Business English Extravaganza

In a meeting, your boss asks for ‘a show of hands’. What must you do?

• Show your boss that you have nails. It's very important to be neat at work.

• Try to gain your boss' attention by waving your hand in the air.

• Vote on an idea by raising your hand if you agree.

• Take your pen in your hand to show your boss that you are taking notes.

Answer explanation

a show of hands

an occurrence in which people put a hand in the air to indicate that they want something, agree with something, etc.

In a meeting, you hear someone say ‘let’s wrap this up.’ What do they mean?

• It's time to finish the meeting

• They want to sum up what people have already spoken about

• They want to gift wrap a present for the boss

• It's time to order taco wraps or shawarma

To ‘take the minutes’ in a business meeting means:

• To write down what time the meeting starts and finishes.

• To make sure that the meeting finishes on time.

• To write down who says what in the meeting.

• To time the meeting.

Answer explanation

take the minutes

an official record of what is said and decided during a meeting:

Michael has kindly agreed to take the minutes (= write them down).

Complete the sentence with the correct word.

Due to the economic crisis, lots of companies are declaring ____ .

• charity

• profit

• annual reports

• bankruptcy

What does 'It's out of the question' mean here?

Employee: 'Can I go home early today?'

Boss: 'It's out of the question.’

• Your boss didn't understand your question.

• No, you can’t.

• You need to work harder.

• You need to ask to go home in a more polite way.

What does 'pull your weight' mean?

• To work as hard as other people.

• To make your briefcase heavier.

• To make sure you diet at work.

• To attract new clients.

Your boss says to you ‘My hands are tied.’ What does this mean?

• You need to follow their advice.

• They need your help.

• You must give them a hand.

• They can’t help you with a problem that you have.

What does ‘I dropped the ball’ mean?

• I have an idea for a new business strategy.

• I am taking sports lessons.

• I made a mistake.

• I made a good suggestion.

What does ‘We don’t see eye to eye’ mean?

• We don’t work together.

• We don’t agree on anything.

• We need to work together.

• We only meet via Skype, not face-to-face.

To: All staff

Subject: Accounts Course

Staff wishing to enrol for the Accounts course should contact Jane Fellows, who needs to know numbers.

Staff should tell Jane Fellows ...

• how many people have enrolled for the course.

• if they are interested in doing the course.

• which of the courses they have decided to do.

• what their job titles are.