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Business Idioms Quiz (A2-C1) — Vocabulary Practice Test

20questions
10:00minutes
+25XP on pass

This 20-question Business Idioms practice quiz walks you through the topic step by step — from recognising common words to precise word choice in context. Designed for Level A2-C1, with clear explanations after every answer.

Browse all Business Idioms lessons

⏱ You have 10:00 to answer 20 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

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Questions 20
Q1  20
Q1 20

Question 1: We need to ___ the deal before Friday.

Question 1 options
'Close' is the correct word because 'close a deal' is a standard business idiom meaning to finalize or complete an agreement. 'Open' means to start, not finalize. 'Break' and 'lose' do not collocate naturally with 'deal' in this sense.
Q2 20

Question 2: What does the idiom 'get the ball rolling' mean?

Question 2 options
'Get the ball rolling' means to start a process or activity. It does not mean to finish something, take a break, or play a sport in a business context.
Q3 20

Question 3: The idiom 'in the red' means a business is losing money.

Question 3 options
True. 'In the red' refers to financial losses, originating from the accounting practice of recording losses in red ink. The opposite is 'in the black,' meaning profitable.
Q4 20

Question 4: The boss told us to ___ the numbers before the meeting.

Question 4 options
'Crunch' is correct because 'crunch the numbers' is a fixed business idiom meaning to do calculations or analyze data. 'Cook,' 'eat,' and 'bite' do not form this standard expression.
Q5 20

Question 5: Which word is closest in meaning to 'downsize'?

Question 5 options
'Reduce' is closest in meaning to 'downsize,' which means to make a company smaller, typically by cutting jobs. 'Expand' means the opposite. 'Relocate' means to move, and 'promote' means to advance someone.
Q6 20

Question 6: Let's not beat around the ___; we need to discuss the budget cuts.

Question 6 options
'Beat around the bush' is a fixed idiom meaning to avoid talking about a difficult topic directly. The missing word is 'bush.'
Q7 20

Question 7: After months of hard work, the startup finally managed to ___ even.

Question 7 options
'Break' is correct because 'break even' is a business idiom meaning to reach a point where revenue equals costs, with no profit or loss. 'Cut,' 'pull,' and 'turn' do not form this expression.
Q8 20

Question 8: Match each business idiom to its meaning.

Question 8 options
back to square one
touch base
in the loop
red tape
make brief contact with someone
start over from the beginning
kept informed about something
excessive bureaucratic rules

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'Back to square one' means starting over. 'Touch base' means to make brief contact. 'In the loop' means informed. 'Red tape' means excessive bureaucracy.
Q9 20

Question 9: What does the idiom 'think outside the box' mean in a business context?

Question 9 options
'Think outside the box' means to think creatively or in an unconventional way. It does not mean to work overtime, follow strict procedures, or pack items in boxes.
Q10 20

Question 10: The company decided to ___ corners on production, and quality suffered.

Question 10 options
'Cut' is correct because 'cut corners' is a fixed business idiom meaning to do something in the cheapest or easiest way, often sacrificing quality. 'Trim,' 'round,' and 'turn' do not form this expression.
Q11 20

Question 11: The idiom 'a ballpark figure' means an exact and precise number.

Question 11 options
False. 'A ballpark figure' means a rough estimate or approximate number, not an exact one. The idiom comes from the idea of being 'in the ballpark,' meaning close but not precise.
Q12 20

Question 12: Our new product is a real cash ___; it generates steady profit every month.

Question 12 options
'Cow' is correct because 'cash cow' is a business idiom referring to a product or business unit that consistently generates reliable profit. 'Horse,' 'dog,' and 'hen' do not form this standard business expression.
Q13 20

Question 13: Management wants to ___ the playing field so all departments have equal resources.

Question 13 options
'Level' is correct because 'level the playing field' is an idiom meaning to create fair and equal conditions for everyone. 'Raise,' 'flatten,' and 'smooth' do not form this standard expression.
Q14 20

Question 14: Which word is closest in meaning to 'synergy' in a business context?

Question 14 options
'Collaboration' is closest in meaning to 'synergy,' which describes the idea that combined efforts produce a greater result than individual efforts. 'Competition' implies rivalry. 'Isolation' means separation. 'Redundancy' means duplication or job elimination.
Q15 20

Question 15: The CEO's decision to acquire the rival firm was a real ___-changer for the entire industry.

Question 15 options
'Game' is correct because 'game-changer' is a widely used business idiom meaning something that fundamentally alters the situation or competitive landscape. 'Life,' 'rule,' and 'name' do not form this specific compound.
Q16 20

Question 16: We need someone who can hit the ground ___ and deliver results from day one.

Question 16 options
'Running' is correct because 'hit the ground running' is a fixed idiom meaning to begin a task effectively and immediately. 'Walking,' 'standing,' and 'jumping' do not complete this expression.
Q17 20

Question 17: The negotiations reached a ___ because neither party was willing to compromise on pricing terms.

Question 17 options
'Deadlock' is correct because it means a situation in which no progress can be made due to disagreement. 'Breakthrough' means the opposite. 'Milestone' refers to a significant achievement. 'Benchmark' is a standard for comparison.
Q18 20

Question 18: Put the sentences in the correct order to form a story about a business negotiation:

Question 18 options
  • Then, the client moved the goalposts by suddenly demanding a lower price.
  • Finally, both sides saw eye to eye, and we closed the deal last Friday.
  • First, our sales team got the ball rolling on a major contract with a new client.
  • After that, our team went back to the drawing board to redesign the proposal.

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The story follows a logical sequence: First, a new deal is introduced. Then, progress hits a snag when the other side 'moves the goalposts.' After that, the team 'goes back to the drawing board.' Finally, they 'close the deal' successfully.
Q19 20

Question 19: After the hostile takeover, several executives received ___ parachutes worth millions.

Question 19 options
'Golden' is correct because 'golden parachute' is a specific business idiom referring to a large financial compensation package guaranteed to senior executives if they are dismissed following a merger or takeover. 'Silver,' 'platinum,' and 'diamond' do not form this standard expression.
Q20 20

Question 20: What does the idiom 'move the needle' mean in a corporate strategy context?

Question 20 options
'Move the needle' means to make a noticeable or significant impact on a measurable outcome such as revenue or market share. It does not mean to avoid risk, restructure management, or delay decisions.

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