Types of Business Correspondences

7/31/2019 Types of Business Correspondences

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WRITING BUSINESS LETTERSUseful phrases

Salutation

Dear Mr Brown Dear Ms White Dear Sir Dear Sirs Dear Madam

Dear Sir or Madam Gentlemen

Starting

We are writing to inform you that ...to confirm ...to request ...to enquire about ...

I am contacting you for the following reason. I recently read/heard about . . . and would like to know . . . Having seen your advertisement in ... , I would like to ... I would be interested in (obtaining/receiving) ... I received your address from ... and would like to ... I am writing to tell you about ...

Referring to

previous contact

Thank you for your letter of March 15 ... Thank you for contacting us. In reply to your request ... Thank you for your letter regarding ... With reference to our telephone conversation yesterday ... Further to our meeting last week ... It was a pleasure meeting you in London last month. I enjoyed having lunch with you last week in Tokyo. I would just like to confirm the main points we discussed on

Tuesday . . .

Making a request

We would appreciate it if you would ... I would be grateful if you could... Could you please send me . . . Could you possibly tell us/let us have...

In addition, I would like to receive ... It would be helpful if you could send us ... I am interested in (obtaining/receiving...) I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. Please let me know what action you propose to take.

Offering help

We would be happy to ... Would you like us to ... We are quite willing to ... Our company would be pleased to ...

Giving good news

We are pleased to announce that ... I am delighted to inform you that ... You will be pleased to learn that ...

Giving bad news

We regret to inform you that ...

I'm afraid it would not be possible to ... Unfortunately we cannot/we are unable to ... After careful consideration we have decided (not) to ...

Complaining

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with ... I am writing to complain about ... Please note that the goods we ordered on (date) have not yet

arrived. We regret to inform you that our order n--- is now considerably

overdue. I would like to query the transport charges which seem

unusually high.


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Apologizing

We are sorry for the delay in replying ... I regret any inconvenience caused I would like to apologize for (the delay/the inconvenience) ... Once again, I apologise for any inconvenience.

Orders

Thank you for your quotation of ... We are pleased to place an order with your company for ... We would like to cancel our order n...

Please confirm receipt of our order. I am pleased to acknowledge receipt of your order n... Your order will be processed as quickly as possible. It will take about (three) weeks to process your order. We can guarantee delivery before ... Unfortunately these articles are no longer available/are out of

stock.

Prices

Please send us your price list. You will find enclosed our most recent catalogue and price list. Please note that our prices are subject to change without notice

We have pleasure in enclosing a detailed quotation. We can make you a firm offer of ... Our terms of payment are as follows :

Referring to payment

Our records show that we have not yet received payment of ...

According to our records ... Please send payment as soon as possible. You will receive a credit note for the sum of ...

Enclosing documents

I am enclosing ... Please find enclosed ... You will find enclosed ...

Closing remarks

If we can be of any further assistance, please let us know If I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me If you require more information ... For further details ... Thank you for taking this into consideration Thank you for your help. We hope you are happy with this arrangement. We hope you can settle this matter to our satisfaction.

Referring to future

business

We look forward to a successful working relationship in thefuture

We would be (very) pleased to do business with your company. I would be happy to have an opportunity to work with your firm.

Referring to future

contact

I look forward to seeing you next week Looking forward to hearing from you " " to receiving your comments I look forward to meeting you on the 15th I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience.

An early reply would be appreciated.

Ending business letters

Sincerely, } Yours sincerely, } (for all customers/clients) Sincerely yours, }

Regards, (for those you already know and/orwith whom you already have a working relationship.)


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Keep them always handy and improve your business English in no time:

Sample sentences

to request information-I am writing to inquire about

-I am writing in reference to

-I read/heard and would like to know

-Could you please send me at the address below/above?

-Thank you for your assistance.-I look forward to hearing from you.

in response to a request-Thank you for your interest/inquiry.

-Enclosed is the information you requested.

-You can learn more about this at

-If you have further questions or if you need assistance, please contact:

-If I can be of more help, please feel free to contact me at

to make requests-Could you please send me your most recent brochure?

-Could you fax me the results of the market survey?

-I would like to order ten copies of the book Difficult Situations.

-I would be very grateful if you could send me this information.

-Please return the enclosed envelope with your payment.

ofgoodwill-Thank you for your hospitality.

-I enjoyed having lunch with you last week while I was in Chicago.

-Congratulations on your promotion to Manager.

-I want(ed) to congratulate you on your new position.

-I was happy to hear that the negotiations went well.

for the introduction of a

product or service

-I am writing to tell you about

-(Our new product) is coming out next month.

-This product/service is designed to (help you)

for a reference-I am writing in regard to

-I am writing in reference to

-Please refer to the enclosed invoice/brochure.-I hope you have had a chance to look over the materials we sent.

for confirmation-I am writing to confirm

-I would like to confirm what we discussed last Friday.

-I would just like to confirm the main points we discussed

for notification-I am writing to let you know that

-Please be aware/informed that

-I would like to inform you of a recent policy change. I am happy to inform you that

-Your request for funding has been approved.

for offering assistance-We would be happy to

-If we can be of assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.

for collection-According to our records

-Our records show that

-Your monthly installment is past due.

-Please send payment as soon as possible

English idioms relating toBUSINESS - WORK


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Have an ace up your sleeve.If you have an ace up your sleeve, it means that you havesomething in reserve with which you can gain an advantage.

Hold all the aces

A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong positionbecause they have more advantages than anyone else."Given the high unemployment figures in some countries,employers hold all the aces."

Ambulance chaser

This terms refers to a lawyer who finds work by persuading peopleinjured in accidents to claim money from the person who causedthe accident.

"Peterson & Scott are well-known ambulance chasers - that's howthey make their money!"

Back to the salt minesSaying that you have to go back to the salt mines is a humorousway of talking about returning to work, usually with some reluctance."We get two days off at Christmas and then it's back to the salt mines!"

Bait and switch

This term refers to a deceptive commercial practice of advertising alow-priced item to attract customers, then telling them that the product is out ostock and persuading them to buy a more expensive article."This store is famous for its bait and switch tactics."

Blamestorming

A discussion among a group of people, who try to determine who or what is toblame for a particular mistake, failure or wrongdoing, is called'blamestorming'.

"A blamestorming session took place following the unfavourable reviews in thepress."

A blank cheque

If you give someone a blank cheque, you authorize them to dowhat they think is best in a difficult situation."Tom was given a blank cheque and told to negotiate the best dealpossible."

Blue chip companyThis term refers to a company with a solid reputation for the quality ofits productsand the stability of its growth and earnings."It's usually safe to invest in a blue-chip company.

Above board

If a situation or business is described as above board, it is open,honest and legal."There are no secret negotiations. Our dealings have always beenabove board."

Get down to brass tacks

People who get down to brass tacks start to discuss and deal withthe practical details of something"It was decided to get down to brass tacks and discuss the cost ofthe project."

Break your back

If 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. He's notgoing to break his back for such a low price!"

Bricks and mortar/ bricks and clicks

An 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 more flexible than brick-and-mortar

operations."

Pass the buckIf you say that someone is passing the buck, you are accusing themof not taking responsibility for a problem and expecting someone elseto handle it.

Business as usual

After an unpleasant or unexpected event, this expression meansthat everything is continuing in a normal way in spite of the difficulties.

"It was business as usual at the supermarket the day after thehold-up."

Business before pleasure

This expression means that it is considered preferable to finishone's work before going to relax and enjoy oneself."I'd love to have lunch with you but I've got a report to finish -business before pleasure I'm afraid!"


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Business is business

This is a way of saying that in financial and commercial matters,friendship or personal feelings should not be allowed to have anyinfluence."I'll hire your brother only if he is the best candidate. I'm sorrybut business is business!"

Can't stand the paceIf you can't stand the pace, you are not able to do things well whenthere is a lot of pressure."He used to work as a trader but he couldn't stand the pace."

Carve out a niche

A person or company who carves out a niche focuses on a particularsegment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and developtheir expertise in that area."In today's competitive market it's better to carve out a niche and try to becom

the best in that area."

A cash cowA product or service which is a regular source of income for a companyis called a cash cow."His latest invention turned out to be a real cash cow."

Cash in your chips

If you cash in your chips, you sell something, especially shares,either because you need the money or because you think the value isgoing to fall."Andy cashed in his chips as soon as business started to slow down."

Too many chiefs and not enoughIndians

This expression refers to a situation where there are too many peoplegiving instructions and not enough people doing the work."The business wasn't successful.There were too many chiefs and not enough Indians."

Clinch a dealIn a business relationship, if you clinch a deal, you reach agreementon a proposal or offer."Tom's final argument enabled us to clinch the deal."

Cog in the machine

If you say that someone is a cog in the machine, you mean that,while they are necessary, they only play a small part in anorganization or plan."The police quickly realized that the suspect was just a cog in themachine."

Make cold callsIf you make cold calls, you telephone potential customers froma list of people you do not know."In my first job I had to make cold calls using the telephone directory."

Copper-bottomed

To describe something such as a plan, a contract or a financialarrangement as 'copper-bottomed' means that it is completelysafe or reliable."He has signed a copper-bottomed agreement with a distributor."

Corner a market

If a company dominates an area of business, and leaves no room forcompetition, it is said to have cornered the market."By importing large quantities and selling at low prices, they havecornered the market."

Creative accounting

This term refers to the presentation of a company's results in a waythat, although generally legal, glosses over the problems and makesthe results appear better than they are."It was suggested that some creative accounting might help to attractinvestors."

Cut and dried

To refer to a situation, a problem or a solution as cut and dried meansthat it is considered clear and straightforward, with no likely complications."When the new manager arrived, he didn't find the situation as cut anddried as he had expected."

Dead woodThe term dead wood refers to people or things which are no longerconsidered useful or necessary."The management wants to reduce costs by cutting out the dead wood."

Do the spadeworkSomeone who does the spadework does the preparatory workor the preliminary research for something."Although I did all the spadework, my name was never mentioned."

Dog eat dogThis expression refers to intense competition and rivalry in pursuit ofone's own interests, with no concern for morality.


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"The business world is tough today. There's a general dog-eat-dogattitude."

In the doldrums

To say that a person, a business or the economy in general is in thedoldrums means that the situation is gloomy and that nothing new ishappening."Despite the recent measures, the economy remains in the doldrums."

A done dealThis expression is used to refer to an agreement or decision which hasbeen reached on a certain matter."We're still considering several proposals, so it's not a done deal yet."

Done and dusted

When a project, task or activity is done and dusted, it is completelyfinished or ready."I've nearly finished preparing the presentation. When it's all done anddusted I'll be able to relax."

Donkey workThis expression is used to describe the unpleasant, boring parts of a job. "I do the donkey work - my boss gets the credit!"

Doom and gloom

A general atmosphere of pessimism, and a feeling that the situation isnot going to improve,is referred to as doom and gloom."Fortunately it's not doom and gloom for all businesses,in spite of the economic situation."

Down the drain

To say that money, time or effort has gone down the drain, meansthat it has been wasted or lost.

"His years of research went down the drain when the companywent bankrupt."

Drastic times call for drastic measures

When faced with a difficult situation, it is sometimes necessary to takeactions which in normal circumstances would appear extreme."Sales dropped so significantly that the company decided to drop theproduct line. Drastic times call for drastic measures!"

Dream ticket

If you refer to two people as a dream ticket, you think they wouldwork well together and be successful."Clinton and Obama teaming up for the general election would be adream ticket for many Democrats."

Dry (or dummy) run

If you organize a rehearsal, a trial exercise or a practice session ofsomething, in realistic conditions, to see how well it will work beforeit is launched, you do a dry run.

"Let's do a dry run of the ceremony to make sure everything goessmoothly."

Above and beyond the call of duty

If a person does something which is above and beyond the call ofduty,they show a greater degree of courage or effort than is usually required orexpected in their job."The fire-fighter received a medal for his action which went aboveand beyond the call of duty."

An eager beaver

The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking andenthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous."The new accountant works all the time - first to arrive and last to leave-a real eager beaver!"

Have all your eggs in one basket

If you have all your eggs in one basket, you depend on one planor one source of income.

"If you invest your savings in one bank, you'll have all your eggs in onebasket."

Use elbow greaseIf you use elbow grease, you need energy and strength to do physicalwork such as cleaning or polishing."It took a considerable amount of elbow grease to renovate the old house."

Farm something outIf something such as work is farmed out, it is sent out to be done byothers."We farmed out the packaging to another company."

Feather your nestTo say of someone that they are feathering their nest is to say thatthey are taking advantage of their position in order to obtain moneyso as to have a comfortable life.


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Fiddling while Rome burns

If you say that somebody is fiddling while Rome burns, you meanthat they are doing unimportant things while there are serious problemsto be dealt with"His visit to the trade fair was 'fiddling while Rome burns' according tothe strikers."

Drag one's feetIf you say that a person is dragging their feet, you think they areunnecessarily delaying a decision which is important to you.

Think on one's feetA person who thinks on their feet is capable of making good decisionswithout previous thinking or planning.

"Good lawyers need to be able to think on their feet when pleading a case."

Rushed off your feet.If your are rushed off your feet, your are extremely busy."I'd love to have lunch with you but we're rushed off our feet at the momentat the office."

A finger in every pie

If someone has a finger in every pie, they are involved in manyactivities"For information about the town development project, you should talkto John Brown. He has a finger in every pie."

Work your fingers to the boneA person who works their fingers to the bone is extremely hardworking."He deserves his success; he worked his fingers to the bonewhen he started the business."

A foot in the door

To say that someone has a foot in the door means that they have asmall but successful start in something, and will possibly do well in

the future."With today's unemployment, it's difficult to get a foot in the door inany profession."

A free handIf you have a free hand, you have permission to make your owndecisions, especially in a job."My boss has given me a free hand in the choice of agent."

Funny business

An activity which is conducted in a deceitful, dishonest or unethicalmanner is called funny business."I've got suspicions about that association. I think they're up to somefunny business."

Get down to brass tacks

When people get down to brass tacks, they start to discuss theessential aspects of a problem or situation."The situation was so serious that after a few polite exchanges,

they immediately got down to brass tacks."

Get your hands dirty

If you get your hands dirty in your job, you become involved in allaspects of it, including work that is physical, unpleasant or lessinteresting."His willingness to get his hands dirty won the respect and approvalof the whole team.

Get the hang of somethingWhen you get the hang of an activity, you now know how to do itcorrectly.

Get something off the groundIf you get something off the ground, you put it into operation afterhaving organized it."After a lot of hard work, we finally got the campaign off the ground.

Get the show on the road

If you manage to put a plan or idea into action, you get the show

on the road."OK! We've got all we need, so let's get the show on the road!"

Give someone a run for their money

If you give someone a run for their money, you present strongcompetition in circumstances wherethe other person expects towin easily."We didn't win the match but we gave the other team a run for theirmoney."

Go belly upIf a business or project goes belly up, it is unsuccessful or goesbankrupt."The restaurant went belly up before the end of the first year."


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Go for a songIf something goes for a song, it is sold at an unexpectedly low price."I was able to buy the car simply because it going for a song."

Go out of businessIf a shop, firm or enterprise goes out of business, it closes downor goes bankrupt."If the new road bypasses the town, a lot of shops will go out of business."

Going concernThis expression refers to a business or activity that is dynamicand successful.

"They opened a coffee shop that is a going concern today."

Golden handcuffsThe term golden handcuffs refers to a large sum of money or agenerous financial arrangement granted to an executive as an incentiveto stay in their job, or to ensure long-term cooperation after their departure.

Golden handshakeA golden handshake is a generous sum of money given to a personwhen they leave a company or retire(sometimes given to encourage early retirement).

Golden opportunityA golden opportunity is a favourable time or excellent occasionwhich should not be missed.

Golden parachuteA golden parachute is a clause in an executive's employment contractstating that the executive will receive certain large benefits if theiremployment is terminated.

Grease somebody's palm

If you accuse someone of greasing somebody's palm, you areaccusing them of giving money to someone in order to gain an unfairadvantage, or to obtain something they want."In some countries, it is common practice to grease government officials'palms."

One hand washes the other...(... and together they wash the face.)

This expression means that when people cooperate and work welltogether, there is a better chance of achieving results.

The upper handIf a person or organization gets or gains the upper hand, they takecontrol over something.

All hands on deck

When there is a need for all hands on deck, everyone must help,especially when there's a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time.

"As the opening day approached, it was all hands on deck to haveeverything ready in time."

Have one's hands tied

If a person has their hands tied, something, such as an agreementor a rule, is preventing them from doing what they would like to do."Mark deserves to earn more, but the manager's hands are tiedby the recent salary agreement."

Hive of activity

hive of activity(also: a beehive)A place where there are lots of things happening, and everyoneis very busy, is called a hive of activity."When I arrived at the office, it was already a hive of activity."

Hold the fortWhen you hold the fort, you look after a place or a businessin the absence of the person who is normally in charge.

"Julie, could you hold the fort while I go to the post office?

Household name/word

When the name of someone or something becomes very familiarbecause it is so often used, it is called a household name or word."The product was so successful that its name became a householdword in no time."

Irons in the fire

If you have a few, or many, irons in the fire, you are involved ina number of projects at the same time."The travel agency is not his only venture - he's got more than oneiron in the fire."

Jump on the bandwagonIf a person or organization jumps on the bandwagon,they decide to do something when it is already successful or fashionable."When organic food became popular, certain stores were quick


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to jump on the bandwagon and promote it."

Keep one's head above waterTo keep one's head above water means to try to surviveby staying out of debt, for example a small business.

Hit the ground runningIf someone hits the ground running, they are ready to start workimmediately on a new activity."He intends to hit the ground running when he starts his new job."

Keep your nose to the grindstone A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is someone whoconcentrates on working hard at his job.

Knuckle down to somethingIf someone knuckles down to something, they start to work on itseriously."If you want to succeed, you'll have to knuckle down to some serious work."

Lame duckA person or organization that is in difficulty and unable to managewithout help is called a lame duck."Some banks have become lame ducks recently."

Learn the hard way

If you learn the hard way, you learn through your own experience,good and bad, rather than from the advice or guidance of others."His refusal to accept any help meant that he had to learn the hardway."

Let me bounce this off you.

You say this when you present an idea or plan to someone in order to test

their reaction or obtain feedback."I think I've found a way of making money. Let me bounce this off you."

The left hand doesn't know whatthe right hand is doing

This expression means that communication within a group or organizationis so bad that people don't know what the others are doing.

Licence to print money

This expression refers to an officially authorized activity which enablespeople to make a lot of money without much effort."The contract to supply computers to schools was a licence to printmoney."

Lip service

If you pay lip service to an idea or cause, you give verbal support orapproval but fail to actually do anything."In spite of promising equal pay for women, the management issuspected of paying lip service to the promotion of women's rights."

Make hay while the sun shines This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantageof a good situation which may not last.Successful sportsmen are advised to make hay while the sun shines.

Mix business with pleasure

When people mix business with pleasure, they combine workand leisure or social activities."Seminars or training sessions that include leisure activities area good way of mixing business and pleasure."

Money spinnerIf an activity is a money spinner, it is a very successful way ofmaking money."Washing cars was quite a money spinner when I was a student."

Put money where your mouth isIf you put money where your mouth is, you give financial supportto activities and causes that you believe are right.

Monkey business

An activity which is organized in a deceitful or dishonest way is

called monkey business."The results announced seem suspicious - I think there's somemonkey business going on!"

Move the goalposts

During a course of action, if someone moves the goalposts, theychange the rules or conditions."We've decided on a sales campaign.Let's hope the boss doesn't move the goalposts halfway through! "

Movers and shakersThe term movers and shakers refers to people in power who takean active part in making things happen."Movers and shakers are assembling in Brussels for the summit."

Nitty-grittyWhen people get down to the nitty-gritty, they begin to discuss themost important points or the practical details.


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"I was interested in the project, but we didn't get down to the nitty-grittyuntil his partner arrived."

Nuts and bolts

The nuts and bolts of something are the detailed factsand the practicalaspects."We need to discuss the nuts and bolts of the proposal before goingany further."

(One's) opposite number

Someone who holds the same position as oneself in another companyor organization is called one's opposite number."I spoke to my opposite number in several local companies and we all

agreed to join the anti-pollution campaign."

Ostrich strategy/politics

This term refers to the phenomenon of ignoring or evading an obviousproblem in the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear."Adopting an ostrich strategy will only make matters worse - we've gotto find a solution!"

Overplay your handIf you overplay your hand, you are overconfident and spoil yourchances of success by trying to obtain too much."Sam is hoping for a bonus for his good results, but he may beoverplaying his hand if he asks for a promotion."

Pass the buck

If you say that someone is passing the buck, you are accusing themof not taking responsibility for a problem and letting others deal with itinstead."Whenever a customer comes to complain, she always finds a way of

looking busy. Talk about passing the buck!"

Pass musterIf someone or something passes muster, they are considered to besatisfactory or acceptable."The interview went well. I hope I'll pass muster."

Pick up steamIf something such as a project or process picks up steam, it startsto develop or become more active."The campaign started slowly but it picked up steam after Christmas."

Piece of the action

When someone wants a piece of the action, they want to participatein what other people are doing and benefit from it."The songwriter thought the show would be a success so he wanteda piece of the action."

In the pipeline If something is in the pipeline, it is in progress or being organizedat the moment.

Play for timeIf you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something fromhappening in order to gain an advantage."He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would decrease."

Play the gameIf you play the game, you accept to do things according tothe rules laid down by others.

Play second fiddleIf you play second fiddle to somebody, you accept to be second inimportance to that person, or have a lower position.

Play the market

If you play the market, you buy stocks and shares in the hopeof making a profit when you sell them."It's always tempting to play the market, but it's more risky at thepresent time."

Pull stringsIf somebody pulls strings, they use influential friends in order to obtainan advantage.

"David found a job easily - his Dad just pulled a few strings!"

Pull your weightIf you say that someone pulls their weight, you mean thatthey do their fair share of the work."It's great working with Sandra. She always pulls her weight."

Put your shoulder to the wheel

If you put your shoulder to the wheel, you start putting a lot of effortinto a difficult task."We'll have to put our shoulders to the wheel to get the store ready forthe opening day."


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A race against timeIf someone is in a race against time, they have to work very quicklyin order to do or finish something before a certain time.

Red tape

The term red tape refers to official rules and bureaucratic paperworkthat prevent things from being done quickly."If there wasn't so much red tape, the company would be up andrunning already."

Roaring tradeIf you do a roaring trade in a particular field, you do excellent business.

"The sports shop is doing a roaring trade in bicycles these days."

Roll up your sleeves When you roll up your sleeves, you get ready for hard work."To increase our market share we'll have to roll up our sleeves andfind new customers."

Learn the ropes If you learn the ropes, you learn how to a particular job correctly.

Run round in circlesPeople who run round in circles have difficulty in achieving thingsbecause of lack of organization."Running round in circles will get us nowhere - we need to set up a plan."

Not up to scratchIf something or somebody is not up to scratch, they are not as goodas they should be.

Seal of approvalIf a project or contract receives a seal of approval, it receives formalsupport or approval from higher authorities.

"We can't conclude the deal without the director's seal of approval."

Separate the sheep from the goats

If you separate the sheep from the goats, you examine a group ofpeople and decide which are good and which are not so good."Examining job applications is the first stage in separating the sheepfrom the goats.

Set the stage (for something)If you set the stage for an eventor a development, you createconditions that allow it to happen."The agreement set the stage for their future working relationship."

Shape up or ship out

This expression is used to warn someone that if they do not improve,they will have to leave their job."When Tom started neglecting the customers, he was told to shape upor ship out."

Shotgun approach

If you use a shotgun approach, you cover a wide range in anon-selective, haphazard and inefficient manner."Identifying a specific segment of the market as our target will bemore effective than a shotgun approach.

Signed, sealed and delivered

When an agreement, contract or treaty is signed, sealed and delivered,all the legal documents have been signed."It is hoped that the agreement will be signed, sealed and deliveredbefore the end of the week."

Skeleton staff/crew

If a business or organization works with a skeleton staff, it is run with thesmallest number of people necessary."The office is closed the week after Christmas but there will be a skeleton

staff to handle essential operations."

Sleeping /silent partner

This term refers toa person who invests money in a business withouttaking an active part in its management, andwhose association withthe enterprise is not public knowledge."He works alone, but his business is partly financed by asleeping partner."

Slice/share of the cake (or pie)

When people feel entitled to a share of the benefits or profits, theywant a (larger) slice of the cake."Since profits are higher this year, the workers feel they deservea bigger slice of the cake."

Smokestack industriesIndustries involved in heavy manufacturing such as the production ofiron and steel, especially if they cause a lot of pollution, are calledsmokestack industries.


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"Smokestack industries are no longer authorized in residential areas."

In smooth watersA business or operation which is in smooth waters is making regular andeasy progress."The company seems to be in smooth waters these days."

Snowed under

Someone who is snowed under has so many things to do, usuallywork, that they feel unable to cope with it all."With the 'flu epidemic, doctors and nurses are completely snowed

under."

Put a spanner in the worksTo put a spanner in the works means to cause problems andprevent something from happening as planned.(In the US, the word wrench or monkey wrench is used instead of spanner)

Speed networkingThis refers to a relatively new urban trend which consists inmaking a potential business contact by briefly talking to a series ofpeople at an organised event and exchanging contact details.

Start the ball rollingIf you start the ball rolling, you start an activity in which other peoplewill join."Let's start the ball rolling by calling on our first speaker."

Step into the breach

If you step into the breach, you do work that someone isunexpectedly unable to do."Steve stepped into the breach when his colleague David had a car

accident."

Step into someone's shoes

If you step into someone's shoes, you take over a job or positionheld by someone else before you.

"William has been trained to step into his father's shoes when heretires."

Strictly businessAn appointment or event that is entirely devoted to business,with no leisure or relaxation, is called strictly business.

"Yes we had lunch together but it was strictly business."

Another string to your bowtwo strings to your bow

If you have another string to your bow, you have another skillor possible course of action if what you are doing now is unsuccessful."As well as her excellent qualifications, she's got another stringto her bow to help her find a job. She speaks fluent Chinese."

Sweat of your brow

If you earn or achieve something by the sweat of your brow, you do itthrough hard work and without help from anyone."I got a comfortable lifestyle by the sweat of my brow. I owe it to nobodybut myself."

Sweetheart deal

The term sweetheart deal is used to refer to an abnormallylucrative arrangement between two parties."Opponents say that the contract was awarded to the builder as partof a sweetheart deal, and is therefore illegal."

Take the floorWhen someone takes the floor, they rise to make a speech orpresentation.

"When I take the floor, my speech will be short." he said.

Take a nosediveIf something takes a nosedive, it drops or decreases in value veryrapidly."The stock market took a nosedive when the property market beganto weaken."

Take the plungeIf you take the plunge, you finally decide to venture into somethingyou really want to do, in spite of the risks involved."Mark and Julie finally took the plunge and opened a guesthouse."


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Take something offline

If you suggest that a subject be taken offline, (during a meeting forexample), you consider that it is a separate issue and should bediscussed at another time."Peter, you're confusing things, so let's take that offline shall we?"

Talk shop

If you talk shop, you talk about your work or business in a socialsituation with someone you work with, and make the conversationboring for the others present."I never go out with my colleagues because we inevitably end uptalking shop."

There for the takingIf something is there for the taking, it is easy to obtain."When our main competitor went out of business, the market wasthere for the taking."

Things are looking upTo say that things are looking up means that the situation isimproving and you feel more positive about the future."Andy has got two job interviews next week so things are looking up."

Think outside the box/out of the boxPeople who think outside the box try to find innovative ideas orsolutions."Our competitors are more creative than us - they really think outsidethe box.

Throw it over the wall

If someone throws something over the wall,they deal with partof a problem or project, then pass responsibilityto another personor department without any communication or coordination. "You can't just manufacture a product and then throw it over the wallto the sales department."

Too much like hard work

An activity or task that requires too much effort is too much likehard work."It's so hot today, there's no way I'm going to do any cooking. It'stoo much like hard work!"

Top dogTo say that a person, group or country is top dog means thatthey are better or more powerful than others."She's top dog in cosmetics today."

Trade secret

This expression, which refers to the secrecy of a company's production

methods, is often used teasingly."Can you give me the recipe for your lemon meringue pie? No way -that's a trade secret!"

Tricks of the tradeThis expression refers to a clever or expert way of doing things,especially in a job."He's a tough negotiator; he knows all the tricks of the trade."

Up and running

If a business or a plan is up and running, it has started and isfunctioning successfully."In some countries you can have a company up and running in avery short time."

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

This expression means that you cannot expect to achieve anythingif you risk nothing."He's going to ask his boss for a promotion even though he has

little chance of obtaining satisfaction - nothing ventured, nothing gained!"

Walking papersIf you are given your walking papers, your contractor a relationshipis ended."After causing a diplomatic incident, Carter got his walking papers."

Wear many hats

Someone who wears many hats has to do many different typesof tasks or play a variety of roles."Our company is small so the employees need to be flexible andaccept to wear many hats.

Wheeling and dealing

Someone accused of wheeling and dealing is thought to beinvolved in complicated, if not dishonest, deals in business or politics."Since the beginning of the election campaign, there's been a lot ofwheeling and dealing going on."

Win-win The term win-win refers to asituation or proposition where both or


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all parties benefit from the outcome."There were smiles all round when the contract was signed - it wasa win-win situation."

Have your work cut out

If you have to face a difficult task or deal with a challenging situation,you have your work cut out for you."I've got a month to reorganize the accounts department. I have mywork cut out for me!"

EMPLOYMENT - WORK

VocabularyAssessment Evaluation of one's abilitiesApply Submit an application for a job or positionBackground Education - qualifications - experienceBonus Additional payment to an employee as an incentive

or rewardCurriculum Vitae Summary of one's education and experience to date;

rsumDismiss Discharge from employment; (to fire, to sack, to let go)Employee Person who works for a firm or companyEmployer Person or firm who employs peopleFire To dismiss from a job.Fringe benefits Advantages offered in addition to salary (life insurance,retirement scheme, company car, etc.).

Also called "perks", abbreviation for perquisites.Interview Oral examination of an applicant for employmentMake redundant Dismiss for economic reasonsMaternity leave Period of absence for a female employee when having

a babyNotice Advance warning of intention to leave one's job -

to give or hand in one's resignationPersonnel People who work for a firm or company (employees)Personnel officer Manager responsible for recruitment, training and welfare

of personnel (employees)Promotion Advancement in rank or position in the companyProspects Opportunities for success or promotion in a careerRecruit Look for and hire personnelResign Leave a job voluntarilyRetire Leave employment because of ageSick leave Absence because of illness - to be on sick leaveStaff People who work for a firm or department; employeesStrength Strong characteristic or particular abilityStrike To go on strike : to stop working in protest against


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somethingTake on Employ or hireTrainee Person being trained for a job e.g. a trainee salesmanTraining course A course of study to prepare for a job

e.g. a computer courseUnemploymentbenefits Payments made by the state to an unemployed personVacancy A position to be filledWeakness A lack of ability or a shortcoming in character

PRESENTATIONSUseful Phrases

Presentation Vocabulary Presentation BasicsPreparation is essential for an effective presentation.

When giving a presentation, certain keywords are used to signpost the different stages.It's a good idea to memorize them and practise using them, so that they come to mind easily during a presentation.

Starting the presentation Good morning/good afternoon ladies and gentlemenThe topic of my presentation today is ... What I'm going to talk about today is ...

Why you are giving this

presentationThe purpose of this presentation is ...

This is important because ...My objective is to ...

Stating the main pointsThe main points I will be talking about are

firstly ...

secondly...

next, finally... we're going to look at ...Introducing the first point Let's start/begin with ...Showing graphics, transparencies,

slides etc. I'd like to illustrate this by showing you...Moving on to the next point Now let's move on to ...Giving more details I'd like to expand on this aspect/problem/pointLet me elaborate on that

Would you like me to expand on/elaborate on that?Changing to a different topic I'd like to turnto something completely differentReferring to something which is off

the topic I'd like to digress here for a moment and just mention that ...Referring back to an earlier point Let me go back to what I said earlier about ...
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Summarizing or repeating the mainpoints

I'd like to recap the main points of my presentation

- first I covered- then we talked about- finally we looked at

I'd now like to sum up the main points which were:Conclusion I'm going to conclude by... saying that/inviting you to/ quoting ...

In conclusion, let me... leave you with this thought/invite you toQuestions Finally, I'll be happy to answer your questions.Now I'd like to invite any questions you may have.

Do you have any questions?

PhrasalVerb Meaning Example

A abide by respect or obey. (the law, a decision, arule) If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by therules.

account for explain, give a reason I hope you can account for the money you spent!add up make sense, seem reasonable Her story just doesn't add up.advise against recommend not doing something The doctor advised him against carrying heavy loads.agree with have the same opinion as somebody

else. I agree with you. I think she deserves the award too.aim at point something in the direction of

a target The policeman aimed his gun at the hijacker.allow for take into consideration,

include in a calculation You'd better leave early to allow for traffic jams.answer back reply rudely Don't answer back your mother!appeal to 1) plead or make an earnest request

2) be attractive or interesting 1) The organizers appealed to the crowd to stay calm.2) A trekking holiday doesn't appeal to me.apply for make a formal request for something

(job, permit, loan etc.) He applied for the job he saw advertised in thenewspaper.


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avail (oneself) of take advantage of something (anopportunity)

When the company is privatized, you should avail yourseofthe opportunity and buy some shares.

B back away move backwards, in fear or dislike When he saw the dog, he backed away.back down withdraw, concede defeat Local authorities backed down on their plans to demolish

the building.back up 1) give support or encouragement

2) make a copy of (file, program, etc.)1) If I tell the boss we've got too much work, will

you back me up?2) It is recommended to back up all files in a secure

location.bail out 1) pay money to secure someone'srelease

2) rescue from financial difficulties1) When he was arrested, his family refusedto bail him out.2) The government bailed out the bank.

bank on base your hopes onsomeone/something Don't forget the date. I'm banking on your help.

beef up improve, make more substantial He beefed up his presentation with diagrams andstatistics.

black out faint, lose consciousness When he fell off the horse he blacked out.block off Separate using a barrier. The area was blocked off during the demonstration.blow up 1) explode;

2) be destroyed by an explosion 1) The terrorists said the bomb would blow up at 9 o'cloc2) The car blew up but luckily there was nobody in it.boil down to be summarized as The problem boils down to a lack of money.boot up start a computer by loading an

operating system or program. Just give my a few minutes to boot up the computer.break away escape from captivity A few horses broke away from the paddock.break down 1) go out of order, cease to function

2) lose control of one's emotions1) John's car broke down so he had to take the bus.2) The parents broke down when they heard the bad

news.break into enter by force Burglars broke into the house around midnight.break out start suddenly Rioting broke out as a result of the strike.break out of escape from a place by force Three prisoners broke out of jail.break up come to an end (marriage,

relationship) After her marriage broke up, Emma went to live in Londobring up raise (a child) She stopped working in order to bring up her children.brush up on improve, refresh one's knowledge of

something Mary had to brush up on her Spanish before going toSouth America.bump into meet by accident or unexpectedly Pedro bumped into his English teacher at the

supermarket.burn out 1) stop (something) working2) become exhausted from over-

working1) The fuse has burnt out.2) Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down.

butt in (on sthg) interrupt impolitely It's rude to butt in on a conversation like that!


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C call back return a phone call I'll call you back as soon as possible.

call off cancel The meeting was called off because of the strike.call on/upon sby formally invite or request I now call upon the President to address the assembly.calm down become more relaxed, less angry or

upset He was angry at first but he eventually calmed down.carry on continue He carried on gardening in spite of the rain.carry out 1) do something as specified(a plan, an order, a threat)

2) perform or conduct (test, experiment)1) The plan was carried out to perfection.2) Tests are carried out to determine the efficiency of anew drug.

carry over postpone until later As regards holidays, can you carry over any days from onyearto the next?

check in register at a hotel or airport For security reasons you have to check in two hoursbefore your flight.

check out 1) pay one's bill and leave (a hotel)2) investigate

1) Is Mr. Blair still at the hotel? No, he checked out thismorning.2) I don't know if the address is still valid. I'll check it out

clam up refuse to speak When the teacher arrived she clammed up.clamp down on act strictly to prevent something The government has decided to clamp down on smokin

in public places.close down stop operating (company, restaurant,

cinema). When the factory closed down, the employees lost theirjobs.come across 1) find by chance

2) appear, seem, make an impression1) Julie came across some photographs of hergrandparents in the attic.2) The candidate came across as a dynamic person durin

the interview.come forward present oneself The police have asked any witnesses to come forward.come up against be faced with or opposed by The project came up against a lot of criticism.conk out 1) stop working

2) stop or fall asleep (from exhaustion) 1) The car conked out on the motorway.2) He was so exhausted, he conked out in front of the TVcount on rely or depend on (for help) I'm counting on the taxi driver to find the theatre.cross out remove by drawing a line through In some exercises, you are asked to cross out the

incorrect word.cut down on reduce in number or size The doctor told him to cut down on cigarettes.cut out 1) remove using scissors

2) stop doing something 1) She cut out a picture in a magazine.2) I'm going to cut out eating between meals.

D deal with handle, take care of (problem,situation) The manager is good at dealing with difficult customers.

die down calm down, become less strong When the applause died down, she started to sing.


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do without manage without The shops are closed so we'll have to do without sugar.drag on last longer than expected We expected a short speech but it dragged on and on!draw up write (contract, agreement, document) An agreement was drawn up and signed by the two

parties.dress up 1) wear elegant clothes

2) disguise oneself 1) Do people dress up to go to the opera in your country2) Children love to dress up at Halloween.drop in visit, usually on the way somewhere I sometimes drop in to see my grandparents on my way

home from school.drop off 1) deliver someone or something

2) fall asleep 1) I'll drop you off at the bus stop if you like.2) Granddad often drops off in front of the TV.drop out leave school without finishing She decided to go to art school then dropped out after th

first term.

E ease off reduce, become less severe or slowdown(pain, traffic, work) After Christmas the workload generally eases off.

end in finish in a certain way; result in Their marriage ended in divorce.end up finally reach a state, place or action If he continues his misconduct he'll end up in prison.even out 1) eliminate differences of opinion.

2) become level or regular1) After a long discussion they managed to even out thei

differences.2) The road was evened out to make it safer.

F fall through fail; doesn't happen Our planned boat trip fell through because of the storm.

figure out

understand, find the answer

I'm trying to figure out how to assemble the bookshelves

fill out complete (a form/an application) Please fill out the enclosed form and return it as soon aspossible.

find out discover or obtain information I'm going to call the cinema to find out what time the filmstarts.

focus on concentrate on something The advertising campaign will focus on the quality of theproduct.

figure out understand; find a solution We'll have to figure out a way to deliver the goods faster

G get along (with) be on good terms; work well with I get along (well) with my mother-in-law.get at imply What exactly are you trying to get at?get away escape The robbers got away in a black car.get by manage to cope or to survive It's difficult to get by on a low salary.get in enter How did the burglar get in?


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get into (+noun) enter How did the burglar get into the house?get off 1) leave (bus, train, plane)

2) remove 1) You should get off the bus at Trafalgar Square.2) She can't get the stain off her sweater.get on board (bus, train, plane) You can pay when you get on the bus.get on with(something) continue to do; make progress Be quiet and get on with your homework.get on (well) with(somebody) have a good relationship with I get on very well with my colleagues.get out leave How did he get out?get out of(+noun)leave How did he get out of the house?get out of avoid doing something Some husbands manage to get out of doing any

housework.get over recover from (illness, disappointment) My grandmother had pneumonia but she got over it.get rid of

eliminate It's difficult to get rid of old habits.

get together meet each other Let's get together for lunch on day.get up rise, leave bed I usually get up at 7 o'clock.give up stop doing something Sarah gave up smoking 5 years ago.go through experience Pete went through a lot of pain after the accident.grow up spend one's childhood; develop;

become an adult He grew up in a small village in the mountains.

H hand in submit (report, homework) All application forms must be handed in before the end othe month.

hand out distribute Samples will be handed out at the end of thedemonstration.

hang out spend time in a particular place,or with a group of friends Where does he hang out these days?Who does he hang out with?

hang up end a phone conversation "Don't hang up. I haven't finished yet."hit at aim a blow at He hit at the wasp with the newspaper.hit back retaliate; reply to an attack When he was attacked by the others, the boy hit back.hit on/upon find unexpectedly or by inspiration She hit upon an idea for her new collection.hold on -wait

-grip tightly - 'Hold on please. I'll put you through to Mr. Brown."- She held on to the railing as she crossed the bridge.hurry up be quick, act speedily Hurry up! We'll miss the bus.


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I iron out resolve by discussion, eliminate

differences The meeting tomorrow will be an opportunity to ironout difficulties.

J join in participate She was too shy to join in the game.join up -engage in, become a member of

- meet and unite with- John was in the Army and Tom joined up as soon as hleft school.- The two groups of tourists joined up at the hotel.

jot down take quick notes I jotted down the address while watching the programmeon TV.

K keep on continue doing something It told him to be quiet but he kept on making noise.keep up with stay at the same level as someone or

something Bill walks so fast it's difficult to keep up with him.kick off begin, start The football match kicked off at 3 o'clock.

L leave out omit, not mention The child's name was left out of the report.let down disappoint You promised to come to the party, so don't let me downlook after take care of A babysitter looks after the children when they go out.look ahead think of the future It's time to forget the past and look ahead.look down on consider as inferior He tends to look down on anyone who is not successfullook on be a spectator at an event Billy didn't take part in the fight. He just looked on.look for try to find something Jane went to the shops to look for a pair of shoes.look forward to await or anticipate with pleasure I look forward to seeing you soon.look up to admire He was a wonderful teacher and many students looked u

to him.

M make fun of laugh at/ make jokes about The old lady dresses so strangely that the kids make funof her.

make up invent (excuse, story) Some employees make up excuses when they arrive latefor work.

mix up mistake one thing or person foranother I don't know my neighbours' names yet. Ikeep mixing them up.

move in arrive in a new home or office You've bought a new house? When are you moving in?.


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move out leave your home/office for anotherone. My neighbour is leaving. He's moving out next Saturday

N nod off fall asleep My grandfather often nods off in front of the television.note down write something I'll call the station and note down the departure times.

O opt out leave a system or decide not toparticipate I enjoy tennis but I'm so busy I had to opt out of thetournament.

own up admit or confess something The boy owned up. He said he kicked the ball through thwindow.

P pass away die The old lady passed away peacefully.pass out

faint She passed out when she heard the bad news.

pay back reimburse I'll lend you 20 provided youpay me back before the enof the week.

put off postpone, arrange a later date The meeting was put off because of the strike.put on turn on, switch on Could you put on the light please?put out extinguish It took a long time to put out the fire.put up accommodate, give somebody a bed We can put you up if you'd like to come for a week-end.pick up collect somebody I'll pick you up at the station when you arrive.point out indicate/direct attention to something She pointed out the mistake.

R rely on count on, depend on, trust Don't worry. You can rely on me. I can keep a secret.rule out eliminate The police ruled out political motives.run away escape from a place or suddenly leave He ran away from home at the age of fourteen.run into meet by accident or

unexpectedly (also: bump into) Sophie ran into Maria at the shopping centre.run out of have no more of something. What a nuisance! We've run out of coffee.

S set off start a journey; Early Saturday morning we set off for the ski slopes .


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set up start a business She set up her own company 10 years ago.shop around compare prices It's always wise to shop around before buying anything.show off brag or want to be admired There's David showing off in his new sports car!show up appear/arrive We expected David to come but he didn't show up.shut up(impolite) be silent, stop talking Oh shut up, you idiot!sit down take a seat Please come in and sit down.stand up rise from a sitting position The pupils stood up when the headmaster arrived.stick up for defend It's important to stick up for one's principles.

T take after resemble, in appearance or character Jamie really takes after his dad.take care of look after I'll take care of your plants while you're away.take off leave the ground The plane took off at 6 a.m.take on hire or engage staff Business is good so the company is taking on extra stafftake out remove; extract She took out a pen to note the address.tell off reprimand/criticize severely The teacher told her off for not doing her homework.think over consider I'll have to think over the proposal before I decide.try on wear something to see if it suits or fits I'm not sure about the size. Can I try it on?turn down refuse I couldn't turn down an offer like that!

U use up finish a product (so that there's noneleft) The kids have used up all the toothpaste.

V vouch for express confidence in, or guaranteesomething You can give the keys to Andy. I can vouch for him.

W watch out be careful Watch out! There's a car coming.wear out 1) become unusable

2) become very tired 1) Julie wore out her shoes visiting the city.2) At the end of the day Julie was worn out.


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work out 1) do physical exercise2) find a solution or calculatesomething

1) I work out twice a week at the gym club.2) It's expensive but I haven't worked out the exact cost

yet.wipe off clean (board, table). The teacher asked Lee to wipe off the board.

Documents

Types of Business Correspondences