The Power Of Idioms

Since the world of business is by its very nature competitive, it comes as no surprise that a lot of picturesque expressions are derived from sport. After all, men (still) rule both worlds. Therefore it is not uncommon to hear businessmen complaining about fierce competition. They might express their wish for the world of business to be a level playing field where the competition will be fair because no one will have special advantages. However, they definitely prefer the situation where they are ahead of the game and feel an uncomfortable tension when they and their rival are neck and neck (or at the same level). If they manage to overtake them, they will reach the most desirable status when they are so far ahead of their competitors that it becomes a one horse race. Even then, they should keep their eye on the ball (stay focused as a top football player is) so they don’t get thrown out of the driving seat (the situation where they are in control) especially by the government which can move the goalposts by changing the rules of the game. It is not difficult to imagine what confusion the moving of goalposts in the middle of a football game would cause and the same type of confusion accompanied by frustration obviously takes place in business.

The developments in the world of business tend to have dramatic consequences for the parties involved so they very often resort to expressions used in the art of war. Thus companies may get involved in a real takeover battle and the company which has been singled out as an easy target will try to form a strategic alliance to defend itself.

To make stock exchange reports more colourful, a lot of idiomatic expressions are used. So when they report that the share price has soared, we can picture an eagle rising confidently to heights offering it freedom. If we say that they skyrocket it might even fly us to the Moon. Nowadays the situation with the stock exchange is quite the opposite but it is not less picturesquely described. Thus share prices tumble (fall quickly and without control) but we hope they will pick up (increase or improve) soon and that this will prevent the economy from being in freefall.

The extent to which business people are attached to their companies is maybe best shown in idioms expressing their concern over a company’s health condition. Companies can be ailing and suffer from the effects of recession. In that case big orders can help ‘a patient’ to make a full recovery and be in good shape again.

When playing for high stakes, businessmen are impatient with people who beat about the bush (avoid getting to the point). We hope you will not be in the situation to say you could not make head nor tail of this lesson – or in other words saying you simply couldn’t understand what it was all about.