Want to understand everything?
Get Business English Idioms
So you learned English.
Hate to be embarrassed?
Ignoring idioms will cause serious problems in your communications. You don't want to be THIS person...
Meeting room in Sydney, Australia:
Mr Anderson: excuse me guys, Barbara had something important she wanted to share with the board.
Barbara: This is serious, I must caution you. We will struggle with our strategy implementation to reach the target for the financial year. We are "treating it thin ice" and ....
How much money you will earn in your lifetime depends on how well you communicate. Yes, your degrees matter, but only as long as you can communicate the "why".
Did you know?
There are 25,000 idioms in the English language.
About 1,000 are critical to your understanding of the English language yet most courses teach just a few.
The average English speaker throws more than 3 idioms per minute into every conversation...
How is anyone supposed to understand what's going on?
You've learned English.
So why don't you understand what's going on?
Isn't this what they were supposed to teach you?
This course demonstrates most of the important idioms used in business.
You will get exposed to situations using idioms.
It doesn't matter what vocabulary you have. You will appear more fluent using these idioms in conversation.
By the end of the course, you will understand the phrases, their meanings, and where to use them to influence conversations.
Go far beyond English class.
This is not a business-English course.
It's your AVOID-EMBARRASSMENT course.
Stop struggling to understand native English speakers who speak a language you weren't taught - idiomatic English.
Karin from Sweden was working in London. She proudly offered to present a client-service training-module to the internal-sales department of her firm.
She used a whiteboard to note down the points of her agenda. One of the points was: "Give the clients a piece of mind".
Everybody fell off their chairs* they laughed so much. Karin's almost died from embarrassment.
When the room settled down, Karin learned the difference between giving "a piece of mind" and "peace of mind".
...they don't teach you that in English class.
Why is English so confusing?
Think of a sequence of words which makes sense but doesn't mean what they say. You can't even guess what they mean.
Short sentences which make no sense. Unless you understand the context.
Yet, they are often used.
Imagine: "It beats me"
This doesn't mean what it says. You're not being hit with a stick.
It means you are confused & can't understand anything.
How does this make any sense?
There is a logic.
Each word is clear, but the meaning makes no sense.
Want to understand English fast?
Want to understand everything an English speaker says?
Especially in your business communications?
Get in the conversation fast with the right words at the right time.
You won't be watching the conversation anymore. You'll be in it.
Look...
You've studied English grammar.
Most native English speakers don't worry about grammar in school. This means that you know the rules better.
You understand how to make a sentence. You know the names of grammar rules. Very often, you can spot mistakes.
So when you find it difficult to speak English, this is not because you don't have the grammar. Nor the vocabulary.
Each time you speak, you become more confident.
Practise speaking = get more confident.
Practise idioms = communicate as they do.
You already use idioms.
In your own language, you already use them every day.
In fact, we use idioms so often we don't realise they're even there.
We grew up with them, they're part of our cultural identity.
There's so much idiomatic expression, that without idioms you'd be totally lost.
Don't just observe. Use the right idioms to include yourself in the conversation.
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Kevin from Vietnam spent some time in the United States.
One day he tried to help a colleague with a client issue. In an email, he wrote: "...to solve this the best way is to nip the butt" straight away. His colleagues found this hysterical.
"Nip the butt" means biting somebody's bottom. This is frowned upon by most companies.
What Kevin meant to say was: "nip it in the bud". This means to "take action quickly".
This is one of thousands of examples of misusing an idiom to embarrass yourself * (continue reading to find out more)
This course is for you if:
You have some experience working with people who speak English as a first language.
You already have an Intermediate or Advanced level of English.
You want to interact effectively with native English speakers.
You are a professional who needs to use English at work.
You want to put a rocket under your career prospects.
You want to make speaking in English as real as talking in your home language.
Course curriculum
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1
Welcome :)
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A quick message from Loic
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Welcome - tell us a bit more about yourself before we start
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Before we start...
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2
Marketing idioms and phrases: Jay’s Greens – food company.
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Marketing idioms and phrases: Introducing Jay's Greens
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Marketing idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Jay’s Greens – food company.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. IN THESE FIRST FEW... YOU CAN PASS WITH 60%
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3
Marketing idioms and phrases: Tailer Tees – fashion company.
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Marketing idioms and phrases: Introducing Tailer Tees
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Marketing idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Tailer Tees – fashion company.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. IN THESE FIRST FEW... YOU CAN PASS WITH 60%
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4
Marketing idioms and phrases: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Marketing idioms and phrases: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Marketing idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : MHT Construction Equipment.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. IN THESE FIRST FEW... YOU CAN PASS WITH 60%
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5
Finance idioms & phrases: Jay's Greens - food company.
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Finance idioms and phrases: Introducing Jay's Greens
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Finance idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Jay’s Greens – food company.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. IN THESE FIRST FEW... YOU CAN PASS WITH 70%
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6
Finance idioms and phrases: Tailer Tees - fashion company.
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Finance idioms and phrases: Introducing Tailer Tees
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Finance idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Tailer Tees - fashion company.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. IN THESE FIRST FEW... YOU CAN PASS WITH 70%
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7
Finance idioms and phrases: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Finance idioms and phrases: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Finance idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : MHT Construction Equipment.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. IN THESE FIRST FEW... YOU CAN PASS WITH 70%
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8
Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work: Jay's Greens - food company.
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Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work: Introducing Jay's Greens
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Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work - EXPLANATIONS: Jay's Greens - food company.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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9
Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work: Tailer Tees - fashion company.
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Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work: Introducing Tailer Tees
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Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work - EXPLANATIONS : Tailer Tees – fashion company.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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10
Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work: Introducing MHT Construction Equipment.
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Idioms & phrases about behaviour at work - EXPLANATIONS : MHT Construction Equipment.
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QUIZ: Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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11
How is it going so far?
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Let us know how you're doing
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What comments might you have for us?
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12
Idioms and phrases about productions / operations: Jay’s Greens – food company.
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Production / operations idioms and phrases: Introducing Jay's Greens
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Production / operations idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Jay’s Greens – food company.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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13
Idioms and phrases about productions / operations: Tailer Tees - fashion company.
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Production / operations idioms and phrases: Introducing Tailer Tees
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Production / operations idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Tailer Tees – fashion company.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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14
Idioms and phrases about productions / operations: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Idioms and phrases about productions / operations: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Idioms and phrases about productions / operations - EXPLANATIONS : MHT Construction Equipment.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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15
Management idioms and phrases: Jay’s Greens – food company.
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Management idioms and phrases: Introducing Jay's Greens
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Management idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Jay’s Greens – food company.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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16
Management idioms and phrases: Tailer Tees – fashion company.
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Management idioms and phrases: Introducing Tailer Tees
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Management idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Tailer Tees – fashion company.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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17
Management idioms and phrases: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Management idioms and phrases: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Management idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : MHT Construction Equipment.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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18
Planning / meetings idioms and phrases: Jay’s Greens – food company.
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Planning / meetings idioms and phrases: Introducing Jay's Greens
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Planning / meetings idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Jay’s Greens – food company.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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19
Planning / meetings idioms and phrases: Tailer Tees – fashion company.
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Planning / meetings idioms and phrases: Introducing Tailer Tees
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Planning / meetings idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : Tailer Tees – fashion company.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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20
Planning / meetings idioms and phrases: MHT Construction Equipment.
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Planning / meetings idioms and phrases: MHT Construction Equipment
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Planning / meetings idioms and phrases - EXPLANATIONS : MHT Construction Equipment.
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Select the best alternatives for the sentence/phrase in [brackets]. 80% pass mark
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21
End of the course, start of a language adventure
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How was it?
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So what did you think of the course?
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Hi, I’m Loic
I help clients converse easily at any level. I share practical techniques which have worked for decades.
You will discover how to use idioms like a native in this course. We use practical examples to talk you through the most common idioms used in business.
As you begin to use these techniques, you will sound more fluent when you talk with your colleagues.
Be part of every conversation
Idioms still develop. They happen "on the fly" (another idiom). Often we speak idiomatically without knowing we're doing it. Idioms connect you with your listeners at an emotional level.
It's like Nelson Mandela said: "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
Idioms are more than 4-word phrases. They convey complete and rich cultural meanings. You reach your listener's heart.
When you know the context of English speakers, you understand much more than what they say,
Connect with them on a deep level.
Learn to laugh with them. Join in their culture. Kill your embarrassment.
Get the insight you need. Get the respect you want. Get results. Speak with idioms.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the course start and finish?
It starts the moment you enroll.
You get lifetime access to the course.
How long should this course take me to complete?
As long as you need it. It is completely self-paced.
Students get the best results when they invest 30 min each day for about 3 weeks. (remember, you're learning over 1000 idiomatic phrases)
How do I access this course?
It's completely online. This means you can access it via your PC, tablet, or mobile phone. From anywhere and anytime.
What level of English should I have to sign up for this course?
At least B1 level. (The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR).
Isn't this information free online?
YES. In the sense that you don't have to pay money to learn them. You pay with your time. There are twenty-five thousand (25,000) idioms in the English language.
Every idiom ever written can be found online. But you won't have the time to search for them on the fly (idiom) in the middle of a business conversation.
Your time is valuable. This course offers you the most commonly used Englis idioms that you can master within 9 hours. That's a fraction of the time you would need to investigate all of these individually.
In what format is the course delivered?
The course is delivered both in video and written lessons. We have you covered in both input skills: reading and listening.
- Use the video for listening and comprehension.
- Use the downloadable PDFs to grow your vocabulary through reading and practise speaking.
Risk-free guarantee.
If you are unhappy for any reason, whether it's your experience with this course or your new knowledge.
Simply ask for your money back.
Idioms used on this page
- Treading on thin ice; to "tread on thin ice": to be in a dangerous position where you could fall or have an unfavorable result.
- Piece of mind; giving someone a "piece of your mind" is to express one's opinion strongly; to voice one's disagreement or dissatisfaction.
- Peace of mind; to give "peace of mind" means to make someone free from worry, put them at ease, and give them a sense of calm.
- Fell of their chairs; to "fall off one's chair" means to react to something with great shock or surprise.
- Nip it in the bud; to “nip something in the bud” means to stop it in an early stage of its development before it can mature. The phrase first appeared in print, as far as we know, in the late 16th century.
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On the fly; to do something "on the fly" means doing something without pause or stopping whatever else is going on.