Business Spotlight 08.2019

SKILL UP! 19

ESSENTIAL IDIOMS

Skill Up! Audio

You can do an exercise on

Business Spotlight Audio.

First, the idiomatic way
Jen: OK, as the number crunch-
er on the team, what do you say?
Should we cook the books?
Brian: If that’s a joke, it’s not funny.
Jen: I just don’t want to pull the
plug.

Now, more simply
Jen: OK, as the person on the
team who is good with num-
bers, what do you say? Should we
change the accounts so they look
better than they really are?
Brian: If that’s a joke, it’s not funny.
Jen: I just don’t want to close the
business by stopping the money
needed to continue.

First, the idiomatic way

Brian: The auditors gave us a

clean bill of health. And the in-

vestors another cash injection.

Jen: As well as a blank cheque?

Brian: Not exactly. They expect to

get a slice of the pie. A bigger slice.

Now, more simply

Brian: The auditors confirmed we

are operating correctly and our fi-

nances are correct. And the inves-

tors gave us more money.

Jen: As well as complete freedom

to spend as much money as we

want?

Brian: Not exactly. They expect to

get a share of the company and its

profits. A bigger slice.

number cruncher ifml.

, Zahlenfreak

cook the books ifml.

, die Geschäfts-

bücher frisieren

pull the plug ifml.

, den Stecker ziehen,

den Hahn zudrehen

clean bill of health

, Persilschein;

hier: Unbedenklich-

keitsbescheinigung

cash injection

, Finanz-, Geldspritze

blank cheque

, Blankoscheck

slice of the pie:

get a ~

, ein Stück vom

Kuchen abbekommen

First, read the two versions of

the short conversations. Then

cover up the simpler version

and read the idiomatic dialogue

again. Can you remember the

meanings?

Don’t pull

the plug

yet!