Last week we learn some common business word partnerships with the verbs, ‘keep’, ‘pay’ and ‘put’. This week, we are going to learn some business idioms to use with these three verbs.
Task 1: Study the idiom tables and examples below.
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keep
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your cards close to your chest
an eye out for s/th
your eyes peeled
your hands clean
s/o guessing
a low profile
up with the times
s/o on their toes
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keep your business plans a secret
keep alert for an opportunity
keep alert for an opportunity
never accept bribes or get involved in corruption
don’t tell someone what your plans are
don’t behave in a way which attracts attention to yourself
stay informed about modern attitudes and technologies
behave so that other people never know what you are going to do next
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A good CEO always keeps his cards close to his chest, and keeps his rivals guessing about his business strategy. That keeps them on their toes!
I am always keeping my eye out for new business opportunities.
When I go to China, I keep my eyes peeled for new business opportunities.
An honest man always keeps his hands clean, no matter what is offered to him.
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put
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all your eggs in one basket
out feelers
your feet up
your finger on s/th
your foot down
s/o’s heads together
your money where your mouth is
your neck on the line
s/th in motion
two and two together
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deliberately limit your options
make preliminary enquiries
sit down and relax
get the exact point of something
make a firm decision to stop something
work with someone, rather than on your own
match your words with actions, usually paying money
do something for which you might be blamed if it goes wrong
initiate something
realise the connection between two separate events
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A good investment strategy is not to put all your eggs in one basket. You should invest in lots of different markets to reduce the risk.
I am putting out feelers for a new job. I want to move on.
I must sit down and put my feet up for a bit. I’m so busy and so tired!
I can’t put my finger on the problem.
My boss has put his foot down. No more expense claims over $10.
I’m not going to put my neck on the line for you. Sorry.
Let’s see if we can put this idea in motion.
When I saw them having coffee together for the third time, I put two and two together: they are lovers!
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pay
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s/o’s dues
your way
through the nose
top dollar
over the odds
the price
its way
s/o back
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work hard to achieve a result
refuse financial help from someone
pay a very high price for something
pay a very high price for something
pay more for something that you should have paid
endure the consequences of a previous action
something makes more money than it costs you
take revenge on someone
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I worked really hard on that project. I paid my dues, now I want to see some results.
When I was in college I always paid my way. I never asked my parents for money.
I paid through the nose for my new car. I paid top dollar just for the sunroof!
I think you paid over the odds for it. It’s not a very good car.
We didn’t do enough research, now we are paying the price. No one will buy the product.
The new machinery we invested in is already paying its way.
Because of her I got fired. I’ll pay her back, though, you just watch!
*When learning and using idioms it’s very important indeed that you get the details of the idioms right. Change one word in the idiom, and it loses its meaning and just becomes a strange meaningless phrase.
*The only word in the idiom that can change is the verb. You must remember to use the verb in the correct tense and form, whether Ving, or V or adding ‘s’ on the end if it’s 3rd person singular present simple.
Task 2: Correct the mistakes in these sentences.
I always keep my card near my breasts.
I can’t put my thumb on it.
I paid an odd price for it.
I put one and one together and realized what the problem was.
I’m not going to put my throat in the line for you.
It was really cheap. I paid bottom dollar for it.
It will take some time for the new equipment to pay its ways.
Keep your eye peeled for any opportunities over there.
My boss always keeps us on our toe. We never know what he is going to do or say next.
My old mother finds it hard to keep up to the times.
Sit down and relax. You look tired. Put your foot up here.
The CEO put his feet down and stopped all business trips.
We are now paying a price for our earlier lack of care.
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*2016/04/15更新
Check out the answers below. As you so do, underline the correct idiom. Look at the example.
I always keep my cards close to my chest.
I can’t put my finger on it.
I paid over the odds for it.
I put two and two together and realized what the problem was.
I’m not going to put my neck on the line for you.
It was not cheap. I paid top dollar for it.
It will take some time for the new equipment to pay its way.
Keep your eyes peeled for any opportunities over there.
My boss always keeps us on our toes. We never know what he is going to do or say next.
My old mother finds it hard to keep up with the times.
Sit down and relax. You look tired. Put your feet up.
The CEO put his foot down and stopped all business trips.
We are now paying the price for our earlier lack of care.
※商英教父【權威課程】
