Business English idioms connected to music
Idioms are expressions that you usually can’t understand simply by looking at the individual words. They are very common in English and can be linked to different themes such as animals, sports, colours, clothes etc.
This blog looks at idioms connected to music that you will commonly hear in Business English situations and workplaces.
1) To face the music
Meaning: This idiom means to accept difficult consequences or unpleasant truths sometimes mistakes you’ve made!
Example: “Let’s face the music, we have had so many problems with this project that we’re never going to meet the deadline!”
2) Drum up
Meaning: To drum something up typically means to generate interest for something.
Example: “We need to drum up some interest on social media for our new product.”
3) Fine-tune
Meaning: To fine-tune something means to make some very small changes to something in order to make it complete or ready to use. In music it usually means to tune your stringed instrument (guitar/violin) so it is perfectly in tune.
Example: “I need to fine tune my presentation before I present it to the board on Friday.”
4) Playing second fiddle (to somebody)
Meaning: In a business context it means to be in a less important position than someone else in an organisation. In music, A fiddle is another word for a violin. In an orchestra, the most important person is the lead violinist, the other less important violinists are known as the second fiddles.
Example: “If the merger does go ahead, I don’t want to be playing second fiddle to anybody!”
5) Blowing your own trumpet
Meaning: To blow your own trumpet means to boast about something; to tell other people how great you are!
Example: “My colleague is a nice guy, but he hasn’t stopped blowing his own trumpet since he got his promotion!”
6) Hit the right note
Meaning: If you hit the right note with somebody, it means that you have had a good effect on them.
Example: “We need an advertisement which will hit the right note with our potential customers.”
7) Play it by ear
Meaning: To play something by ear means to change the way that you deal with a situation according to how it develops, rather than planning everything too far ahead and sticking to the same plan. In music, to “play it by ear” means to play without looking at the written music sheet, and make changes as you go along, like improvising common to jazz music.
Example: “The negotiation is going to be a difficult process. Instead of rejecting their proposal immediately, let’s play it by ear and see what they have to offer us first.”
8) Music to my ears
Meaning: To hear some very good news, just like hearing some beautiful music!
Example: “ I’ve just heard we’ve won the French contract! That’s music to my ears!”
9) Ring a bell
Meaning: When something like a name sounds familiar but the memory is not strong
Example: “ His name rings a bell, I think we met at the Zurich conference last year”
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