English is an international language with vast sway over how business is conducted in a globalized world. From developed markets in the Americas and Europe to emerging economies like India, no other language commands as much respect or utility as English does.
Proficiency in English is essential to communicating your ideas to partners and clients worldwide. A firm grasp of the nuances of this language and familiarity with its business-specific phrases and idioms is crucial for anyone who has picked up English as a second or third language.
While learning new phrases and usages is usually fun, it can be quite challenging for non-native English speakers. To make things easier, we have compiled a list of the most commonly used phrases and idioms that can improve your communication skills in the workplace.
Before we do that, let's first clarify what is business English and what are idioms and phrases are.
Business English is a form of English that enables accurate communication in business and corporate environments. It contains vocabulary that is specifically business-related and would not likely make sense outside of particular industries and work environments. For instance, terminologies such as margin call, gig economy, and workflow all constitute business English since they often make sense only within a business context.
Business English also includes key phrases and idioms that are used in professional settings and are important for English learners to understand and use correctly. A firm grasp of common business English phrases is crucial to avoid miscommunication at work and to elevate your command over the English language as a whole.
A phrase is a grammatical arrangement of words that acts as a unit of a sentence. It is mostly illustrative in nature and enriches a sentence by providing context, detail, and clarity. Phrases are often used to describe people, things, or events. Let’s use some examples to understand phrases better.
‘Renewed with energy’, which describes an occurrence, is the phrase here.
Here, the phrase ‘man with the briefcase’ uses a description to define a person.
In this sentence, ‘while traveling on a plane’ is a phrase that describes how a particular activity was conducted.
An idiom is a combination of words that conveys something other than the literal meaning of the words. Idioms often have a metaphorical or symbolic meaning that is tied to a cultural, historical, or professional context. For instance, ‘letting the cat out of the bag’. This is a common English phrase that means revealing an important secret and not what it literally seems to mean. Here are a few more examples of popular English phrases with their meanings:
Here are 15 phrases and idioms that will be useful when communicating with your colleagues.
At Immigo, we help non-native English speakers master the English language with ease and proficiency. Our live speaking courses, practice sessions with other learners, and an intuitive AI bot are all specially designed to help you become fluent in English in no time. You can also sign-up for a one-on-one personal learning manager to give you that extra boost.
Learning with Immigo will help you use English idioms, proverbs, and common colloquialisms with the utmost confidence.
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