English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions 

BUSINESS and WORK - 2
from: 'business as usual'   to:  'copper-bottomed'

• business as usual
  • After an unpleasant or unexpected event, this expression means that everything is continuing in a normal way, in spite of the difficulties.
    "It was business as usual at the supermarket the day after the hold-up."
    
    
• business before pleasure
  • This expression means that it is considered preferable to finish one's work before going to relax and enjoy oneself.
    "I'd love to have lunch with you but I've got a report to finish - business before pleasure I'm afraid!"
    
    
• business is business
  • This is a way of saying that in financial and commercial matters, friendship or personal feelings should not be allowed to have any influence.
    "I'll hire your brother only if he is the best candidate. I'm sorry but business is business"
    
    
• can't stand the pace
  • If you can't stand the pace, you are unable to do things well when there is a lot of pressure.
    "She once worked for a famous fashion designer but she couldn't stand the pace."
    
    
• carve out a niche
  • A person or company who carves out a niche concentrates on a particular segment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and develop their expertise in that area.
    "In today's competitive market it is better to carve out a niche and try to become the best in that area."
    
    
• cash cow
  • A product or service which is a regular source of income for a company is called a cash cow.
    "His latest invention turned out to be a real cash cow."
    
    
• cash in your chips
  • If you cash in your chips, you sell something, especially shares, either because you need the money or because you think the value is going to fall.
    "Andy cashed in his chips as soon as business started to slow down."
    
    
• too many chiefs, not enough Indians
  • This expression refers to a situation where there are too many people giving instructions and not enough people doing the work.
    "The business wasn't successful. There were too many chiefs and not enough Indians."
    
    
• clinch a deal
  • In a business relationship, if you clinch a deal, you reach agreement on a proposal or offer.
    "Paul's final argument enabled us to clinch the deal."
    
    
• cog in the machine
  • If you say that someone is a cog in the machine, you mean that, while they are necessary, they only play a small part in an organisation or plan.
    "The police quickly realized that the suspect was just a cog in the machine."
    
    
• (make) cold calls
  • If you make cold calls, you telephone potential customers from a list of people you do not know.
    "In my first job I had to make cold callsusing the telephone directory."
    
    
• come to the point
  • When you come to the point, you stop speaking about general matters and start talking about the important issue.
    "After a long rambling introduction, he finally came to the point."
    
    
• copper-bottomed
  • To describe something such as a plan, a contract or a financial arrangement as copper-bottomed means that it is completely safe or reliable.
    "He signed a copper-bottomed agreement with a distributor."