Business English: Sporting idioms in business

  'Approaching the finish line.'

It's a sporting summer with the Beijing Olympics underway. In Business English we use a number of idioms (natural English expressions) which are connected to sport.

Here are a few of the most common. Which sports do you think they are connected to?

• On the ball - To know what's happening. To be aware.
• Stay ahead of the game – To be leaders in the field/business environment.
• Plain sailing – An easy or simple situation.
• Approaching the finishing line – Nearing the end.
• A two horse race – A close contest between two groups or companies.
• On the ropes- In a very bad situation/ Close to defeat.
• Score an own goal – To make a mistake which has the opposite effect from what was hoped.
• A level playing field – A situation which is the same for everyone.
• In a league of their own – Much better than the rest.
• Hit it out of the park – To have great success.
• Drop the ball – make a mistake/to disappoint everyone.

Now choose the idiom which best completes each sentence:

• The government have ___ by introducing new laws, making it fairer for all businesses.
  
  levelled the playing field
  staying ahead of the game.
  dropped the ball
  
  
• No problem. With all your experience, you will find this project to be ___.
  
  plain sailing
  a level playing field
  on the ropes
  
  
• No one makes better cars than Ferrari. I think they are ___.
  
  a two horse race
  in a league of their own
  a level playing field
  
  
• Great presentation, Mike. You really ___.
  
  hit it out of the park
  approached the finishing line
  dropped the ball
  
  
• We are ___ as the project must be finished by next week.
  
  approaching the finish line
  plain sailing
  in a league of our own
  
  
• Sam ___ when he lost the report.
  
  on the ropes
  dropped the ball
  hit it out of the park
  
  
• The company is having a terrible year. They are not bankrupt, but they’re definitely ___.
  
  on the ropes
  ahead of the game
  in a league of their own
  
  
• The bank ___ by introducing unpopular charges. They lost a lot of customers.
  
  scored an own goal
  were on the ball
  were on the ropes
  
  
• Sony ___ by always thinking of new exciting products.
  
  are plain sailing
  stay ahead of the game
  score an own goal
  
  
• It is a ___ between Microsoft and Mac in the computer world.
  
  approach the finishing line
  two horse race
  hit the ball out of the park
  
  
• That new guy seems ___, he learns fast.
  
  on the ropes
  on the ball
  scored an own goal