🧠 Boost Your English with Real-World Idioms: International Trade Edition

Andrea Carina Rabagliati
Oct 29
2 min read

Understanding idiomatic expressions is key to speaking English naturally — especially in professional settings like business and global trade.

Here are 5 essential idioms you’ll often hear in negotiations, economic discussions, and trade talks.

International Trade Idiomatic Expressions

✍️ Match the Idiom to Its Meaning

Try to pair each idiom (A–E) with its correct definition (1–5).

Idioms		Meanings
A. A bitter pill to swallow		1. To start over because a previous attempt failed
B. Walking on thin ice		2. To give up or surrender
C. Throw in the towel		3. It’s your turn to make a decision or take action
D. Back to square one		4. Being in a risky or dangerous situation
E. The ball is in your court		5. An unpleasant fact or situation that is difficult to accept

👉 Write your answers in the comments or try the application exercise below!

🗣 Real Examples from the World of Trade

A bitter pill to swallow“The sudden rise in tariffs was a bitter pill to swallow for exporters.”
Walking on thin ice“Ignoring international regulations left the government walking on thin ice.”
Throw in the towel“After months of failed talks, the negotiators decided to throw in the towel.”
Back to square one“When the deal was rejected by both sides, they were back to square one.”
The ball is in your court“We’ve made our final offer — now the ball is in your court.”

📖 Exercise: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Idiom

Use the idioms above to complete the story, you may have to change the form of some words . Each one is used once.

Story: Negotiations Gone Wrong

The trade talks between Country X and Country Y started off with high hopes, but things quickly got complicated. After several rounds of meetings and no agreement in sight, the lead negotiator from Country X (1) ____________________ and left the summit early.

Analysts warned that by walking away without a deal, the country was (2) ____________________, risking serious backlash from its partners.

To make things worse, an important export deal was blocked by parliament — sending both sides (3) ____________________ and forcing them to start again from scratch.

For Country Y, losing one of its biggest trade partners was (4) ____________________, especially for industries depending on that relationship.

Now, Country X has made a new proposal. (5) ____________________ — will Country Y accept or reject it once more?

💬 Why This Matters

Idioms like these aren’t just phrases — they’re what make your English sound fluent and authentic. They appear constantly in business meetings, international news, and everyday professional exchanges.