Games and Sports Idioms You Can Use in Business

Let’s take a look at ten idioms we use, in what situations and what sport they relate to.

1. To keep your cards close to your chest – don’t reveal your plans
Ex: I kept my cards close to my chest during the negotiation. 

2. Poker-faced – expressionless (comes from the game of poker where you must not let your face reveal whether you have a good or bad card)

Ex: The clients sat poker-faced all through my sales pitch. It was so unnerving. 

3. Knocked me for six – surprised and upset me
Ex: Jenny has just announced that she’s leaving which has knocked me for six. I really enjoyed working with her. 

4. Play the trump card/ace – use the advantage especially when others do not know about it
Ex: The CEO played his trump card by promising a dividend payout at the shareholders’ meeting. 

5. A whole new ball game – a completely different situation
Ex: This is a whole new ball game if we’re talking about expanding the business. 

6. To play hard ball – to be so determined to get what you want that you will use unfair methods to get it.
Ex: The people here like to play hardball which can be very challenging. 

7. Don’t pull any punches – speak in an honest and direct way without being tactful
Ex: The CEO didn’t pull any punches when he told the board that the company was in trouble.

8. Below the belt – an unfair attack (in boxing that is not allowed)

Ex: There was no need to mention my personal problems to the press. That was below the belt.






9. Throw in the towel – giving up and admitting defeat

Ex: I think we need to accept things as they are and throw in the towel before we lose any more money.

10. Hold all the cards – to be in a strong position
Ex: Management found that the trade union held all the cards during the pay talks.  

                                                                                                                                                            From: English with a Twist