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This is a blog about Business English and how you can improve your business communication skills in English. A range of ideas, suggestions and articles will be presented on this blog and they are there for your use and enjoyment. Please leave your comments and help to spread the word. Thanks.

Alternative ways of saying something

There are many ways of saying something, each having a different 'feel.' Here are some examples:

• He thinks about nothing else apart from his precious car - Focus on 'nothing else'
• His precious car is all he thinks about and nothing else - Focus on 'precious car' and 'all he thinks about'
• Nothing else seems to matter to him, apart from his precious car - Focus on 'nothing else'
• The only thing he thinks about is his precious car - Focus on 'only'
• Thinking about his precious car is all he does - Focus on 'all he does'

FOCUS: The above focus is a suggestion and the intonation will be heavier in these words.

Some hints and tips

Learn Business English online through Skype. A very cost and time effective way 

Read business articles from the Telegraph, the BBC, the Guardian etc

A few phrasal verbs used in business

• To hush something up = to keep it secret / keep it quiet / Sweep it under the carpet
• To spy on somebody = to get information about someone / to watch and follow them
• To give the game away = to reveal the truth of the situation through your behaviour
• Can I confide in you? = Can I tell you something secret and trust you
• To dig the dirt up = to find out bad information/secrets about someone
• Catch someone red handed = catch them in the middle of an illegal act

Some common business words and expressions

• Do things by the book = follow procedures
• Autocratic = controlling and direct style of management
• Get-togethers = informal meetings
• A yardstick = measurement of some activity / process
• To stick to = to follow the rules / point
• To turn up = to arrive / find out
• Streamlining = making more efficient
• Sink or swim = make or break / success or failure
• Bottom line performance = end result / profit or loss
• Collaborative = working together
• To pursue = to follow
• A shift = a change in something or a period of work time - Night shifts
• A hands-on approach = working with the team / getting involved
• Roll your sleeves up = get involved
• The nitty-gritty = the details
• Flamboyant = full of energy and brightness and colour
• From scratch = from the beginning
• To be immersed in the business = totally involved
• A stake in something = a part of something / A percentage in something
• Risk management = managing the risk and planning things to reduce that risk