Business Vocabulary Explained: Key Terms and Phrases in Context

The following sentences illustrate common business and everyday expressions. Each key term is shown in bold so it can be studied in context.

Personal Life and Background

• Attend antenatal appointments before the birth.
• An ardent feminist who is quick to defend her principles.
• You’re at pains to deny the accusation, which suggests it may be true.
• An avid snowboarder who spends every winter on the slopes.
• He is backtosquare one in terms of progress.
• He is a demoted junior officer, moved from his earlier post.
• His dourness is a characteristic trait.
• Raising a family can be financially and emotionally draining.
• His frugality isn’t born of necessity but of habit.
• He grumbled about the arrangements all week.
• Friends hang around all day when there is nothing to do.
• The wedding cost was weighed carefully before they chose to get hitched.
• She hitched her future to his plans and weighed up the benefits against the risks.
• He penny-pinching nature is well known among colleagues.
• His self-made success is an inspiration to many.
• The marriage faced a 7-year itch after its early years.
• She ties the knot next spring.
• Working from top to bottom, the house was polished before guests arrived.
• He was ordained in the church and later ordination followed after ninety days.
• Her own diocese, or area of responsibility, is quite large.
• The gift was handed out personally at Christmas.
• Her child tempted to try the new toy and later unwittingly broke it.
• She unwittingly favoured herself without meaning to.
• Some sayings have been passed down through generations.
• The room was scrubbing the bathroom clean all morning.
• Her laundry was sent out for laundry service.
• A chauffeur-driven limo collected the guests.
• Work life can be littered with small setbacks.
• He worked through a workload that was almost unmanageable.
• She is out of tune with the rest of the family.

Business and Entrepreneurship

• Lundgren hit upon the idea during a quiet afternoon.
• Many companies bid for a contract each year.
• Take the bindings off the skis before packing them.
• The team is developing the brand identity for the new product.
• The product is a big breakthrough that could come to market soon.
• The company aims to build up its billions in revenue over time.
• The team will build a prototype to show the first example.
• By buying something in bulk, he could save money.
• Swedish cartels have been investigated for price fixing.
• The business has not yet caught up with competitors.
• Britain’s coastguard patrols the waters today.
• The new rules come into force next year.
• Who really came up with the idea in the first place?
• Governments raise revenue through taxes and death duties.
• The company advertises flat-pack furniture worldwide.
• The industry is in a state of flux.
• He flies even on long-haul routes for business.
• Customers are frequent visitors to the store.
• The product has a polished finish throughout.
• To get the business off the ground, the founders needed funding.
• Start-ups often face many knockbacks before success.
• Investors may provide investment capital for promising ideas.
• The design of your logo is very important for brand recognition.
• The company ran a record mail-order business.
• The product would become a market leader with the right strategy.
• Returning from maternity leave, I found things had changed.
• There is a mismatch between the business plan and the divorce rate data.
• The process is fairly nerve-racking for new staff.
• The interview revealed a useful nugget of information.
• Investors will certainly obtain a return on their investment.
• The company also offloaded the cost onto customers.
• After the successful launch, the team was obviously on cloud nine.
• The company’s percentage equity depends on the deal you negotiate.
• You need to pitch an idea to investors clearly and confidently.
• Staff who are healthy and prompt them to try new methods perform better.
• You need to put together a comprehensive business plan before seeking funding.
• Early investors could potentially reap some rewards.
• A short-term sales forecast helps judge profitability.
• To secure financial backing for the project, the team prepared detailed slides.
• Set out your goals clearly, so you know what you want to achieve.
• If you want to set up in business to market your product, plan carefully.
• Investors want a share in the business they support.
• The market is fairly sizeable, with many potential buyers.
• The company’s sole extravagance was its headquarters.
• The first step is to source suppliers who can deliver reliably.
• Once you strike a deal, the terms are binding.
• The bike was designed for stunts.
• Focus on your target market to ensure your marketing reaches the right people.
• When I was tempted to accept the offer, I weighed the risks carefully.
• There was a lot of toing and froing initially before terms were agreed.
• He traded in cigarettes before moving into other goods.
• The company seemed transient, with staff changing frequently.
• He began turning out furniture in large quantities.
• Prices were undercut by Swedish competitors.
• Some unscrupulous types exploit weak regulation.
• A small vineyard in the province produces excellent wine.