Essential Business English Idioms You Need to Know (With Examples & Fun Quiz)

Erin West
Jul 6
3 min read

Updated: 20 minutes ago

Business English idiom quiz image showing the sentence "I didn’t expect that! The offer came _____" with options out of the sun, out of the blue, from the clouds, and down from the sky, next to a surprised woman.

Surprises happen all the time at work — a sudden update, an unexpected decision, or news that catches everyone off guard. In this short Business English lesson, we look at a few common idioms that native speakers use to describe moments like these. You’ll see how these expressions work in real situations and then try them yourself in a quick challenge at the end.

Today’s Challenge:

Imagine this: You’re having a normal morning at work, answering emails and preparing for a team call. Nothing unusual is happening. Then, during your break, you open LinkedIn and see a new message from a hiring manager you spoke with last year.

You had one conversation, it went nowhere, and you completely forgot about it.

You click the message out of curiosity — and suddenly your heart speeds up. The manager writes that they’ve kept an eye on your profile, a new role has opened on their team, and they’d like to reconnect because they think you might be a strong fit.

You weren’t job hunting.

You weren’t expecting anything.

You didn’t even reach out.

You sit back for a moment and say:

I didn’t expect that! The offer came ______.

A) out of the sun

B) out of the blue

C) from the clouds

D) down from the sky

Now choose the option that sounds most natural in this situation.

Did you get it right?

That's right! The correct answer is B) out of the blue.

Essential Business English Idioms for Talking About Surprises

Surprises happen all the time at work — new projects, sudden changes, unexpected offers. Using the right idiom can help you describe these moments naturally and connect better with colleagues. Let’s look at some common Business English idioms to talk about surprises.

Please follow the steps below.

Step 1. Match the two parts to make complete idioms.

1. OUT OF...	a) BY SURPRISE
2. TAKE someone...	b) GUARD
3. CATCH someone OFF...	c) SOCKS OFF
4. KNOCK someone's...	d) THE BLUE
5. HIT LIKE A TON...	e) OF BRICKS

The ANSWER KEY is at the bottom of the page.

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Step 2. Read each idiom, its definition, and the example sentence.

OUT OF THE BLUE

idiom

happening completely unexpectedly

The job offer came out of the blue.

TAKE SOMEONE BY SURPRISE

idiom

to do something that someone does not expect

Her decision to leave the company took everyone by surprise.

CATCH someone OFF GUARD

idiom

to do something when someone is not ready for it

The tough question in the meeting caught me off guard.

KNOCK someone's SOCKS OFF

idiom, informal

to really impress or amaze someone

The comedian’s show last night was so hilarious it knocked everyone’s socks off — people were laughing so hard they were crying!

HIT LIKE A TON OF BRICKS

idiom, informal

to have a strong emotional impact, to shock someone

The news of the budget cuts hit the staff like a ton of bricks.

Step 3. Choose the right word and check how well you know these Business English idioms.

Great job making it through the quiz! Using Business English idioms naturally takes time, and you’re already doing great. Try to use these expressions in casual conversations or when talking with friends. Watch for them — the more you hear and use them, the more natural they will feel.

ANSWER KEY

Step 1.

1 d)

2 a)

3 b)

4 c)

5 e)

Step 3.

1. I thought I had prepared for every possible question, but that one comment from the client really caught me off guard.

A) with

B) of

C) off

2. Realizing I had forgotten to submit the proposal on time hit me like a ton of bricks.

A) ton

B) bag

C) bunch

3. We were just about to launch when, out of the blue, our main supplier canceled the contract.

A) sky

B) clouds

C) blue

4. Her speech knocked our socks off. Everyone gave her a standing ovation before she even finished.

A) pants

B) socks

C) shoes

5. The inspection took us by surprise, but we handled it professionally.

A) shock

B) surprise

C) jump

Ready for more practice? Click the image below to try another Business English Idioms Quiz!

Business English Idioms. Woman in striped shirt looks furious, pointing upward. Text on pink background about idioms with options A-D. Penguin illustration.

Erin West is a Business English educator, writer, and founder of RealBusinessEnglish.com. She creates practical lessons, quizzes, and learning materials that help professionals use clear, natural, and confident English at work — with just the right amount of fun.