Speak Business English Like an American » Review for Lessons 1-5

Practice The Idioms

Fill in the blank with the missing word:

  1. Steve won't be satisfied with a simple digital camera. He wants one with all the _____ and whistles.
    • a) widgets
    • b) bells
    • c) chimes
  2. I know you're planning on spending your entire advertising budget on TV advertising. _____ for the record, I don't think that's a good idea.
    • a) just
    • b) only
    • c) simply
  3. HBO _____ up with a winner with its popular show Sex and the City. It became an international hit.
    • a) came
    • b) thought
    • c) arrived
  4. Jack didn't want to buy laptops for everybody in the office, but the office manager succeeded in twisting his _____ .
    • a) leg
    • b) mind
    • c) arm
  5. After two years on the market, this product is still not selling well. I think we should _____ the plug.
    • a) push
    • b) remove
    • c) pull
  6. Our president has made it very clear that we need to double our revenues this year. No _____ , ands, or buts.
    • a) ifs
    • b) howevers
    • c) maybes
  7. We don't have any job openings right now, but please _____ base with us in a couple of months.
    • a) reach
    • b) contact
    • c) touch
  8. Irene would like to start a business from her home, but she's not sure how to go _____ it.
    • a) around
    • b) about
    • c) with
  9. Some of your colleagues might not like you, but at the _____ of the day, what really matters is what your boss thinks of you.
    • a) end
    • b) close
    • c) finish
  10. When it was clear that the new product was a failure, nobody was willing to step up to the _____ and take responsibility.
    • a) table
    • b) plate
    • c) dish
  11. Holiday time is very busy at the department store, so the store is planning on beefing _____ its sales staff for the entire month of December.
    • a) out
    • b) over
    • c) up
  12. Charlie loves his job, so when he won the employee-of-the- year award, it was just _____ on the cake.
    • a) frosting
    • b) icing
    • c) candles
  13. Don't tell Tony we're planning a retirement party for him. It's going to be a surprise. _____ the word!
    • a) Sister's
    • b) Dad's
    • c) Mum's
  14. After another bad quarter, the president's head was on the
    • a) cutting board
    • b) chopping block
    • c) operating table
  15. General Electric is thinking about selling off one of its businesses in India, but nothing is set in _____ yet.
    • a) stone
    • b) rock
    • c) paper
Answer Key
Practice The Idioms
  1. b
  2. a
  3. a
  4. c
  5. c
  6. a
  7. c
  8. b
  9. a
  10. b
  11. c
  12. b
  13. c
  14. b
  15. a
Answer Key
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