This lesson trains 25 C2 idioms on Business & Management. Idioms signal fluency when used naturally — forcing them into every sentence hurts your score. Practise in the runner first, then revisit every expression in the glossary. Review mode after completion shows how each idiom fits its context.
lose your touch
No longer have the skill you once had.
During a company planning session, the facilitator introduced “lose your touch”, an expression meaning “No longer have the skill you once had”.
touch base
Contact or talk briefly.
During a company planning session, the trainer referred to “touch base”, a useful expression for the idea “Contact or talk briefly”.
be flying high
Be very successful.
While taking part in a management meeting, the speaker highlighted “be flying high”, which means “Be very successful”.
blue-sky thinking
Creative, imaginative thinking without practical limits.
In a business-strategy workshop, participants used “blue-sky thinking” to communicate this idea: “Creative, imaginative thinking without practical limits”.
little by little
Gradually.
In a management meeting, participants used “little by little” to communicate this idea: “Gradually”.
hit and miss
Sometimes good and sometimes bad.
While taking part in a company planning session, the speaker highlighted “hit and miss”, which means “Sometimes good and sometimes bad”.
help [someone] no end
Help someone a great deal.
During a management meeting, the facilitator introduced “help [someone] no end”, an expression meaning “Help someone a great deal”.
have a window
Have a period of free time.
During a discussion about running an organisation, the trainer referred to “have a window”, a useful expression for the idea “Have a period of free time”.
a world of difference
A very large difference.
During a company planning session, the facilitator introduced “a world of difference”, an expression meaning “A very large difference”.
joined-up thinking
Thinking that makes useful connections between ideas.
During a management meeting, the trainer referred to “joined-up thinking”, a useful expression for the idea “Thinking that makes useful connections between ideas”.
go bust
Become bankrupt or fail financially.
In a company planning session, participants used “go bust” to communicate this idea: “Become bankrupt or fail financially”.
as dead as a dodo
Completely dead or no longer used.
In a discussion about running an organisation, “as dead as a dodo” was explained as an expression meaning “Completely dead or no longer used”.
think outside the box
Think in an original and imaginative way.
In a business-strategy workshop, participants used “think outside the box” to communicate this idea: “Think in an original and imaginative way”.
knock into shape
Take action to improve something.
During a business-strategy workshop, the facilitator introduced “knock into shape”, an expression meaning “Take action to improve something”.
hit the right note
Have exactly the right effect or tone.
In a discussion about running an organisation, participants used “hit the right note” to communicate this idea: “Have exactly the right effect or tone”.
corner the market
Control almost all sales of a product.
During a discussion about running an organisation, the facilitator introduced “corner the market”, an expression meaning “Control almost all sales of a product”.
here, there and everywhere
In many different places.
In a business-strategy workshop, “here, there and everywhere” was explained as an expression meaning “In many different places”.
live a lie
Pretend to be someone or something you are not.
During a business-strategy workshop, the trainer referred to “live a lie”, a useful expression for the idea “Pretend to be someone or something you are not”.
shut up shop
Close a business.
While taking part in a management meeting, the speaker highlighted “shut up shop”, which means “Close a business”.
bring to the table
Raise something for discussion or offer a useful contribution.
During a company planning session, the trainer referred to “bring to the table”, a useful expression for the idea “Raise something for discussion or offer a useful contribution”.
launch a campaign
Start an organised series of actions.
While taking part in a discussion about running an organisation, the speaker highlighted “launch a campaign”, which means “Start an organised series of actions”.
do a roaring trade
Sell a lot of goods very quickly.
In a management meeting, “do a roaring trade” was explained as an expression meaning “Sell a lot of goods very quickly”.
last but not least
Finally, but still importantly.
In a company planning session, “last but not least” was explained as an expression meaning “Finally, but still importantly”.
rein in spending
Reduce expenditure.
In a discussion about running an organisation, “rein in spending” was explained as an expression meaning “Reduce expenditure”.
get down to business
Start discussing or doing the important work.
While taking part in a business-strategy workshop, the speaker highlighted “get down to business”, which means “Start discussing or doing the important work”.