phrases that are commonly used in business  and work contexts. If you don't use English  

at work, you'll still probably find this useful if  you're trying to improve your vocabulary, because  

many of these can also be used in other  situations. Some of these are idioms  

and some are just collocations, in other  words, words that are commonly used together.  

Before we get started I'd just like to thank the  sponsor of this video which is the app Busuu. Now 

a problem that many people face when they want  to learn a new language is not knowing where  

to start. Do I start with grammar? Do I start  with pronunciation? Should I use a textbook? Etc.  

Another difficulty if you're learning by  yourself, and this is something that I've  

experienced when learning languages, is getting  feedback. Busuu makes the process a lot easier  

with a series of lessons that are very easy to  follow. And those exist for 12 different languages. 

Another very useful feature is the feedback  function. Basically there are various written and  

oral exercises in the lessons which you can submit  to the Busuu community so that native speakers can  

provide corrections. There are also a couple  of sections on the platform that are aimed at  

English learners who already have a relatively  high level. For example, there's a section on  

Business English, and some of the phrases in this  video are actually in that business course. I've  

been showing you what it looks like on a computer,  but you can, of course, also use it on a phone.  

There is a free version with limited features, but if you click the link below, you can try Busuu  

Premium with a free 7-day trial period, so that you  can test out all of the features that I mentioned.  

Okay, let's get started with the  phrases. Number one: a ballpark figure.  

A ballpark figure is a rough estimate of a  number or quantity. For example, if frank has  

an amazing business idea (I don't know, maybe he  wants to design an app that makes fart noises),  

I could say to him: I know you don't know exactly  how much it's going to cost, but could you give me  

a ballpark figure? Number two is: to be on the same  page. This relates to two or more people. It means  

to be thinking the same way about something  or to have the same understanding of something.  

For example: We should talk to our  client again to clarify some things.  

We need to be on the same page before we  move forward. Next we have: to be snowed under.  

This is informal. To be snowed under means to be  very busy or overwhelmed because you have too many  

things to do. For example: I'm sorry for not being  in touch. I've been completely snowed under at work.  

Number four is: to bring something to the table.  To bring something to the table means to provide  

something that will benefit a group or a company,  or to provide a useful skill. It's often used when  

we talk about hiring or contracting people,  and the skills or experience that they have.  

For example: I think Clara will be a good  consultant because she's been working in  

this field for more than ten years, so she has  a lot to bring to the table. Honestly, Frank

didn't have much to bring to the table when I  hired him, but I decided to give him a chance.

Now we have: to bring somebody  up to speed. To bring somebody  

up to speed means to give somebody the  most recent information about something.  

For example, if you've been away for a couple of  weeks, you might say to one of your colleagues:  

Could you bring me up to speed on what's happening  with that project? It's like saying: Can you  

update me on that project, or give me any new  information? Number six is: by the book. This means  

by following rules or systems very strictly.  Our boss does everything by the book, which has  

its pros, but some say that he's too rigid  about things. This one is: to call the shots.  

To call the shots means to be the person in  charge or who makes the decisions. For example:  

Olivia is our manager, but her assistant Natalie  is actually the one calling the shots around here.  

Now we have: to chair a meeting. You probably know  the noun "chair", but did you know that it can also  

be a verb? To chair a meeting means to run or be  in charge of a meeting. Our supervisor was sick,  

so I was asked to chair the meeting on Monday. This  one is: a cold call. A cold call is an unsolicited 

phone call or visit with the aim of selling a  good or service. "Unsolicited" means not asked for.  

People who make cold calls are contacting  people who they've never contacted before.  

You know when people who you don't know call you  or come to your house trying to sell you something?  

That's a cold call. If you want to be a salesperson,  you can't be afraid of making cold calls.  

It is also a verb: to cold-call. It simply  means to make cold calls. For example:  

I'm sick of these energy companies  cold-calling me all the time.  

An energy company is an electricity company. Next  we have a contingency plan. A contingency plan is a  

plan for handling an emergency or for something  that might or might not happen in the future.  

For example: You can't predict everything, so  businesses need to have contingency plans in place  

to help them deal with unexpected events. A core  competency. A core competency is a business's most  

important strength. It's what makes it competitive  or unique in relation to other businesses. Perhaps  

it's creativity, or innovation, or efficiency. It's  also possible to have several core competencies.  

We need to refocus on our core competencies,  if we want to gain more market share. Next we  

have: to discontinue a product. This simply  means to stop producing and/or selling  

a product. They decided to discontinue the product  because sales were much lower than expected.  

Next we have a dress code. A dress code is a  set of rules or accepted standards regarding  

what you should wear in a specific situation.  Workplaces often have a dress code. For example:  

We have a casual dress code in my office,  but that doesn't mean that we can go to work  

wearing shorts and flip-flops. Now we have: due diligence. Due diligence is a formal phrase.  

It's the act of carefully assessing things  like costs or risks in order to prevent harm to  

oneself or others, especially before entering into  agreements. I know that sounds a bit complicated,  

but it basically means being careful about things  and doing your research before making important  

decisions. It's important for companies to exercise  due diligence before making major acquisitions.  

Next we have another formal phrase.  This is: due to unforeseen circumstances.  

This means because of unexpected events. It's often  used in emails to provide an explanation or to  

apologise for something. For example: We regret to  inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances,  

we have had to postpone the conference until next  year. Now we have an informal phrase. This is: to get  

the ball rolling. To get the ball rolling means to  do something which starts an activity or process.  

At first everybody seemed reluctant to talk at the  meeting, so Frank put forward his opinion just to  

get the ball rolling. In other words, he said  something just to get the conversation started.  

Next we have: to give somebody the axe. This is  just an informal way of saying to fire somebody.  

For example: Tom kept arriving late, so one day his  boss gave him the axe. Next we have: a glass ceiling.  

People often talk about "the" glass ceiling.  This is a metaphor that is used to describe  

a point in a hierarchy that is very difficult or  impossible to get beyond. It's usually used to talk  

about the fact that it's often very difficult for  women to be promoted to top management positions.  

Despite the fact that more women are working, many  still struggle to break through the glass ceiling.  

Next we have: to go over budget. This simply means  to spend more money than you planned to. We've gone  

over budget this month, so next month we need to  watch our expenses more closely. Going forward.  

Going forward means in the future, or from now on.  A lot of people don't seem to like this expression  

because they say it's overused and rather  meaningless, but it's a phrase that's commonly  

used in the business world nowadays. We'll need to  pay closer attention to our budget going forward.  

Frank, going forward it would be  best if you started work before 11am.

This one is: a golden parachute. This is  an informal phrase. A golden parachute is  

a large payment that an executive in a company  (so somebody in a top management position) receives  

if their employment is terminated. For example,  if a company is bought by another company  

and an executive loses their job, they will be  guaranteed a large sum of money. The company  

was criticised for giving golden parachutes to  executives who didn't necessarily deserve it.  

Another informal phrase. This is: to have a quick word with somebody.  

To have a quick word with somebody just means  to have a short conversation with somebody.  

For example: Could I have a quick word  with you about the report before you leave?  

Next we have: to hit a target. This means to  achieve a specific objective. For example,  

if you're a salesperson, you might be told  that you need to sell 100 units of a product  

in a month. If you succeed in doing that,  you can say that you've hit your target.  

When my team hit our targets, our supervisor  took us out for dinner. This one is: in bulk.  

In bulk means in large quantities and  usually at a reduced price. For example:  

My office buys paper and ink in bulk to save money.  The next one is: in the loop. In the loop is an  

informal phrase. It means having information about  a particular subject or being part of the relevant  

discussions. It's usually information that only  a certain group of people have. The opposite is  

out of the loop. My colleague sent me emails  about the project while I was out of the office  

to keep me in the loop. That means that  my colleague was sending me information  

so that I knew what was going on.  Next we have: an intangible asset.  

An intangible asset is something that a  business owns that you can't physically touch  

and is difficult to measure in monetary terms.  These include patents, copyright, brand names or  

even reputation. It can be difficult to calculate  the worth of a company's intangible assets.  

The opposite to an intangible  asset is a tangible asset.  

A tangible asset is something that a business owns  whose value can be measured easily. They're mainly  

things that you can touch like buildings and  equipment, but a tangible asset can also be money  

in the bank. The business's most valuable tangible  asset is a warehouse close to the city centre.  

Next we have: to keep on track. You can also say:  to stay on track. This means to continue to work,  

act or progress in the way that is planned. For  example: We've been doing well, but we need to focus  

and keep on track if we want to hit our targets.  And now we have: to make a good impression. This is  

frequently used in other contexts as well. It  means to cause somebody to form a good opinion  

of you. If you want to make a good impression  in a job interview, it's best to dress tidily  

and not wear T-shirts that have swear  words on them. Next we have: market research.  

Market research is the process of collecting  information about consumers and target markets.  

It's important to do market research  before launching a new product.  

Null and void. This is a formal phrase. It's a  legal term which usually relates to contracts or  

agreements. It means having no legal effect or not  valid. It's a bit of a silly phrase because "null"  

and "void" basically mean the same thing, but it's  nevertheless an expression that's commonly used.  

The contract became null and void when the  supplier did not fulfil his obligation. Next  

we have: on a need-to-know basis. This means  that people are only given the details that  

they need to know when they need them. It's  to talk about things that are secret or  

confidential. I don't know all the details of the  project because information is only being released  

on a need-to-know basis. Now we have: a pain point.  No, this is not about physical pain. A pain point is  

a problem or a need that a business's potential  customers have. The idea is that once you discover  

your customers' pain points, you can better  design your products and services. And marketing  

strategies. Reading competitors' product reviews  is one way to figure out people's pain points.  

Per my last email. This is a fairly formal  phrase. It essentially means as I said in my  

previous email, or as previously discussed. Some  people say that you shouldn't use it because  

it can be passive-aggressive. For example,  some people use it as a polite way of saying:  

I already gave you that information. But I don't  think it's always used like that. It can just  

be used to indicate when you mentioned something.  For example: Would you be happy to proceed with  

the plan per my last email? And now an informal  phrase. This is: to put something on the back burner.  

To put something on the back burner means to  postpone something or to temporarily not deal  

with something, usually because it's of low  priority. We've decided to put that project  

on the back burner for the moment because  we have some more urgent issues to deal with.  

To reach a tentative agreement. This means to  decide on an arrangement with somebody that's not  

certain or definite. We haven't written a contract  yet, but we've reached a tentative agreement.  

Repeat business. Repeat business is a customer or  client returning to buy goods or services from  

the same company. For example: Focusing on repeat  business is often more profitable than trying to  

attract new customers. Next we have: to run behind  schedule. To run behind schedule means to do  

something or happen later than expected or planned.  You can also say: to be behind schedule. We had to  

work late on Thursday because we were running  behind schedule. Next we have: to run on schedule.  

To run on schedule means to happen at  the time that was planned or expected.  

If everything runs on schedule, the  prototype should be ready by next week.  

Now we have: to secure funding. This  is just a formal way of saying to get  

funding. "Funding" is money for a specific purpose.  Funding might come from governments, investors  

or other individuals. Frank is currently  trying to secure funding for his business idea.  

Good luck, Frank. Next we have: soft skills.  Soft skills. These are personality traits  

or behaviours that enable you to succeed in a  workplace. They include things like communication  

and problem solving skills. Most employers these  days aren't just interested in technical skills.  

Soft skills like time management and adaptability  are also highly valued. A stumbling block.  

A stumbling block is a difficulty or problem  that prevents progress. When you start a business,