Business Idioms Exercise 1

Reading
Choose an idiom at the bottom to replace the expression in the brackets below:
After the fire the company was forced to sell most of their merchandise (and lost much money).
(a) by a long shot (b) at a loss (c) in black and white (d) in the long run
The price of oil (reached its lowest point) in July and began to rise soon after.
(a) cut corners (b) closed out (c) broke even (d) bottomed out
The computer company had much trouble having the new operating system (make a successful start).
(a) in the red (b) get off the ground (c) mean business (d) strike while the iron was hot
The price of computer chips (collapsed) after the sales of personal computers began to decrease.
(a) took a nosedive (b) turned over (c) bottomed out (d) carried the day
The automobile dealer had no trucks (available to sell) so we had to wait for two months to buy one.
(a) in the works (b) on credit (c) in stock (d) written off
The large drug company (took control of) the small drugstore chain.
(a) took over (b) took stock of (c) turned over (d) sold out
There was a chance to make much money during the summer so we decided to (take advantage of the opportunity) and work hard.
(a) throw money at it (b) strike while the iron was hot (c) sell like hotcakes (d) mean business
Our plans for marketing the new computer product are still (in preparation).
(a) coming on strong (b) in short supply (c) going public (d) in the works
The insurance company (cancelled) the debts from the flood damage.
(a) wrote off (b) worked out (c) took over (d) paid off
The construction company (hired) hundreds of new workers last week.
(a) took over (b) turned over (c) took on (d) made a go of
Our company needed to raise money to expand so we decided to (sell its shares) on the stock market.
(a) take a nosedive (b) sell it out (c) take it over (d) take it public
The steel company finally went bankrupt after being (burdened with losses) for many years.
(a) jacked up (b) on the block (c) saddled with debt (d) paid off
We are (ready to buy) a new car but we haven't found anything that we like.
(a) in the works for (b) in the market for (c) in charge of (d) cutting back
The salesman sold the house by (being very aggressive) which made us a little angry.
(a) a hard sell (b) keeping books (c) a kickback (d) a company man
We tried to decide on a (rough estimate) for the cost of new computer printers for the company.
(a) budget crunch (b) number-cruncher (c) ball park figure (d) sweetheart deal
We decided to sell the business in order to (stop losing money).
(a) bottom out (b) mean business (c) cut our losses (d) strike while the iron was hot
(Someone will be punished) if we don't quickly deal with the poor sales of our product.
(a) Someone will fill the bill (b) Someone will get a break (c) Someone will deliver the goods (d) Heads will roll
Gas and oil was (in less than the amount needed) during the busy summer season.
(a) in short supply (b) in stock (c) in the works (d) filling the bill
The (amount of sales) of computers increased by 25 per cent last year.
(a) write-off (b) turn-over (c) calculated risk (d) double-check
We closed the store early in order to (count the number of items we had).
(a) take stock (b) run short (c) buy out (d) gain ground
Answers on: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/6720/Business.html