Advanced Expert - Unit 8

dodgy

not working properly or not in good condition

venture

a new business activity that involves taking risks

dodgy

not working properly or not in good condition

venture

a new business activity that involves taking risks

take off (ie success)

suddenly become a success

expand

when a business/company opens new shops, factories etc

lucrative

a job or activity that lets you earn a lot of money

take on a life of its own

something that seems to move or work by itself

tight deadline

a date or time by which you have to do or complete something, which is difficult to achieve

not all plain sailing

not very easy to do or achieve

turn down

to refuse an offer, request, or invitation

split

the way in which something, especially money, is shared between several people

expertise

special skills or knowledge in a particular subject, that you learn by experience or training

brand

a type of product made by a particular company, that has a particular name or design

strong point

a positive quality or feature that something or someone has

crack on with

to continue working hard at something in order to finish it

think things through

to think carefully about the possible results of something

start up

if you make something begin to exist; launch

disillusioned

disappointed because you have lost your belief that someone is good, or that an idea is right

tie in with one's values

matches one's attitudes and beliefs

reckless

not caring or worrying about the possible bad or dangerous results of your actions

get up and running

get working

bags of energy

lots of energy

take the plunge

to decide to do something important or risky, especially after thinking about it for a long time

take over

to take control of something

messy

dirty or untidy

launch

to start something, usually something big or important

retain

to keep something or continue to have something

maximise

to use something in a way that gives you the greatest practical value or the best results

set up

to start a company, organization, committee etc

work-life balance

the ability to give a sensible amount of time and effort to your work and to your life outside work, for example to your family or to other interests

practise what one preaches

to do the things that you advise other people to do

double-edged sword

something that seems to be good, but that can have a bad effect

pop (home)

to go somewhere quickly, suddenly, or in a way that you did not expect

tread on someone's toes

to offend someone, especially by becoming involved in something that they are responsible for

perception

the way you think about something and your idea of what it is like

client-focused

paying careful attention to the customer

cross paths

meet by chance

embark on

to start something, especially something new, difficult, or exciting

retail

the sale of goods in shops to customers, for their own use and not for selling to anyone else

stumble across

to find or discover something by chance and unexpectedly

spill over

to spread and begin to affect other places, people etc

run something past someone

to tell someone something so that they can give you their opinion

launch

to start something, usually something big or important

take a gamble

start an action or plan that involves a risk but that you hope will succeed

leap at (an idea)

to accept an opportunity very eagerly

be measured (in a reply)

being careful and controlled, and not excited or sudden

recipe for disaster

very likely to end badly

play it safe

to behave in a particular way in a situation, in order to achieve the result or effect that you want

raise funds

to collect money that you can use to do a particular job or help people

break into (a market)

to become involved in a new job or business activity

takeover

when one company takes control of another by buying more than half its shares

shareholder

someone who owns shares in a company or business

feedback

advice, criticism etc about how successful or useful something is

turnover

the amount of business done during a particular period

downturn

a period or process in which business activity, production etc is reduced and conditions become worse

get down to (business)

to start doing something that is difficult or needs a lot of time or energy

put (something) down to

to think that something is caused by something else

option

a choice you can make in a particular situation

facilitate

to make it easier for a process or activity to happen

in recognition of

public respect and thanks for someone's work or achievements

high-powered

very important or successful

associate something with

to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another

sceptical

tending to disagree with what other people tell you

unconvinced

not persuaded that something is true or good

see what the fuss was about

understand the attention or excitement something/someone is creating

get hooked

something you enjoy doing very much and you want to do it as often as possible

do well out of something

to be successful because of something, especially in work or business

make a small fortune out of

earn a large amount of money

burnt out

to work so hard over a period of time that you become unable to continue working because you are tired, ill, or unable to think of any new ideas

low-key

not intended to attract a lot of attention to an event, subject, or thing

worthwhile

important or useful, or you gain something from it

mindset

someone’s general attitude, and the way in which they think about things and make decisions

logical step

sensible or practical stage in a process

meditation

the practice of emptying your mind of thoughts and feelings, in order to relax completely or for religious reasons

philanthropic

(person or institution that) gives money and help to people who are poor or in trouble

from someone's perspective

a person's way of thinking about something, especially one which is influenced by the type of person you are or by your experiences

roll out something to

to make a new product available for people to buy or use

turn up

to arrive at a place, especially in a way that is unexpected

intuitive

based on a feeling rather than on knowledge or facts

incorporate

to include something as part of a group, system, plan etc

cut-throat

competing in an unpleasant way

prevail

to exists at a certain time

best of both worlds

a situation in which you have the advantages of two different things without any of the disadvantages

hunched

to bend down and forwards so that your back forms a curve

oblivious

not knowing about or not noticing something that is happening around you

under no circumstance

used to emphasize that something must definitely not happen

competitive

determined or trying very hard to be more successful than other people or businesses

tucked away

to store something, especially money, in a safe place

only a stone's throw

very close to something

nondescript

very ordinary and is not at all interesting or unusual

stumble

to hit your foot against something or put your foot down awkwardly while you are walking or running, so that you almost fall

fumble about

to try to hold, move, or find something with your hands in an awkward way

good-natured

naturally kind and helpful and not easily made angry

intriguing

something very interesting because it is strange, mysterious, or unexpected

a wealth of

a lot of something useful or good

steep

unusually high/larger than expected

by any stretch of the imagination

used to emphasize that a negative statement is true

mediocre

not very good

deafening

very loud

exorbitant

much higher/bigger than it should be

cramped

space that does not have enough space for the people in it