Trade is a fundamental aspect of economic activity, involving the exchange of goods and services. Understanding idioms related to trade can enhance your comprehension of business language and communication. Here are 20 idioms that describe trade, each with a short meaning and an example sentence.
Idioms That Describe Trade
1. A hot commodity
Meaning: Something in high demand
Example: Face masks became a hot commodity during the pandemic.
2. Strike a bargain
Meaning: Make a good deal
Example: They managed to strike a bargain at the market.
3. Cut-throat competition
Meaning: Extremely competitive environment
Example: The tech industry is known for cut-throat competition.
4. Close the deal
Meaning: Finalize an agreement
Example: They closed the deal after long negotiations.
5. Drive a hard bargain
Meaning: Negotiate effectively
Example: She can drive a hard bargain in business.
6. Corner the market
Meaning: Dominate a particular market
Example: That company has cornered the market on smartphones.
7. Under the counter
Meaning: Illegally or secretly
Example: He bought the rare coin under the counter.
8. Go public
Meaning: Offer shares of a private company to the public
Example: The startup plans to go public next year.
9. Out of stock
Meaning: Unavailable for sale
Example: The popular toy was out of stock everywhere.
10. Buyer’s market
Meaning: Market conditions favor buyers
Example: It’s a buyer’s market for real estate right now.
11. Sell like hotcakes
Meaning: Sell quickly and in large quantities
Example: The new game is selling like hotcakes.
12. Cash cow
Meaning: A profitable product or business
Example: Their new app is a cash cow for the company.
13. Red tape
Meaning: Excessive bureaucracy
Example: Starting a business involves a lot of red tape.
14. Above board
Meaning: Honest and legal
Example: All their transactions are above board.
15. Break even
Meaning: Neither profit nor loss
Example: The business just managed to break even this year.
16. The bottom line
Meaning: The most important factor
Example: The bottom line is we need more sales.
17. In the red
Meaning: Losing money
Example: The restaurant has been in the red for months.
18. In the black
Meaning: Profitable
Example: Our company is finally in the black.
19. Put your money where your mouth is
Meaning: Back up words with action
Example: He needs to put his money where his mouth is.
20. On the up and up
Meaning: Honest and fair
Example: The new manager is on the up and up.
