Business Idioms 1 Success I

Spend as long or as short a time as necessary on each phrase, but make sure the student can use it smoothly before moving on. The student should rephrase the "Practice" sentence with the target idiom, and then answer the "Question" using the target idiom.

1. (B) in the black

E.g.: Now that our previous client paid what he owed us, we are back in the black.

Practice: Our latest product sold well, so now we have money in the bank.
→Example answer: Our latest product sold well. So now we are in the black.
Question: What can a company do to remain solvent?
→Example answer: In order to be in the black, a company has to have a well-focused corporate strategy and pay close attention to unnecessary expenditure.

2. (E) keep your eye on the ball

E.g.: When you are working at a tech company, it’s important to keep your eye on the ball.

Practice: If you don’t pay attention to what you are doing, you run the risk of making costly mistakes.
→Example answer: If you don’t keep your eye on the ball, you run the risk of making costly mistakes.
Question: Why is it important to pay close attention to what you are doing in a business scenario?
→Example answer: It’s vital to keep your eye on the ball in business because there are many factors that can lead to failure if you don’t pay attention to them.

3. (A) gain ground

E.g.: Silicon Valley is still the U.S. tech capital, but several other cities are gaining ground in this sector.

Practice: Huawei mobile phones have become more popular since 2015.
→Example answer: Huawei mobile phones have gained ground since 2015.
Question: Which retail companies are becoming more popular in your country?  
→Example answer: In my country, Lidl and Aldi are gaining ground rapidly compared with more traditional retail outlets.

4. (F) a win-win situation

E.g.: I do great work for my company and they pay me a good salary, so it’s a win-win situation.

Practice: The relationship I have with my clients is good for both of us. They pay me a high fee and I help them to expand their market share.
→Example answer: The relationship I have with my clients is a win-win situation. They pay me a high fee and I help them to expand their market share.
Question: Can you think of examples in your industry of a situation where all the people involved benefit?
→Example answer: My area is consulting, and it’s a perfect example of a win-win situation. Most consulting companies charge very high fees, but their clients generally have great benefits, so it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

5. (D) be on a roll

E.g.: Lewis Hamilton has won eight F1 races this season. He’s definitely on a roll.

Practice: Our last three projects were all great successes. It's a really great period for us.
→Example answer: Our last three projects were all great successes. We're on a roll.
Question: Which brand or company is enjoying a period of sustained success in your country
→Example answer: The film industry is experiencing success after success in New Zealand, with a series of blockbusters like Lord of the Rings and the Avatar sequels. The industry is really on a roll.

6. (C) the sky’s the limit

E.g.: If you graduate from Harvard, the sky's the limit as far as your career is concerned.

Practice: We just signed a contract with the biggest client in the market. I can't imagine how much profit we are going to make!
→Example answer: We just signed a contract with the biggest client in the market. The sky's the limit in terms of the profit we are going to make!
Question: What is the most profitable sector of the economy for a new company to enter?
→Example answer: The sky's the limit in the financial sector nowadays because there is so much investment all around the world.