SAY WHAT?

Expressions to Avoid

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION WITH NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS
'Simple English' definition (IN SOMEONE'S) WHEELHOUSE Easy for someone (ON A) STICKY WICKET (In) a difficult situation 24/7 24 hours a day, seven days a week A BIGGER BANG FOR YOUR BUCK Greater value for amount of money A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD A situation that is fair to everyone A LONG SHOT Something that has a very small chance of succeeding A SHOT IN THE ARM Something that is encouraging or gives energy A SLAM DUNK A great achievement; something that is easily done A TOUGH BREAK When something unfortunate happens ACID TEST - THE Proof of how useful something is AHEAD OF THE CURVE To be more advanced than the competition AHEAD OF THE PACK To be better or more successful than the competition ALL SINGING, ALL DANCING Advanced, sophisticated, with many features AN ARM AND A LEG A huge amount of money ASAP As soon as possible AT STAKE At risk BACK TO SQUARE ONE To start something over again BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD To start something again BACKROOM DEAL An agreement or decision that is made without the public knowing about it BALLPARK NUMBER/FIGURE A very inexact estimate BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE To make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course BEHIND SOMEONE'S BACK To do something without someone's knowledge and in an unfair way BEHIND THE SCENES What happens in secret or not in front of the general public BELOW THE BELT Cruel or unfair BETWEEN A ROCK & A HARD PLACE In an impossible situation BIG PICTURE Everything that is involved with a particular situation BLAST FROM THE PAST - A A thing or person that reminds you of an earlier time BLUE COLLAR Someone who works with his hands (manufacturing, construction, maintenance, etc) BROWNIE POINTS To praise BURY THE HATCHET To forgive BY THE BOOK To follow the rules 100% CALL IT A DAY To decide to stop working for the day CATCH 22 A difficult and contradictory situation CATCH SOMEONE OFF GUARD To surprise someone by doing something that s/he was not expecting CAVE (OR CAVE IN) To agree to something that someone previously did not want to accept CHANGE OF PACE Something different from a normal routine or schedule CLIMB ON THE BANDWAGON To join or follow something once it is successful or popular COME UP SHORT To try to achieve something but fail CORNER A MARKET To dominate a particular market COST AN ARM AND A LEG A huge amount of money CUT CORNERS Take shortcuts and find an easier or cheaper way to do something CUT ONE'S LOSSES To stop doing something that is unproductive and won't ever generate results CUT TO THE CHASE To say the most important thing CUT-THROAT Something that is very intense, aggressive and merciless DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH Something that has a lot of potential but first requires a lot of work DOOM AND GLOOM Negativity DOUBLE WHAMMY When two important things happen at the same time DOWN THE TUBES Failure EASY COME, EASY GO Something gained easily is also lost easily FACE THE MUSIC Accept the consequences FIFTY-FIFTY Divided equally -- 50% for one party, 50% for the other party FILTHY RICH Very rich FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH - THE Popular now FLY OFF THE HANDLE To become angry quickly FOOT IN THE DOOR - A An initial opportunity FROM THE GROUND UP If you start a business, project, or something else from zero GAME PLAN A strategy or plan GET BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS To get used to doing something again after having a break GET DOWN TO BUSINESS To stop making small talk and start talking about serious topics related to business GET SOMETHING OFF THE GROUND To start a project or business GET THE BALL ROLLING To start something (a project, for example) GET ON THE GOOD SIDE OF SOMEONE If someone likes you GET ONE'S FOOT IN THE DOOR To take a low-level position with a company with the goal of getting a better position with the same company GIVE SOMEONE A PAT ON THE BACK To tell someone that they did a good job GIVE THE THUMBS DOWN To deny approval GIVE THE THUMBS UP To give approval GO BROKE To go bankrupt or to lose all the money a person or business had GO DOWN THE DRAIN When someone wastes or loses something GO THE EXTRA MILE To do more than what people expect GO THROUGH THE ROOF Increasing rapidly GRAY AREA Something undefined and not easily categorized GROUND-BREAKING New and innovative GUNG HO Reckless; taking dangerous chances HANDS ARE TIED No control over a situation HAVE AN AXE TO GRIND A complaint that you need to talk about; a selfish or negative reason for doing something HAVE SOMEONE'S WORK CUT OUT If you have a lot of work to do or it's a particularly difficult assignment HEADS UP - A Advance warning HIT FOR SIX To be surprised or devastated HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD To do or say something 100% correctly / precisely HOLD YOUR HORSES Wait IN A NUTSHELL In a few words IN FULL SWING A project has been completely started and is progressing as fast as it ever will IN SPADES Lots of IN THE BAG Something you are confident will be confirmed IN THE BALLPARK Within the right boundaries; close to what is expected IN THE BLACK Making a profit IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT To be in control IN THE RED Operating at a loss JOBS FOR THE BOYS Employment or other benefits given to people who are closely connected JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON To join or follow something once it is successful or popular JUMP THE GUN To start something too early, before it is advisable JURY IS STILL OUT - THE Undecided KEEP ONE'S EYE ON THE BALL To give something one's full attention and to not lose focus LAST STRAW The thing which causes someone to give up, lose their patience, or become angry LEARN THE ROPES To learn the basics of something LEVEL PLAYING FIELD - A A situation that is fair to everyone LONG SHOT Something that has a very low probability of happening LOOPHOLE An unclear law which allows people or companies to pay less in taxes or gain another advantage LOSE GROUND To lose some type of an advantage (e.g. market share) to a competitor LOSE YOUR MARBLES To become incompetent or insane LOSE-LOSE SITUATION When there will be a negative outcome regardless of what decision is made MAKE A BEE-LINE FOR Go straight towards something MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK Better value for money MOVE THE GOALPOSTS To change the rules, making it difficult to succeed MY BAD My mistake NINE-TO-FIVE A job during normal working hours NO BRAINER A really obvious or easy decision to make NO STRINGS ATTACHED If something is given without expecting anything in return NO TIME TO LOSE There is a lot of pressure to finish something quickly NOT GOING TO FLY If a solution isn't effective OFF THE RECORD In confidence or in private OFF THE TOP OF ONE'S HEAD When you give a response without thinking about it too much ON A ROLL A person has had several successes in a row ON CLOUD NINE Very happy ON THE BALL To be alert ON THE SAME PAGE PAGE In agreement about something ON TOP OF SOMETHING In control of a situation ON YOUR TOES To be alert OUT IN THE OPEN Public knowledge and not hidden from people OUT OF THE LOOP To not know something that others knows PAR FOR THE COURSE Normal, typical, or to be expected (especially when something is a source of annoyance or frustration) PASS THE BUCK Avoid responsibility by giving it to another person PIE IN THE SKY A silly idea, something very unrealistic PIECE OF CAKE - A Easy PING To contact by email or text message PINK SLIP Someone who gets the "pink slip," has been fired by their employer PLAY HARDBALL Doing anything possible to win PULL THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES Deceive; hide information from someone PUT ALL ONE'S EGGS IN ONE BASKET To rely on only one thing to bring success PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE To do or think about things in the wrong order QUALITY TIME Time spent with someone allowing interaction and closeness RAISE THE BAR Set the standards or expectations higher READ BETWEEN THE LINES To understand something that isn't communicated directly RED TAPE Excessive rules, procedures and bureacracy RISE AND SHINE Get out of bed (and) be lively and energetic ROAD RAGE To be angry when you are driving ROCK THE BOAT To cause problems or disrupt a peaceful situation ROUND-THE-CLOCK 24 hours a day RUN A MILE To avoid something in any way possible RUN OF THE MILL Ordinary, nothing special RUN/GO AROUND IN CIRCLES To do the same thing over and over again without getting any results SAFE BET Something that will probably happen SAME BOAT In the same situation SECOND NATURE When someone does something so well that it seems like they were born knowing how to do it SEE EYE TO EYE To agree with that person SEE SOMETHING THROUGH To do something until it is finished SELL DOWN THE RIVER To deceive or betray SEVER TIES To end a relationship SHOOT SOMETHING DOWN To reject something, such as a proposal or idea SITTING PRETTY To remain in an ideal situation SKATING ON THIN ICE Doing something dangerous SKY'S THE LIMIT If there is no limit to what can be achieved SMALL TALK Conversation about unimportant topics that do not offend people (the weather, for example) SMOKE AND MIRRORS Tricks, lies, deception SMOOTH/CLEAR SAILING A situation where success is achieved without difficulties SNAIL MAIL Traditional mail that goes through the post office SPILL THE BEANS To reveal something that was meant to be a secret STAND ONE'S GROUND To not change one's opinion or position START OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT So start something in a positive way START OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT To start something in a negative way STATE OF THE ART Modern and technologically advanced TAKE SOMETHING LYING DOWN To accept something unpleasant without fighting back TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS To directly confront a difficult situation TALK SOMEONE INTO SOMETHING To convince someone to do something TALK SOMEONE OUT OF SOMETHING To convince someone not to do something THE BALL'S IN YOUR COURT It's your responsibility now THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM An obvious problem or issue that no one wants to talk about THE PITS A very bad situation or person THE WHOLE NINE YARDS Everything possible THINK BIG To have ambitious goals and big plans for the future THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX To think of creative, unconventional solutions instead of common ones THROW IN THE TOWEL To quit TIME'S UP The time for something or someone has ended TO BACK THE WRONG HORSE To support someone or something that cannot win or succeed TOP NOTCH The very best TOUCH BASE To make contact with someone TWIST SOMEONE'S ARM To persuade or convince someone to do something that s/he does not want to do UNDER THE TABLE Something done secretly (and usually illegally) UP IN THE AIR Something is undecided UPHILL BATTLE Something that is difficult to achieve because of obstacles and difficulties UPPER HAND An advantage over someone else WEAR THE TROUSERS Be the boss WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET Openness, transparency WHITE COLLAR Someone who works in an office (customer service, management, sales, etc) WIN-WIN SITUATION A situation where everyone involved gains something WORD OF MOUTH People hear about something through informal conversation with friends, family members, colleagues, etc WRITING ON THE WALL The evidence and clues that something (usually negative) is going to happen YES MAN Someone who always agrees with his or her superiors
How many of these expressions do you use? It’s likely that non-native English speakers will have no idea what they mean. ‘’Simple English” definitions are included.
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'Simple English' definition (IN SOMEONE'S) WHEELHOUSE Easy for someone (ON A) STICKY WICKET (In) a difficult situation 24/7 24 hours a day, seven days a week A BIGGER BANG FOR YOUR BUCK Greater value for amount of money A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD A situation that is fair to everyone A LONG SHOT Something that has a very small chance of succeeding A SHOT IN THE ARM Something that is encouraging or gives energy A SLAM DUNK A great achievement; something that is easily done A TOUGH BREAK When something unfortunate happens ACID TEST - THE Proof of how useful something is AHEAD OF THE CURVE To be more advanced than the competition AHEAD OF THE PACK To be better or more successful than the competition ALL SINGING, ALL DANCING Advanced, sophisticated, with many features AN ARM AND A LEG A huge amount of money ASAP As soon as possible AT STAKE At risk BACK TO SQUARE ONE To start something over again BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD To start something again BACKROOM DEAL An agreement or decision that is made without the public knowing about it BALLPARK NUMBER/FIGURE A very inexact estimate BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE To make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course BEHIND SOMEONE'S BACK To do something without someone's knowledge and in an unfair way BEHIND THE SCENES What happens in secret or not in front of the general public BELOW THE BELT Cruel or unfair BETWEEN A ROCK & A HARD PLACE In an impossible situation BIG PICTURE Everything that is involved with a particular situation BLAST FROM THE PAST - A A thing or person that reminds you of an earlier time BLUE COLLAR Someone who works with his hands (manufacturing, construction, maintenance, etc) BROWNIE POINTS To praise BURY THE HATCHET To forgive BY THE BOOK To follow the rules 100% CALL IT A DAY To decide to stop working for the day CATCH 22 A difficult and contradictory situation CATCH SOMEONE OFF GUARD To surprise someone by doing something that s/he was not expecting CAVE (OR CAVE IN) To agree to something that someone previously did not want to accept CHANGE OF PACE Something different from a normal routine or schedule CLIMB ON THE BANDWAGON To join or follow something once it is successful or popular COME UP SHORT To try to achieve something but fail CORNER A MARKET To dominate a particular market COST AN ARM AND A LEG A huge amount of money CUT CORNERS Take shortcuts and find an easier or cheaper way to do something CUT ONE'S LOSSES To stop doing something that is unproductive and won't ever generate results CUT TO THE CHASE To say the most important thing CUT-THROAT Something that is very intense, aggressive and merciless DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH Something that has a lot of potential but first requires a lot of work DOOM AND GLOOM Negativity DOUBLE WHAMMY When two important things happen at the same time DOWN THE TUBES Failure EASY COME, EASY GO Something gained easily is also lost easily FACE THE MUSIC Accept the consequences FIFTY-FIFTY Divided equally -- 50% for one party, 50% for the other party FILTHY RICH Very rich FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH - THE Popular now FLY OFF THE HANDLE To become angry quickly FOOT IN THE DOOR - A An initial opportunity FROM THE GROUND UP If you start a business, project, or something else from zero GAME PLAN A strategy or plan GET BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS To get used to doing something again after having a break GET DOWN TO BUSINESS To stop making small talk and start talking about serious topics related to business GET SOMETHING OFF THE GROUND To start a project or business GET THE BALL ROLLING To start something (a project, for example) GET ON THE GOOD SIDE OF SOMEONE If someone likes you GET ONE'S FOOT IN THE DOOR To take a low-level position with a company with the goal of getting a better position with the same company GIVE SOMEONE A PAT ON THE BACK To tell someone that they did a good job GIVE THE THUMBS DOWN To deny approval GIVE THE THUMBS UP To give approval GO BROKE To go bankrupt or to lose all the money a person or business had GO DOWN THE DRAIN When someone wastes or loses something GO THE EXTRA MILE To do more than what people expect GO THROUGH THE ROOF Increasing rapidly GRAY AREA Something undefined and not easily categorized GROUND-BREAKING New and innovative GUNG HO Reckless; taking dangerous chances HANDS ARE TIED No control over a situation HAVE AN AXE TO GRIND A complaint that you need to talk about; a selfish or negative reason for doing something HAVE SOMEONE'S WORK CUT OUT If you have a lot of work to do or it's a particularly difficult assignment HEADS UP - A Advance warning HIT FOR SIX To be surprised or devastated HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD To do or say something 100% correctly / precisely HOLD YOUR HORSES Wait IN A NUTSHELL In a few words IN FULL SWING A project has been completely started and is progressing as fast as it ever will IN SPADES Lots of IN THE BAG Something you are confident will be confirmed IN THE BALLPARK Within the right boundaries; close to what is expected IN THE BLACK Making a profit IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT To be in control IN THE RED Operating at a loss JOBS FOR THE BOYS Employment or other benefits given to people who are closely connected JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON To join or follow something once it is successful or popular JUMP THE GUN To start something too early, before it is advisable JURY IS STILL OUT - THE Undecided KEEP ONE'S EYE ON THE BALL To give something one's full attention and to not lose focus LAST STRAW The thing which causes someone to give up, lose their patience, or become angry LEARN THE ROPES To learn the basics of something LEVEL PLAYING FIELD - A A situation that is fair to everyone LONG SHOT Something that has a very low probability of happening LOOPHOLE An unclear law which allows people or companies to pay less in taxes or gain another advantage LOSE GROUND To lose some type of an advantage (e.g. market share) to a competitor LOSE YOUR MARBLES To become incompetent or insane LOSE-LOSE SITUATION When there will be a negative outcome regardless of what decision is made MAKE A BEE-LINE FOR Go straight towards something MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK Better value for money MOVE THE GOALPOSTS To change the rules, making it difficult to succeed MY BAD My mistake NINE-TO-FIVE A job during normal working hours NO BRAINER A really obvious or easy decision to make NO STRINGS ATTACHED If something is given without expecting anything in return NO TIME TO LOSE There is a lot of pressure to finish something quickly NOT GOING TO FLY If a solution isn't effective OFF THE RECORD In confidence or in private OFF THE TOP OF ONE'S HEAD When you give a response without thinking about it too much ON A ROLL A person has had several successes in a row ON CLOUD NINE Very happy ON THE BALL To be alert ON THE SAME PAGE PAGE In agreement about something ON TOP OF SOMETHING In control of a situation ON YOUR TOES To be alert OUT IN THE OPEN Public knowledge and not hidden from people OUT OF THE LOOP To not know something that others knows PAR FOR THE COURSE Normal, typical, or to be expected (especially when something is a source of annoyance or frustration) PASS THE BUCK Avoid responsibility by giving it to another person PIE IN THE SKY A silly idea, something very unrealistic PIECE OF CAKE - A Easy PING To contact by email or text message PINK SLIP Someone who gets the "pink slip," has been fired by their employer PLAY HARDBALL Doing anything possible to win PULL THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES Deceive; hide information from someone PUT ALL ONE'S EGGS IN ONE BASKET To rely on only one thing to bring success PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE To do or think about things in the wrong order QUALITY TIME Time spent with someone allowing interaction and closeness RAISE THE BAR Set the standards or expectations higher READ BETWEEN THE LINES To understand something that isn't communicated directly RED TAPE Excessive rules, procedures and bureacracy RISE AND SHINE Get out of bed (and) be lively and energetic ROAD RAGE To be angry when you are driving ROCK THE BOAT To cause problems or disrupt a peaceful situation ROUND-THE-CLOCK 24 hours a day RUN A MILE To avoid something in any way possible RUN OF THE MILL Ordinary, nothing special RUN/GO AROUND IN CIRCLES To do the same thing over and over again without getting any results SAFE BET Something that will probably happen SAME BOAT In the same situation SECOND NATURE When someone does something so well that it seems like they were born knowing how to do it SEE EYE TO EYE To agree with that person SEE SOMETHING THROUGH To do something until it is finished SELL DOWN THE RIVER To deceive or betray SEVER TIES To end a relationship SHOOT SOMETHING DOWN To reject something, such as a proposal or idea SITTING PRETTY To remain in an ideal situation SKATING ON THIN ICE Doing something dangerous SKY'S THE LIMIT If there is no limit to what can be achieved SMALL TALK Conversation about unimportant topics that do not offend people (the weather, for example) SMOKE AND MIRRORS Tricks, lies, deception SMOOTH/CLEAR SAILING A situation where success is achieved without difficulties SNAIL MAIL Traditional mail that goes through the post office SPILL THE BEANS To reveal something that was meant to be a secret STAND ONE'S GROUND To not change one's opinion or position START OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT So start something in a positive way START OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT To start something in a negative way STATE OF THE ART Modern and technologically advanced TAKE SOMETHING LYING DOWN To accept something unpleasant without fighting back TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS To directly confront a difficult situation TALK SOMEONE INTO SOMETHING To convince someone to do something TALK SOMEONE OUT OF SOMETHING To convince someone not to do something THE BALL'S IN YOUR COURT It's your responsibility now THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM An obvious problem or issue that no one wants to talk about THE PITS A very bad situation or person THE WHOLE NINE YARDS Everything possible THINK BIG To have ambitious goals and big plans for the future THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX To think of creative, unconventional solutions instead of common ones THROW IN THE TOWEL To quit TIME'S UP The time for something or someone has ended TO BACK THE WRONG HORSE To support someone or something that cannot win or succeed TOP NOTCH The very best TOUCH BASE To make contact with someone TWIST SOMEONE'S ARM To persuade or convince someone to do something that s/he does not want to do UNDER THE TABLE Something done secretly (and usually illegally) UP IN THE AIR Something is undecided UPHILL BATTLE Something that is difficult to achieve because of obstacles and difficulties UPPER HAND An advantage over someone else WEAR THE TROUSERS Be the boss WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET Openness, transparency WHITE COLLAR Someone who works in an office (customer service, management, sales, etc) WIN-WIN SITUATION A situation where everyone involved gains something WORD OF MOUTH People hear about something through informal conversation with friends, family members, colleagues, etc WRITING ON THE WALL The evidence and clues that something (usually negative) is going to happen YES MAN Someone who always agrees with his or her superiors
How many of these expressions do you use? It’s likely that non-native English speakers will have no idea what they mean. ‘’Simple English” definitions are included.
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION WITH NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Expressions to

Avoid

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SAYWHAT?