update (2 min)

Context: You are updating your manager on a difficult client.

  • Step 1: Say that you and the client don't agree. (Use: see eye to eye)
  • Step 2: Say that you cannot offer them a lower price because of company policy. (Use: hands are tied)
  • Step 3: Suggest that you will wait and see how they react next week. (Use: play it by ear)
🎤 Task 3: Free Practice - Reflection (1 min)

Describe a time when a project didn't go as planned:

  • Did you have to go back to the drawing board?
  • Did you try to cut corners?
  • How did you ensure everyone stayed on the same page?
✨
Summary: Business Idioms

Chunks not Words: Never translate word-for-word. "Touch base" is a single unit.
Grammar Rules Apply: Conjugate the verb (e.g., "hands were tied" vs "hands are tied")
Context is King: Perfect for meetings and networking, risky in formal contracts.

Next lesson →