Business Idioms Definitions Game

Market Leader Upper Intermediate New Edition Units 1 and 4

Choose one of the words and expressions below and try to describe which one you are thinking of without saying any of the words in that box.  

 Below are definitions of some of the words and expressions above that have more than one meaning, often a literal and an idiomatic one. Match the definitions below with the words and expressions above:

1. Walking in the countryside, usually in a relaxed way with no fixed aim/ Talking in a long and pointless way
2. Not reach someone on the phone/ Not make yourself understood
3. Turn off a machine or electronic item/ Stop concentrating or listening, e.g. in a boring presentation
4. Raise your eyes, e.g. to the ceiling or sky/ Search for something in a reference book such as a dictionary or encyclopaedia
5. Take something from a table or floor/ Answer the phone
6. To take a hold very tightly/ To take control of
7. A machine that often breaks down/ Someone who often breaks their promises
8. A brand of tinned meat/ Junk mail (unwanted emails, usually advertising)
9. I don’t have a clear view of what is going on, maybe because something is blocking my view/ I don’t think it will occur
10. Busy/ Kept in one place by rope or string
11. Eating/ Buying and using
12. Take the ball from someone in a football, rugby or American football game/ Try to deal with a  problem, usually a serious one
13. Very strongly request something/ The opposite of supply- how many people want to buy
14. Grasp something tightly, usually so you don’t fall off something, e.g. a boat/ Wait
15. Medical cures/ How you deal with someone, e.g. a customer
16. People who work together/ A particular form of legal company which is owned by several people who work there but has no shares and doesn’t have limited liability
17. Shout to get someone’s opinion/ Tell everyone who will listen that something is great
18. Fall from, e.g. from a bag with a hole or the back of a truck/ Leave school or university before the end of the course/ Rebel against society
19. Set a boat, plane or rocket on its way/ Put a product into the market for the first time
20. The most impressive boat in a navy fleet, usually the one where the Admiral is/ A store whose location, decoration etc, is supposed to improve the image of the whole chain
21. To make a suit that will fit you exactly/ To change a machine or computer system so that it will exactly match a company or customer’s needs
22. A statue of a god/ Someone who people love more than usual, usually someone famous
23. Try/ Criticize someone
24. Mail/ A position, usually a job
25. A narrow piece of sea, e.g. the sea between France and the UK/ A way of communicating, e.g. between particular people or using a particular form of technology
26. Anything which is seen as positive on a company’s balance sheet/ Anything that is good for a company or a person
27. Good looking/ Plenty of money
28. A parcel/ All the things you get when you start a new job or move abroad for work- pay and benefits
29. A part of your body that hurts/ Something annoying, bothersome or time consuming

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Answer key

1. Walking in the countryside, usually in a relaxed way with no fixed aim/ Talking in a long and pointless way- Ramble
2. Not reach someone on the phone/ Not make yourself understood- Not get through
3. Turn off a machine or electronic item/ Stop concentrating or listening, e.g. in a boring presentation- Switch off
4. Raise your eyes, e.g. to the ceiling or sky/ Search for something in a reference book such as a dictionary or encyclopaedia- Look up
5. Take something from a table or floor/ Answer the phone- Pick up
6. To take a hold very tightly/ To take control of- Seize
7. A machine that often breaks down/ Someone who often breaks their promises- Unreliable
8. A brand of tinned meat/ Junk mail (unwanted emails, usually advertising)- Spam
9. I don’t have a clear view of what is going on, maybe because something is blocking my view/ I don’t think it will occur- I can’t see it happening
10. Busy/ Kept in one place by rope or string- Tied up
11. Eating/ Buying and using- Consuming
12. Take the ball from someone in a football, rugby or American football game/ Try to deal with a  problem, usually a serious one- Tackle
13. Very strongly request something/ The opposite of supply- how many people want to buy- Demand
14. Grasp something tightly, usually so you don’t fall off something, e.g. a boat/ Wait- Hold on
15. Medical cures/ How you deal with someone, e.g. a customer- Treatment
16. People who work together/ A particular form of legal company which is owned by several people who work there but has no shares and doesn’t have limited liability- Partner
17. Shout to get someone’s opinion/ Tell everyone who will listen that something is great- Hail
18. Fall from, e.g. from a bag with a hole or the back of a truck/ Leave school or university before the end of the course/ Rebel against society- Drop out
19. Set a boat, plane or rocket on its way/ Put a product into the market for the first time- Launch
20. The most impressive boat in a navy fleet, usually the one where the Admiral is/ A store whose location, decoration etc, is supposed to improve the image of the whole chain- Flagship
21. To make a suit that will fit you exactly/ To change a machine or computer system so that it will exactly match a company or customer’s needs- Tailor
22. A statue of a god/ Someone who people love more than usual, usually someone famous- Idol
23. Try/ Criticize someone- Have a go
24. Mail/ A position, usually a job- Post
25. A narrow piece of sea, e.g. the sea between France and the UK/ A way of communicating, e.g. between particular people or using a particular form of technology- Channel
26. Anything which is seen as positive on a company’s balance sheet/ Anything that is good for a company or a person- Asset
27. Good looking/ Plenty of money- Handsome
28. A parcel/ All the things you get when you start a new job or move abroad for work- pay and benefits- Package
29. A part of your body that hurts/ Something annoying, bothersome or time consuming- A pain in the neck

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