Understanding the meaning of English Idioms used during a Business Meeting is very important in making sure that the meeting is successful.

Here are some everyday idioms which are commonly used during Business Meetings:

A case in point:

An actual example to illustrate; a factual act which illustrates

the point; an instance used to prove or explain a

point.

Bargaining chip:

Just as in a casino, gamblers play with plastic gambling

chips, so, in business, we may say, something extra we

have to offer is a bargaining chip. “In management

school, they teach you that if you have something that the

other guy wants that will cause you no loss, you can use

it as a bargaining chip.”

Bean-counter:

Someone, like an accountant or auditor or tax official,

who has to go into every little financial detail.

Been around the block:

Having had a lot of experience of life already and knowing

how to deal with it.

Beginning to gel:

Just as jelly is liquid at first, before it begins to gel, so the

forming of an idea may take time before it settles in the

mind and becomes firm and clear; so we finally visualize

an idea; beginning to dawn on the mind; starting to get

the picture.

Bluff your way through:

When you have no idea what to say or do, just fake your

way through. “If someone puts you on the spot and you

don’t know what to say or do, just bluff your way

through.”

Bone-up on a subject:

Review and bring your self to the required-level of

knowledge.

Bottom line:

What is unconditionally demanded in-the-end.

Brainstorming session:

When a group of people get together to discuss creative

ideas and inspirations that come into their minds, this is

called a brainstorming session.

Brass tacks:

Go directly to the point and get into the specific details,

points or complaints

Break even:

Show neither a profit nor a loss

Break someone in:

Just as cowboy breaks and tames and trains a new pony,

so we say, figuratively, that we break a new person into a

new job when he joins the company in order to get him

started in his work-routine.

Break the ice:

Warm up the atmosphere between people; think of some114

thing to say to start up a friendly conversation; do an activity

so people will get to know one another and feel

more relaxed.

Bridge the gap:

Just as you start constructing a bridge by sinking a sound

foundation on either bank of a river, preparatory to building

and extending the superstructure out from each side,

over the water, to bridge the gap in-between, so we

sometimes make a comparison, saying we need to find a

way to bridge a gap in understanding or between two

situations or different points of view.

Bright idea:

A sudden inspiration; a good, new idea, an answer or solution

or way to fix a problem.

Bull in a china shop:

Somebody clumsy and careless, like a bull in a china

shop, which barges in charges around and breaks things

into pieces.

Burn-out:

Means working so long and so hard that one has a breakdown

and becomes incapable of continuing to work at

one’s job.

Bust your butt:

Work really hard to get a difficult job done; do your utmost;

make the maximum effort in order to fulfill requirements.

Busy-body:

Nosey-gossip; curious blabber-mouth; someone who

mixes in other’s affairs

Butter someone up:

Get on the right side of someone by using sweet talk,

false praise or compliments

Buttonhole someone:

Force someone to listen, just as though you had taken

hold of the buttonhole of his suit-jacket and won’t let go until he has heard what you wish to say.

Buy time:

Find a way to stall to gain more time as a deadline is approaching.

By the seat of your pants:

Guessing as you go along, based on your own initiative,

without any map, chart or guideline to follow.

By-the-book:

According to regulations and standard procedures; following

guidelines laid down by officials or authorities;

sticking to the generally-accepted practices and principles