PHRASAL VERBS

BRING UP mention; raise (a child)

PHASE OUT remove gradually
GIVE IN stop trying
FALL THROUGH fail to happen
DROP OUT quit an organized activity
CALL OFF cancel something; order to stop (an invasion, guard dogs)
BACK UP give support; move backwards, reverse
CASH UP count all the money taken in a shop or business at the end of the day
CONTRACT OUT give a contract for a service outside the company you work for;
formally leave and agreement
DRAW UP create
HIRE OUT allow someone to use something or someone temporarily in exchange
for money
WIND UP finish; tighten the spring of a watch or similar machine; cause an animal
or a child to behave wildly
STAY BEHIND remain in a place after everyone else has left
MEASURE UP find out the size of something; be good enough, meet the required
standard
WRITE OFF destroy a car in an accident
TEAM UP join another person, or form a group with other people, in order to do
something together
TALK OVER discuss
BOOK UP reserve
BRING FORWARD make something happen earlier than originally planned
DRUM UP increase support or interest
PENCIL IN make a provisional appointment
GO UP rise or climb; approach; be built; be heard; be promoted; attend a
university; reach
EVEN OUT become regular or equal, or to make something do this
FIGURE OUT solve something, understand
MOVE AWAY leave the area where you have been living; stop doing or using
something to change to something different
CHECK IN enter a hospital, hotel etc.
RUN INTO meet unexpectedly
KNUCKEL DOWN make a great effort
RULE OUT eliminate
BURN OUT lose enthusiasm and energy to continue in a demanding job
HOLD OFF restrain; delay
TAKE OFF leave; leave work or school for a period of time; remove; when a plane
or rocket leaves the ground
TURN ON find unexpectedly; increase the volume or intensity of a TV, radio, or
other machine
SET UP arrange a relationship; falsely incriminate a person
PUT OFF postpone

LOOK FORWARD TO anticipate with pleasure

CARRY OUT complete and/or accomplish something
DEAL WITH to talk to someone or meet someone, especially as part of your job
LOOK INTO investigate
TAKE ON accept
SORT OUT resolve a problem

BRITISH VS AMERICAN ENGLISH FINANCIAL TERMS

AMERICAN ENGLISH
President
Chief executive officer
Vice president
Financial controller
Director
e.g. personnel Director
Annual Stockholders Meeting
Authorized capital stock
Prime rate
Stock dividend or stock split
Bridge loan
Savings and loan association
Check
Corporation
Accounts payable
Checking account
Accounts receivable
Treasury bonds
Certificate of incorporation
Investment bank
Common stock
Overhead
Income statement
Real estate
Listed company
Consumer price index CPI
Stock
Paid-in surplus
Stockholder
Inventory
Labor union
Mutual funds
Merchandise trade

BRITISH
chairman
managing director
director
accountant
manager
e.g. Personnel Manager
Annual General Meeting
authorized share capital
base rate
bonus or capitalization issue
bridging loan
building society
cheque
company
creditors
current account
debtors
gilt-edged stock
Memorandum of association
merchant bank
ordinary share
overheads
profit and loss account
property
quoted company
retail price index RPI
share
Share premium
shareholder
stock
trade union
unit trusts
visible trade

BUSINESS IDIOMS
CUT AND DRIED a situation, a problem or a solution as cut and dried means that
it is considered clear and straightforward, with no likely complications
COPPER BOTTOMED a plan, a contract or a financial arrangement this is
completely safe or reliable
CLINCH A DEAL reach agreement on a proposal or offer
CARVE OUT A NICHE a person or company who carves out a niche focuses on a
particular segment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and
develop their expertise in that area
DO THE SPADEWORK do the preparatory work or the preliminary research for
something
DOWN THE DRAIN money, time or effort which has been wasted or lost
HAVE ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET situation in which you depend on one
plan or one source of income
TO CARRY THA CAN to take resposibility
TO MOVE WITH THE TIMES to change ones way of thinking to more modern
standards
A CLOSED BOOK something one knows nothing about
TO SING ON THE DOTTED LINE to conclude an agreement
TO BE CUT TROAT tough and ruthless
TO SEE THINGS IN BLACK AND WHITE in writing, clearly defined
TO BE IN THE HOT SEAT in a difficult situation facing a lot of questions
SKELETON STAFF the minimum number of people required to run a company

COLOUR IDIOMS
BLUE chip company
Shares
out of the
collar workers
print
BLACK leg
knight
list
black
economy
GREY area
economy
BROWN goods
GOLDEN hello
Handshake
Parachute

WHITE collar workers

knight
goods
pages
paper
GREEN image
to go
mail
light
field investment
YELLOW pages
RED tape
to be in the
to be bleeding ink
carpet treatment

ANIMAL IDIOMS
HERRING red
DUCK lame
BEAR market
BULL market
ELEPHANT white
RAT race
DOG eat dog
CATS fat
SHARK loan
TIGER economy
COW cash
BEAVER eager

HAND/FACE IDIOMS
HAND IDIOMS
TO HAVE A FREE HAND have permission to make your own decisions, especially
in job
TO HAVE A FINGER IN EVERY PIE be involved in many activities
TO ONES HANDS TIED when something, such as an agreement or a rule, is
preventing a person from doing what they would like to do
TO GET/GAIN THE UPPER HAND take control over something
ON HAND in ones possession, ready
TO GET ONES HANDS DIRTY become involved in all aspects of ones work,
including work that is physical, unpleasant or less interesting
ALL HANDS ON DECK a situation when everyone must help, especially when
theres a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time
OVERPLAY ONES HAND be overconfident and spoil ones chances of success
by trying to obtain too much
FACE IDIOMS
TO TAKE SOMETHING/SOMEONE AT FACE VALUE to accept something
exactly the way it appears to be
TO LOSE FACE to become less respectable
FACE TO FACE in person
TO FACE UP TO SOMETHING/SOMEONE to confront with courage someone or
something representing a threat or unpleasantness
TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE not show ones feelings, especially refrain from
laughing
BE WRITTRN ALL OVER ONES FACE to be clearly shown

BUSINESS EXPRESIONS
DOWNSIZE to reduce the number of staff in a firm
A MERGER when two companies join to become one
A TROUBLESHOOTER a consultant who diagnoses problems in a company
NATURAL WASTAGE to reduce the workforce by not replacing those who leave
the company
TO CUT BACK to reduce the amount of money spent
TO BAIL OUT to financialy support a company with problem
OUTSOURCING obtaining materials or components fro suppliers outside the
company
A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE a benefit package pait to employees who are laid off
LAY OFF to dismiss members of staff
COMPENSATION to dismiss an employee with generous benefits such as a cash
bonus
REMUNERATION money paid for work or a service
GET BACK ON TRACK return to the main subject
UP TO OUR SLEEVES have a lot of work
CORNERED THE MARKET dominates the market
HARD SELL aggressive
GET OFF THE GROUND make a succesful start
IN THE WORKS in preparation
GET TO THE POINT start talking about whats relevant
THREW COLD WATER ON approved
BOUNCED A CHECK bad check, not enough money
A COG IN A MACHINE a small part of the system

NOUN + PREPOSITION
SUGGESTION about
DAMAGE to
DEALINGS with
ACCESS to
THREAT to
BID for
CURE for
RELEVANCE to
AUTHORITY over
CONTRIBUTION to
CONTROL over
TRANSITION form

MAKE VS, DO
MAKE
budget/forecast
choice
complaint
decision
loss
mistake
profit
trip
agreement
apology
application
appointment
effort
enquiry
excuse
offer
arrangements
preparations
money
progress
sure
speech
plan
report
presentation
welcome
proposal
living
payment
clear
trouble
suggestion
investment
noise
redundant
attempt
call
bid
exception
contacts
something possible
difference

DO
business
favour
job
service
exercise
business
damage
repairs
something
accounts/budget/forecast
wonders
work
wrong
test
course
without
ones best
figures
something for a living
research
good
best
books
well
shopping
cleaning
ironing
overtime

ABBREVIATIONS
BRIC Brazil, Russia, India, and China
GFC Global Financial Crisis
CPI Consumer Price Index
EPS Earnings Per Share
GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GDP Gross Domestic Product
IPO Initial Public Offering
LBO Leveraged Buy Out
CEO Chief Executive Officer
MBO Management Buy Out
MBA Masters of Business Administration
OTC Over The Counter
ROC Return On Capital
SEC Securities and Exchange Commission
ROI Return On Investment
SME Small and Medium Enterprises
TQM Total Quality Management
WTO World Trade Organization
GAAS Generally Accepted Auditing Standards
APR Annual Percentage Rate

BANKING IDIOMS
BANKERS HOURS short work hours (similar to when a bank is open)
TO BAIL A COMPANY OUT to help or rescue a company with financial problems
TO BANKROLL SOMEONE to supply someone with money, to finance someone
TO BUY A STAKE IN SOMETHING to buy part ownership of a company or other
enterprise
A CALCULATED RISK an action that may fail but has a good chance to succeed
TO FLOAT SOMEONE A LOAN to lend someone money

BUSINESS VERBS
TO RESHUFFLE to change members of staff, especially top managment
TO TELECOMMUTE to work from home via a personal computer and modem
TO REVAMP to modernize, to renovate
TO RESTRUCTURE to change the organization of a company
TO ACQUIRE one company is bought by another
TO RELOCATE to move offices or staff to another location

ADVERB + ADJECTIVE COMBINATIONS

WIDELY believed
COMPLETELY overlooked
incapable
TOTALLY different
BLANTLY obvious
ABSOLUTELY convinced
HIGHLY recommended
DEEPLY rooted
involved
PERFECTLY normal
understandable
UTTERLY unattainable
unfair
HEAVILY criticized
subsidized
BITTERLY disappointed
POTENTIALLY dangerous
ENTIRELY unexpacted
ABSURDLY easy
PAINFULLY aware
ASTRONOMICALLY high
SERIOUSLY damaged

BUSINESS JARGON
TO IMPLEMENT to do
TO UTILIZE to use
A PARADIGM a model of typical example of something
TO EMPOWER to give more control
TO DIALOGUE to talk to someone
ONION SKINNING attacking a problem a layer by layer, bit by bit
TO DIARISE to schedule events in chronological order
ANALYSIS PARALYSIS planning in detail but failing to act
TO RECTIFY to correct
TO BALLPARK to estimate

THREE-PART VERBS
COME UP WITH think of a solution, excuse; to manage to find or improvise
something
GET AWAY WITH to escape, taking someone or something with one, to do
something and not get punished for it
FALL BEHIND WITH make less progress
LOOK DOWN ON to consider someone or something as not important or of value;
have a low opinion
LOOK UP TO to view someone with respect and admiration
LIVE UP TO to fulfill expectations; to satisfy a goal or set of goals, to be as good
as you said or thought something would be
GET ROUND TO finally manage to do something, make the effort to do something
STAND UP FOR defend, suport

PREPOSITION
WITH
touch
in
difficulty
matter
supply
consultation
line
popular
good
agree
deal
conflict
compliance
commensurate
order
comply
trouble
contact
accordance
bad

IN
fall
ability
experience
cash
debt
a hurry
my opinion
writing
addition
case
favour
spite
accordance
consultation
line
rise
rich
interested
succeed
launch
specialize
increase
education

ON
advice
benefit
tax
business
foot
hand
hold
holiday
the internet
the phone
loan
strike
sale
account
television
behalf
rely
depends
the whole
cangratulate

BY
car-bus-taxi
chance
credit card
hand
post
return (of post)
means
to be assisted
debt
be headed
to be supported
to by complited
mistake
FROM
benefit
hear
result
clear
prevent

OF
advantage
cause
cost
experience
example
hope
lack
knowledge
method
price
means
case
favour
spite
account
behalf
rise
fall
guilty
consist
hear
composed
is
is made up
to be in charge
take lake
in the course
on the basis
in terms
as a result
because
samples
speciments
proud
date
order
change
spirit
in the benefit
afraid
approve
capable
think
convince
quality

TO
invitation
with reference
alternative
replay
solution
addition
responsible
see
agree
apologise
talk
to be accountable
report
contribute
respond
relevant
adherence
in order
look forward
due
prior
owing
complain
similar
related
opposed
with reference
access
subject
infirior
amount
accustomed

FOR
cheque
need
order
a change
lunch
sale
pleasure
good
famous
responsible
sorry
be
apologize
critise
work
requirements
demand
reputatuin
thank
detailes
sufficient
suitable
application
wait
request
allow
blam
account
applied

AT
someones disposal
someones expense
a profit
a lost
someones risk
short notice
good
the latest
such
expert
ABOUT
sorry
hear
talk
care
serious
excited
annoyed
OUT OF
date
order
business
work
UNDER
pressure
way
separate cover
UP TO
date
you

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS

BRANCH/SUBSIDIARY/AGENCY
AGENCY a business or place of business providing a (usually) specified service
BRANCH a local office belonging to a national firm or organisation
SUBSIDIARY a company which is controlled by a parent company
EX.
Coca-Cola has a(n) _SUBSIDIARY_ in more countries than there are in the United
Nations
A travel _AGENCY_ can organize business trips as well as holidays
A(n) _SUBSIDIARY_ is a company of witch more than half the share capital is
owned by the holding company
The major banks have at least one _BRANCH_ in all large cities
Each _SUBSIDIARY_ company trades under its own name
Ill be working in an over seas _BRANCH_ for a while
Im currently working for an advertising _AGENCY_
Applications for major loans are dealt with by the _BRANCH_ manager
There are now five _SUBSIDIARY_ companies in the group
She finally succeeded in finding a job at a major employment _AGENCY_
PERSONALE/PERSONNEL
PERSONAL your own, private, aimed at one person
PERSONNEL people who work for a company or organization, department
responsible for looking after all the people working there and for choosing new
workers
EX.
Does your Managing Director have a _PERSONAL_ assistant
Does your company have a _PERSONNEL_ Department or a Human Resources
Division
We werent able to offer the new service because we hadnt got enough trained
_PERSONNEL_
Do you agree that you shouldnt mix your _PERSONAL_ and professional life
She recruits and trains employees and deals with their problems. She works in
_PERSONNEL_ management
Hes recently taken out a _PERSONAL_ loan to buy a new car
Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their
_PERSONNEL_
Most people in big companies are administered, not led. They are treated as
_PERSONNEL_, not people
I need to speak to someone in _PERSONNEL_

EFFICIENT/EFFECTIVE
EFFICIENT capable, able to perform duties well; producing a desired, exoected of
satisfying result
EFFECTIVE having an effect; able to bring about the intended results; making a
striking impact
EX.
Ms Jones is the most _EFFICIENT_ secretary Ive ever had she knows where
everything is
Inflation is down from eight per cent to less than two per cent so the governments
measures have been pretty _EFFECTIVE_
After a very _EFFECTIVE_ marketing campaign sales were up by 15 per cent
Our dispatch department is very _EFFICIENT_ orders are sent off the same day as
theyre received
The ads were simple, but remarkably _EFFECTIVE_
The cut in interest rates in _EFFECTIVE_ from Monday
Our new machinery is very _EFFICIENT_ it works well without wasting time, energy
or money
We must find a more _EFFICIENT_ way of advertising our products
If the economy slows down further, can the Fed take any additional _EFFECTIVE_
measures
What are the most _EFFICIENT_ ways of conducting a job search
Many believe that markets are neither perfectly _EFFICIENT_ nor completely
inefficient. All markets are _EFFICIENT_ to a certain extent, some more so than
others