Business ldioms(F-H)

小注释:推荐一人一段，见大字换人，对话中B角色可由右侧顺推麦序帮搭。

Filthy rich

If someone is filthy rich, they are excessively wealthy and usually display it in ostentatious fashion when in public. The term is a negative one and should be avoided in a professional setting, if at all possible. More polite alternatives include “more than comfortable” and “very affluent.”

A: Have you seen the car Maria is driving now? Her new husband must be in the money.

B: Oh, they’re filthy rich now. They’re moving to a gated community so they can have space for his classic car collection.

Foot the bill

When someone foots the bill, they pay for the total cost of a purchase, event, or service. The phrase originally referred to the action of adding all costs to create a total, with “foot” meaning “the bottom.” However, now we mostly use the phrase in reference to paying for something that is generally seen as expensive.

A: Don’t worry about this one, let me foot the bill.

B: Are you sure? Thanks very much!

For the long haul

To be involved in something for the long haul means to be involved in it for its duration, regardless of however long it takes. The phrase is often used to show someone’s commitment toward something—for example, a project or position.

A: What are your plans for the future, Jordan? Are you planning on staying with the company for some time?

B: I’m in this for the long haul, Aaron. I’m not going anywhere unless you want me gone.

From day one

From day one means since the beginning of something. If a store has been open seven days a week from day one, for example, then it has had these hours since it first opened to the public.

A: You can’t fire me! I’ve been here from day one!

B: Then you should know by now what time we open the store, Martin, and what time we need you here.

From rags to riches

To describe someone as having gone from rags to riches is to say that they have risen in status and wealth from the lowest possible level to a very high one. The phrase is informal and is usually used to describe a positive change in someone’s fortune.

A: She’s a beautiful example of someone working their way up in the business.

B: Oh, yeah. She’s gone from rags to riches. Raised in the projects and now look at her. She earns more than all of us put together!

From the ground up

From the ground up means completely, or in its entirety. The phrase is usually used in business terms to refer to the process of establishing a successful company or business. To build something from the ground up means to build it from the beginning, from nothing.

A: They need to restructure the entire business from the ground up.

B: I’m not sure that’s necessary, but something has to change in there, that’s for sure.

Game plan

A game plan is a plan of action that you or someone else is supposed to follow. Game plans will usually have clearly defined goals and a series of stages to complete. Some say the term originates in football, where the players and coach develop a game plan (or strategy) before the game starts.

A: Let’s hear it, Gary. What’s the game plan?

B: We need to take this slowly, one thing at a time.

Get ahead

To get ahead is to be successful in your life or your job. It literally means to be in front of others. However, the phrase is usually used in more general terms rather than in relation to those you work with.

A: You have to work hard if you want to get ahead in life, Jake. Especially in this business.

B: I know, Chris. I’ll put everything I have into this deal.

Get down to business

To get down to business is to begin working on the project at hand, or to start doing whatever it is that needs to be done.

A: Hey, Carl. How’s it going? You want a coffee?

B: Let’s get down to business, Larry. Are you going to sign the agreement?

Get off on the wrong foot

If you get off on the wrong foot with someone or something, then you’ve begun a relationship or a situation in an undesirable (maybe even wrong) way. Usually, this phrase refers to a relationship between people.

A: I hope we didn’t get off on the wrong foot yesterday, Eleanor? I didn’t mean to say that your emails were long, they’re actually very informative!

B: Not at all, Lyndsey. My emails are very long! There was no harm done.

Get off scot-free

To get off scot-free is to escape a punishment or payment that is deserved. Scot comes from an old English word which meant “tax,” and someone who got away scot-free was someone who did not pay their taxes.

A: What was the outcome? Surely, they didn’t find him innocent?