1. a foot in the door
to manage to enter an organization, a field of business, etc. that could bring you success
- I always wanted to work for that company but it took me two years to get a foot in the door.
[Tweet โA FOOT IN THE DOOR: to manage to enter an organization, a field of business, etc. that could bring you successโ]
2. cash cow
the part of a business that always makes a profit and that provides money for the rest of the business
- The new product became the companyโs cash cow.
[Tweet โCASH COW: the part of a business that always makes a profit and that provides money for the rest of the businessโ]
3. too many chiefs, not enough Indians
used to describe a situation in which there are too many people telling other people what to do, and not enough people to do the work
- There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians in that company.
[Tweet โTOO MANY CHIEFS, NOT ENOUGH INDIANS: used to describe a situation in which there are too many people telling other people what to do, and not enough people to do the workโ]
4. eager beaver
an enthusiastic person who works very hard
- George is an eager beaver and is certain to succeed in business.
[Tweet โEAGER BEAVER: an enthusiastic person who works very hardโ]
5. a slice of the pie
a share of something such as money, profits, etc.
- The company made big profits and the workers want a slice of the pie.
[Tweet โA SLICE OF THE PIE: a share of something such as money, profits, etc.โ]
6. go belly up
to fail completely
- Last year the business went belly up after sales continued to fall.
[Tweet โGO BELLY UP: to fail completelyโ]
7. golden handshake
a large sum of money that is given to somebody when they leave their job, or to persuade them to leave their job
- When Tom left the company he was given a golden handshake.
[Tweet โGOLDEN HANDSHAKE: a large sum of money that is given to somebody when they leave their job, or to persuade them to leave their jobโ]
8. grease someoneโs palm
to give somebody money in order to persuade them to do something dishonest
- There are rumours that the company had to grease someoneโs palms to get that contract.
[Tweet โGREASE SOMEONEโS PALM: to give somebody money in order to persuade them to do something dishonestโ]
9. hold the fort
to have the responsibility for something or care of somebody while other people are away or out
- While the boss is out of the office, Iโll have to hold the fort.
[Tweet โHOLD THE FORT: to have the responsibility for something or care of somebody while other people are away or outโ]
10. keep head above water
to deal with a difficult situation, especially one in which you have financial problems, and just manage to survive
- Business is bad. Iโm not sure how much longer weโll be able to keep our heads above water.
[Tweet โKEEP HEAD ABOVE WATER: to deal with a difficult situation, especially one in which you have financial problems, and just manage to surviveโ]
Read more:
What Happens if You Donโt Drink Enough Water Daily? [Video]
11. red tape
official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly
- You have to go through endless red tape to start up a business.
[Tweet โRED TAPE: official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quicklyโ]
12. sell ice to Eskimos
to persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.
- That salesman is such a smooth talker, he could sell ice to Eskimos.
[Tweet โSELL ICE TO ESKIMOS: to persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.โ]
13. sleeping partner
a person who has put money into a business company but who is not actually involved in running it
- Tom found a sleeping partner to invest money in his business.
[Tweet โSLEEPING PARTNER: a person who has put money into a business company but who is not actually involved in running itโ]
14. walking papers
the letter or notice dismissing somebody from a job
- Helen was given her walking papers yesterday.
[Tweet โWALKING PAPERS: the letter or notice dismissing somebody from a jobโ]
15. a dead duck
a plan, an event, etc. that has failed or is certain to fail and that is therefore not worth discussing
- The project was a dead duck from the start due to a lack of funding.
[Tweet โA DEAD DUCK: a plan, an event, etc. that has failed or is certain to fail and that is therefore not worth discussingโ]