Business Idioms (A-B)

小注释：推荐一人一段，见大字换人，AB角色可以随机搭配。

A full plate/A lot on your plate

To have a full plate is to be very busy. The more that you have on your plate, the busier you are. A plate is the flat dish that you eat food from, and as you know, a full plate cannot fit any more food on it. Likewise, if your schedule is full, you cannot agree to take on any more tasks.

A: Can you finish off Rob’s assignment, please?

B: I’m sorry, I’ve got a full plate at the moment, Sarah. I can’t take on any more work.

A: Are you okay, Jennifer?

B: Yes, John. I’ve just got a lot on my plate right now.

Ahead of the curve

If you are ahead of the curve, then you are ahead of those around you in terms of current trends and/or business approaches. The expression is a positive one and can be used in professional situations. It was originally expressed as ahead of the power curve and dates to the 1920s when airplanes were becoming more popular and common.

A: Jennifer’s Boutique offers a unique dining and shopping experience. There’s really no other place like it!

B: I know, they’re really ahead of the curve in main street shopping.

A learning curve

To be on a learning curve means that you are quickly gaining knowledge in a particular subject. Adjectives such as “steep,” “intense,” and “rapid” may be added to give more meaning. Often, the phrase is used to illustrate that someone has learned from a mistake.

A: This semester has been quite the learning curve for you, hasn’t it?

B: Yes, I feel like I’ve learned a lot with you.

A: How do you feel about yesterday’s performance?

B: It was terrible, the audience hated my jokes. But I’m on a learning curve– I’ll change some of them for tomorrow.

A long shot

If something is a long shot, then it is unlikely, but still possible. Historically, the phrase is interchangeable with “not by a long chalk” and means that something won’t take place by any means. The phrase comes from the past British practice of using chalk to record scores, often on any flat surface that could be found in the vicinity.

A: Do you know anyone who can help me?

B: It’s a long shot, but I could call my cousin.

Ahead of the pack

If someone is ahead of the pack, they are better than the others around them who are trying to accomplish/learn the same things. The word “pack” refers to a pack of wolves who travel together in groups. To be ahead of the pack suggests that you are somehow better than the pack, an innovator and forward thinker.

A: Kenny is incredible; he really is ahead of the pack.

B: Yeah, he’s moving up in leaps and bounds.

Angel investor

Angel investing refers to private investment in entrepreneurial companies, that is, companies which invest in purchasing risky stocks in the hope of the company succeeding and reaping a profit. Other terms that mean the same thing include seed investor, business angel, and angel funder.

A: Liam, an angel investor from South California, says that start-ups should be better supported by the government as well as private investors like himself.

B: But can the government justify risking taxpayers’ money on start-ups that might fail and lose the country millions, Karen?

At arm’s length

The phrase dealing at arm’s length is used to describe the relationship between two unrelated people or entities, where neither has control over the other. More generally, to keep something or someone at arm’s length can also mean to keep them at a distance, and to not involve yourself directly with that person or thing.

A: The transaction was made at arm’s length.

B: So, none of the parties had any ties to each other?

A: They were entirely unconnected and held no jurisdiction or influence over the other.

A: I’ve never trusted him. I keep him at an arm’s length.

B: I feel the same. I don’t think he can be trusted at all.

At stake

When something is at stake, it is at risk or under question, and it may be lost as a result of current actions or circumstances. Profits may be put at stake by a questionable choice in packaging design, or employment positions may be put at stake by budget and funding cuts. You may hear the term being used to exaggerate risks and possible outcomes of controversial suggestions and ideas. The phrase apparently originates in bear fighting, where people would place money bets on a bear tied to a stake and attacked by dogs.

A: I really hope this works, Zavi. We’ve got a lot resting on this presentation and the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting.

B: I know, there’s a lot at stake. Please don’t put any more pressure on me！