Meetings and Deadlines
These 12 idioms are the ones you actually hear in meetings — for decisions, deadlines, and the moments when a plan doesn’t work out.
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Try translating one of these into your own language and see if a similar image already exists there — it often does, just with a different picture.
All 12 flashcards
What does the idiom "touch base" mean?
To make brief contact with someone, usually to check on progress.
Let’s touch base again next week on this.
What does the idiom "back to the drawing board" mean?
To start planning something again because the previous attempt failed.
The client rejected the design, so it’s back to the drawing board.
What does the idiom "down to the wire" mean?
Continuing until the very last moment before a deadline.
The negotiations went down to the wire.
What does the idiom "on the back burner" mean?
Set aside temporarily, not an immediate priority.
We put that project on the back burner for now.
What does the idiom "table an idea" mean?
To postpone discussion of an idea or proposal.
We tabled the proposal until next quarter.
What does the idiom "ballpark figure" mean?
A rough estimate, not an exact number.
Can you give me a ballpark figure for the cost?
What does the idiom "cut to the chase" mean?
To get to the point without wasting time on unnecessary details.
Let’s cut to the chase — can we make the deadline or not?
What does the idiom "rock the boat" mean?
To disturb a stable situation, usually by raising an uncomfortable issue.
He didn’t want to rock the boat by questioning the decision.
What does the idiom "move the goalposts" mean?
To unfairly change the rules or requirements of a task partway through.
Every time we hit the target, they move the goalposts.
What does the idiom "on the same wavelength" mean?
Thinking in a similar way, easily understanding each other.
She and her co-founder are always on the same wavelength.
What does the idiom "drop the ball" mean?
To fail to do something you were responsible for.
Someone dropped the ball on this order — it never shipped.
What does the idiom "iron out the details" mean?
To resolve the remaining small problems in a plan.
We just need to iron out a few details before signing.
What to learn next
That completes Business Idioms. The phrasal verbs and everyday idioms in this same subject pair well with these for everyday office English.