Over the past two weeks, we explored 24 useful business idioms in English that you can share with your adult English learners to help them advance in the professional world. These idiomatic expressions are often used in meetings, emails, and workplace conversations.

If you missed those articles, check them out here:

12 Business Idioms to Teach Your Online English Students (Part 1)

12 More Business Idioms to Teach Your Online English Students (Part 2)

This week, we’re wrapping up the business English idioms series with a final 12 idioms to add to your toolkit. Let’s dive in!

1) The bottom line

Meaning: The net income or profit.

Example: The company cut expenses, which improved the bottom line by 5%.

2) Crunch some numbers

Meaning: To do some calculations.

Example: Before we decide whether we should launch this new product, we need to crunch some numbers to see if it’s feasible.

3) On the same page

Meaning: To have the same understanding about something.

Example: I’m glad we’re on the same page, so we can proceed with the negotiations.

4) Get down to business

Meaning: To stop wasting time and begin focusing.

Example: This chitchat has gone on long enough, let’s get down to business and finalize the contract.

5) Word of mouth

Meaning: Spreading of information from one person to another through conversations and recommendations.

Example: I didn’t spend much money on advertising, all our clients came from word of mouth.

6) Keep our heads above water

Meaning: To manage to survive during a difficult financial or stressful situation.

Example: After the pandemic, the small business struggled to keep its head above water.

7) Read between the lines

Meaning: To understand a hidden or unspoken meaning behind what’s being said or written.

Example: The boss didn’t explicitly say that I couldn’t get a raise, but reading between the lines, I don’t think I’m getting a raise this year.

8) Play it by ear

Meaning: To handle a situation in a flexible, improvised manner.

Example: We don’t need a strict agenda for the next meeting, let’s just play it by ear and discuss whatever issues come up.

9) Out of the loop

Meaning: To be uninformed or not included in a decision.

Example: I felt out of the loop because my team made changes without me.

10) Bitter pill to swallow

Meaning: Something unpleasant or difficult to accept.

Example: Losing that major client was a bitter pill to swallow for the sales team.

11) Money to burn

Meaning: To have more money than is needed.

Example: He clearly has money to burn as his office is filled with the latest gadgets.

12) Back go square one

Meaning: To start over from the beginning.

Example: After the prototype failed, the engineering team was back to square one.

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Are there other business idioms you know in English aside from the 36 we presented? Share them in the comments below!