a chain is only as strong as its weakest link »
An organization (especially a process or a business) is only as strong or powerful as its weakest person. A group of associates is only as strong as its laziest member.
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a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
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all holiday »
A saying signifying that it is all over with the business or person spoken of or alluded to/.
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back office »
The IT and infrastructure support services for a company, separate from the public face of the business.
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back to our muttons »
To get back to the business at hand.
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bluewash »
To tout a business or organization's commitment to social responsibility, and to use this perception for public relations and economic gain; to present a humanitarian front in this manner.
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bread and butter »
That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.
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break into »
To try to start in a profession or business.
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business as usual »
The normal course of an activity, particularly in circumstances that are out of the ordinary.
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business before pleasure »
An admonishment that discharging one's obligations must take precedence over devoting time to pursuits meant solely for one's own gratification.
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business end »
The part of a tool or other similar item, that is physically used for its operation, rather than the part which is held.
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business girl »
A prostitute.
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business girl »
A young woman employed in business or office work.
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button-down »
Serious; staid; businesslike.
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calling card »
A small printed card which identifies the bearer, traditionally presented for introduction when making a social visit to a home or when attending a formal social event or business meeting.
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captain of industry »
A prominent business person who owns or is the highest-ranking executive of one or more major firms, especially one who has considerable wealth and influence.
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close down »
To stop trading as a business.
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close up »
To shut a building or a business for a period of time.
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close up shop »
To shut down a shop; to end a business activity.
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company »
In non-legal context, any business, without respect to incorporation.
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deliver the message to Garcia »
...grasp the demands and exactions of business life. He learns that the main thing to do is to "deliver the message to Garcia"....
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does Macy's tell Gimbel's »
(US, dated, colloquial, rhetorical question) A rhetorical question with the implied answer being that competitors do not share business secrets with one another.
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even keel »
Of a business or other activity which is under control and running smoothly.
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fly-by-night »
Businesses that appear and disappear rapidly, or that give an impression of transience.
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fly-by-night »
Traveling businessmen and tradesmen.
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fold up »
To go out of business.
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for keeps »
To compete seriously, with a strong resolve to win or succeed, as in sports or business.
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get down to business »
To become involved with something work-related.
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give somebody the creeps »
To give someone a feeling of uneasiness or mild fright.
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go belly-up »
To fail or fold; especially, to close or shut down a business; to go out of business.
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good fences make good neighbors »
It is better to mind one's own business than get involved with other people's affairs.
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good old boy »
A male friend or chum, especially a schoolmate; a man with an established network of friends who assist one another in social and business situations; a decent, dependable fellow.
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grease payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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hang out one's shingle »
To open an office or business, especially in a profession.
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heebie-jeebies »
A general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea.
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in business »
Engaged in business activity.
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in business »
Ready to proceed in a desired activity.
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kitchen table software »
Especially in the early years of personal computers, a set of computer programs developed by an entrepreneurial advanced amateur or self-employed professional computer programmer in his or her own home; software developed by a small business using the services of such programmers.
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lay off »
From employment, e.g. at a time of low business volume, often with a severance package.
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like nobody's business »
In an extreme manner; rapidly; excessively; like crazy.
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lubrication payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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mind one's own business »
To concern oneself only with what is of interest to oneself and not interfere in the affairs of others.
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mind the store »
To remain present in a retail business, in order to maintain the security of the premises and to serve customers.
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monkey business »
An activity that is considered silly, or stupid, or time-wasting.
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monkey business »
An activity that may be considered illegal, questionable, or a vice, but not felonious.
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monkey business »
Do your homework and forget about all this monkey business.
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monkey business »
Wasting time, or effort, on some foolish project.
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never you mind »
Do not concern yourself with it; it is none of your business.
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none of someone's business »
A matter that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
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one-man band »
An organisation or business that is effectively run by only one person.
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piss money up the wall »
To waste money, normally through ineptness in business.
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play hardball »
To act rough and ruthless, especially in politics or business.
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pound the pavement »
To campaign diligently; to seek something, such as business, employment, or answers.
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robber baron »
Especially in the 19th-century and early 20th-century, a business tycoon who had great wealth and influence but whose methods were morally questionable.
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run down »
To reduce the size or stock levels of a business, often with a view to closure.
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send away for »
To write to a business or other organisation, requesting a thing.
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set up shop »
To establish a business.
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skeleton crew »
The minimum number of personnel needed to operate and maintain an item at its most simple operating requirements, such as a ship or business, during an emergency or shut down, and at the same time, to keep vital functions operating.
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stick it to the man »
To take some action intended to defy a source of oppression such as globalization, commercialization, big business or government.
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suck in »
To cause someone to become slowly more and more involved in a business or situation that is often not to that person's liking.
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suck into »
To cause someone to become slowly more and more involved in a business or situation that is often not to that person's liking.
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take over »
To buy out the ownership of a business.
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take upon »
To take charge of an item of business, or an obligation, as a personal initiative.
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three-martini lunch »
A leisurely, expensive, midday meal associated with drinking, which is tax-deductible because business is discussed.
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throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick »
Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.2001, And still no one is shouting stop. read in The Kingdom archives at [1] on 02 Nov 06,Many team managers are of the philosophy that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. They believe that team preparation is all about physical fitness. They run the players into the ground and they believe they will be "flying on the day".2001, Robert McCrum, Let them eat cake, in The Observer 16 Dec 01, read on Guardian Unlimited site at [2] on 02 Nov 06,Australian publishing boomed and in the past 10 years the country's literary culture has undergone a mini golden age, capped by Carey's triumph at the 2001 Booker Prize. As one Australian arts administrator said to me many years ago: 'Listen, mate, if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.'2001, Chris Collin, Re: 2-cp speys on The Strathspey Server mailing list archive at [3] on 02 Nov 06,I am finding that "if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick". It doesn't always work of course (especially on the nights when the class is mostly the beginners), but the class seems to thrive on the challange.2005, Ray Craft (poster on The right scale blog), Fitzhooie and his Burden, read at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Prosecutors everywhere have bad habits of overcharging lots of cases, knowing that if the throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick.2005, Sean Kelleher, Spike Milligan: His part in our downfall in Business 07 Aug 05, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,As long as there is negligible regulation and enforcement anyone can actually try and do the job...Weak regulation allows the industry to build strategies on full time recruitment. The theory goes: throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.c2005, Everything You've Learned About Marketing Is Wrong, read on LINC Performance website at [6] on 02 Nov 06,They have the money to continue to believe in the repetition side of the equation. You throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. But it still isn
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two left feet »
Exhibiting particular clumsiness, especially at dancing or at soccer.
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under the table »
Secretly or without reporting, especially of payments made or business transacted.
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valley of death »
The phase of a startup business beginning with the entrepreneur's fulltime commitment to it and ending when the business has achieved sustainable cash flow.
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war bride »
A company or individual whose business is increased by warfare.
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word on the wire »
The rumour or news going around on the Internet, in business, on the street, or in social circles.
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