俗语.docx

1、俗语ace up your sleeveIf you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage.Our new product is an ace up our sleeve.hold all the acesA person who holds all the aces is in a very strong position because they have more advantages than anyone else.Given the

2、 high unemployment rates today, employers hold all the aces.ambulance chaserA lawyer who finds work by persuading people injured in accidents to claim money from the person who caused the accident is called an ambulance chaser.Peterson and Scott are well-known ambulance chasers - thats how they make

3、 their money!back to the salt minesSaying that you have to go back to the sale mines is a humorous way of talking about returning to work, usually with some reluctance.We get two days off at Christmas and then its back to the salt mines!bait and switchThis term refers to a deceptive commercial pract

4、ice of advertisinga low-priced item to attract customers, then telling them that the product is out of stock and persuading them to buy a more expensive article.This store is famous for its bait and switch tactics.in the blackTo say that a person or organization is in the black means that they are f

5、inancially sound, have a positive balance on their account and that they owe no money.black marketThe black market refers to the illegal buying and selling of goods or currencies.Be careful of what you buy on the black market - its not always good quality.blamestormingA discussion among a group of p

6、eople who try to determine whoor what is to blame for a particular mistake, failure or wrongdoing, is called blamestorming.A blamestorming session took place following the unfavourable reviews in the press.blank chequeIf you give someone a blank cheque, you authorize them to do what they think is be

7、st in a difficult situation.Tom was given a blank cheque and told to negotiate the best deal possible.blue chip companyThis term refers to a company with a solid reputation for the quality of its products and the stability of its growth and earnings.Its usually safe to invest in a blue chip company.

8、above boardIf a situation or business is described as above board, it is open, honest and legal.There are not secret negotiations. Our dealings have always been above board.get down to brass tacksWhen people get down to brass tacks, they start to discuss the essential aspects of a problem or situati

9、on.The situation was so serious that after a few polite exchanges they quickly got down to brass tacks.break your backIf you work extremely hard, or put a lot of effort into achieving something, you break your back to do it.If you want the job done well, you should accept to pay more. Hes not going

10、to break his back for such a low price!bricks and mortar / bricks and clicksAn established trading company (office/shop) is referred to as a brick-and-mortar business.Click companies refer to internet-based operations.Companies which do both are called bricks and clicks.Click businesses are usually

11、more flexible than brick-and-mortar operations.business as usualAfter an unpleasant or unexpected event, this expression means that everything is continuing in a normal way, in spite of the difficulties.It was business as usual at the supermarket the day after the hold-up.business before pleasureThi

12、s expression means that it is considered preferable to finish ones work before going to relax and enjoy oneself.Id love to have lunch with you but Ive got a report to finish - business before pleasure Im afraid!business is businessThis is a way of saying that in financial and commercial matters, fri

13、endship or personal feelings should not be allowed to have any influence.Ill hire your brother only if he is the best candidate. Im sorry but business is business!cant stand the paceIf you cant stand the pace, you are unable to do things well when there is a lot of pressure.She once worked for a fam

14、ous fashion designer but she couldnt stand the pace.carve out a nicheA person or company who carves out a niche concentrates on a particular segment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and develop their expertise in that area.In todays competitive market it is better to carve o

15、ut a niche and try to become the best in that area.cash cowA product or service which is a regular source of income for a company is called a cash cow.His latest invention turned out to be a real cash cow.cash in your chipsIf you cash in your chips, you sell something, especially shares, either beca

16、use you need the money or because you think the value is going to fall.Andy cashed in his chips as soon as business started to slow down.too many chiefs, not enough IndiansThis expression refers to a situation where there are too many people giving instructions and not enough people doing the work.T

17、he business wasnt successful. There were too many chiefs and not enough Indians.clinch a dealIn a business relationship, if you clinch a deal, you reach agreement on a proposal or offer.Pauls final argument enabled us to clinch the deal.cog in the machineIf you say that someone is a cog in the machi

18、ne, you mean that, while they are necessary, they only play a small part in an organization or plan.The police quickly realized that the suspect was just a cog in the machine.make cold callsIf you make cold calls, you telephone potential customers from a list of people you do not know.In my first jo

19、b I had to make cold calls using the telephone directory.copper-bottomedTo describe something such as a plan, a contract or a financial arrangement as copper-bottomed means that it is completely safe or reliable.He signed a copper-bottomed agreement with a distributorcorner the marketIf a company do

20、minates an area of business, and leaves no room for competition, it is said to have cornered the market.By importing large quantities and selling at low prices, they have cornered the market.creative accountingThis term refers to the presentation of a companys results in a way that, although general

21、ly legal, glosses over the problems and makes the results appear better than they are.It was suggested that some creative accounting might help to attract investors.cut and driedIf you refer to a situation, problem or solution as cut and dried, you mean that it is clear and straightforward with no l

22、ikely complications.When the new manager arrived, he didnt find the situation as cut and dried as he had expected.cutting edgeThis expression refers to the newest, most advanced stage in the development of something.The company is at the cutting edge of aeronautics.dead woodThe term dead wood refers

23、 to people or things which are no longer considered useful or necessary.The new manager wants to reduce costs by cutting out the dead wood.do the spadeworkSomeone who does the spadework does the preparatory work or the preliminary research.Although I did all the spadework, my name was never mentione

24、d.dog eat dogThis expression refers to intense competition and rivalry in pursuit of ones own interests, with no concern for morality.The business world is tough today. Theres a general dog-eat-dog attitude.in the doldrumsTo say that a person, a business or the economy in general is in the doldrums

25、means that the situation is gloomy and that nothing new is happening.Despite the recent measures, the economy is in the doldrums.a done dealThis expression is used to refer to an agreement or decision which has been reached on a certain matter.Were still considering several proposals, so its not a d

26、one deal yet.done and dustedWhen a project, task or activity is done and dusted, it is completely finished or ready.Ive nearly finished preparing the presentation. When its all done and dusted Ill be able to relax.donkey workThis expression is used to describe the unpleasant, repetitive or boring pa

27、rts of a job.I do the donkey work - my boss gets the credit!doom and gloomA general atmosphere of pessimism, and a feeling that the situation is not going to improve, is referred to as doom and gloom.Fortunately its not doom and gloom for all businesses, in spite of the economic situation.down the d

28、rainTo say that money, time or energy has gone down the drain means that it has been wasted or lost.His years of research went down the drain when the company went bankrupt.drastic times call for drastic measuresWhen faced with a difficult situation, it is sometimes necessary to take actions which i

29、n normal circumstances would appear extremeAfter Johnnys third accident, his father confiscated his car.Drastic times call for drastic measures!dream ticketIf you refer to two people as a dream ticket, you think they would work well together and be successful.Clinton and Obama teaming up for the ele

30、ctions would be a dream ticket for many Democrats.dry /dummy runIf you organize a rehearsal, a trial exercise or a practice sessionof something, in realistic conditions, to see how well it will work before it is launched, you do a dry run.Lets do a dry run of the ceremony to make sure everything goe

31、s smoothly.above the call of dutyIf a person does something which is over and above the call of duty, they show a greater degree of courage or effort than is usually required or expected in their job.The fire-fighter received a medal for his action which went above and beyond the call of duty.eager

32、beaverThe term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous.The new accountant works all the time - first to arrive and last to leave. Hes a real eager beaver!elbow greaseIf you use elbow grease, you need energy and strength to do physical work s