Common Business English Idioms: How Many Do You Know? (Fun Quiz Inside)

Q: What does “throw someone under the bus” mean?

It means blaming someone to protect yourself. Example: He threw his coworker under the bus to avoid getting in trouble.

Q: What are some idioms for difficult workplace situations?

Use idioms like back someone into a corner (put someone in a hard situation), hit a nerve (say something that upsets someone), and under pressure (feeling stress). These expressions make it easier to describe real problems at work.

Erin West
Jun 27
6 min read

Updated: Oct 27

Quiz image showing a woman looking angry, with the business English idiom “hit a nerve” used in a sentence. A multiple-choice question helps ESL learners practice common business English idioms related to emotions and reactions. Great for vocabulary building and classroom discussion. — Common Business English Idioms: How Many Do You Know? by REAL Business English

Every workplace has its own language — full of expressions that don’t always mean what they say. In English, these 'colorful' expressions are called common Business English idioms, and native speakers use them all the time in meetings, emails, and casual conversations. Learning them helps you understand people’s tone, react naturally, and sound more fluent in real business situations.

Today’s Focus:

Learning how to use common Business English idioms naturally in conversation.

Today’s Challenge:

Picture this: the room is tense.

The team has missed another deadline, and everyone’s trying to stay calm.

Then one brave employee speaks up: "Maybe the problem is how the project’s being managed."

The manager freezes. Her smile disappears. You can feel the tension across the table.

What’s the right idiom to describe this moment?

When he questioned her leadership, it really ______. She looked furious.

A) hit a nerve

B) struck a match

C) tickled the penguin

D) kicked the bucket

Pick the best answer and test your knowledge of Business English idioms!

Ready to check your answers? Let’s go over the meanings together.

HIT A NERVE

idiom

to upset someone by saying something that touches a sensitive topic

When he mentioned her past mistakes, it really hit a nerve.

I didn’t mean to hit a nerve, I was just being honest.

That question really hit a nerve, and she got angry.

STRIKE A MATCH

phrase, not an idiom

to light a matchstick to make fire

He struck a match to light the candle.

She struck a match and started the fire.

You can’t strike a match in here, it’s dangerous.

TICKLE THE PENGUIN

not an idiom, just a joke =)

KICK THE BUCKET

idiom, informal, humorous

to die

My old car finally kicked the bucket last week.

He joked that he would travel the world before he kicked the bucket.

The old computer kicked the bucket after 10 years.

That's right! The correct answer is A) hit a nerve.

Learn Common Business English Idioms – Take the Quiz

Business professionals discussing ideas — Common Business English Idioms for meetings, emails, and workplace conversations (with quiz)

Business conversations aren’t always easy — people disagree, mistakes happen, and deadlines cause stress. That’s why native speakers often use idioms to describe these moments in a simple, colorful way. In this part, you’ll learn useful Business English idioms for handling tense meetings, taking responsibility, and staying calm when things go wrong at work.

Please follow the steps below.

Step 1. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

Enjoyed this quiz? Discover more Business English idioms native speakers actually use at work - with a free PDF to practice.

Step 2. Match each idiom to its correct definition.

in hot water	a) to blame or hurt someone to protect yourself
rub someone the wrong way	b) to make a bad situation worse
add fuel to the fire	c) in trouble
back someone into a corner	d) to put someone in a difficult situation where they have no good choices
let the dust settle	e) to accept the results of your actions
throw someone under the bus	f) to say or do something that makes someone feel bad or angry
face the music	g) to wait until things become calm again

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Step 3. Read the idioms and learn what they mean.

IN HOT WATER

idiom

in trouble or in a difficult situation

After leaking confidential information by accident, Jenna was really in hot water with upper management.

RUB SOMEONE THE WRONG WAY

idiom

to say or do something that makes someone feel bad or angry

I didn’t mean to be rude, but my joke rubbed him the wrong way.

ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE

idiom

to make a bad situation worse

When Jenna complained again, it only added fuel to the fire.

BACK SOMEONE INTO A CORNER

idiom

to put someone in a difficult situation where they have no good choices

The client backed us into a corner, so we had to lower the price.

LET THE DUST SETTLE

idiom

to wait until things become calm again

Let’s wait a few days for the dust to settle before deciding.

THROW SOMEONE UNDER THE BUS

idiom

to blame or hurt someone to protect yourself

He threw his teammate under the bus so he wouldn’t get in trouble.

FACE THE MUSIC

idiom

to accept the results of your actions

The project failed, and now we have to face the music.

Download the free PDF worksheet with these common Business English idioms.

14 Essential Business English Idioms for the Workplace – free PDF worksheet with common Business English phrases, idioms, and expressions for meetings, deadlines, and communication at work. Learn idioms like hit a nerve, in hot water, face the music, throw someone under the bus, and move the goalposts with simple definitions.

Business English idioms worksheet – practice common workplace idioms with a fun fill-in-the-blank quiz. Free PDF includes phrases like hit a nerve, add fuel to the fire, face the music, move the goalposts, and throw someone under the bus to improve Business English communication skills.

ANSWER KEY - STEPS 1-2

Step 1.

1. During the meeting, Alex blamed Jen for the delay to protect himself. He really threw her under the bus.

A) train

B) bus

C) car

2. The client was already angry about the price increase. Sending that email now would just add fuel to the fire.

A) fire

B) water

C) air

3. After missing three deadlines, John is really in hot water with his manager.

A) cold

B) hot

C) clear

4. After the client threatened to cancel the deal, we were backed into a corner and had to lower the price.

A) box

B) wall

C) corner

5. The project failed. Now the team has to face the music and explain what went wrong to the client.

A) song

B) concert

C) music

6. I think the way he gave that feedback rubbed her the wrong way. She seemed upset after the meeting.

A) wrong

B) opposite

C) strange

7. Things have been tense since the budget cuts. We should wait a few days for the dust to settle before meeting again.

A) problem

B) dust

C) budget

Step 2.

in hot water c)

rub someone the wrong way f)

add fuel to the fire b)

back someone into a corner d)

let the dust settle g)

throw someone under the bus a)

face the music e)

FAQ: Common Business English Idioms

What are the most common Business English idioms used at work?

Some of the most common idioms professionals use in meetings and emails include in hot water, add fuel to the fire, throw someone under the bus, let the dust settle, and face the music. They’re often used when talking about problems, responsibility, and workplace challenges.

What does “in hot water” mean in Business English?

It means being in trouble or having problems because of something you did.

Example: After missing the deadline, he’s in hot water with his boss.

What does “throw someone under the bus” mean?

It means blaming someone to protect yourself.

Example: He threw his coworker under the bus to avoid getting in trouble.

What does “add fuel to the fire” mean in business conversations?

It means making a bad situation worse by saying or doing something that increases tension.

Example: Complaining about the delay only added fuel to the fire.

Want to practice these idioms in real conversations? Try more Business English Idioms Quizzes here or here.

What does “let the dust settle” mean?

It means waiting until things calm down before reacting or deciding.

Example: Let’s wait for the dust to settle before making changes.

What does “face the music” mean in Business English?

It means accepting the results of your actions, even when they’re unpleasant.

Example: The project failed, so now we have to face the music.

What does “rub someone the wrong way” mean?

It means to annoy or upset someone without meaning to.

Example: His tone rubbed the client the wrong way.

What are some idioms for difficult workplace situations?

Use idioms like back someone into a corner (put someone in a hard situation), hit a nerve (say something that upsets someone), and under pressure (feeling stress).These expressions make it easier to describe real problems at work.

Why should I learn Business English idioms?

Idioms help you understand native speakers and sound more fluent when you speak. They also make your English more natural during discussions, emails, and negotiations.

Where can I download more examples of Business English idioms?

You can download the free PDF “14 Essential Business English Idioms for the Workplace” here. It includes definitions, clear examples, and exercises to help you practice and remember them. For more PDFs click here.

Enjoyed this quiz? Click below to explore another set of useful Business English phrases you can use at work.

Learn Business English phrases. Man in a blue shirt contemplating at a desk. Text: Business English Phrases. Options: A) resign, B) resigned, C) assign, D) assigned.

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.