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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. 🔑 Ready to sound more natural and confident? At ACR Idiomas , we turn real topics into real learning.No memorizing lists — just English that works in real life. 👉 Book your free trial class today. #ACRIdiomas #BusinessEnglish #EnglishWithImpact #RealWorldLearning #IdiomsInContext

Want to boost your English while staying informed about global affairs? At ACR Idiomas , we believe language learning should be practical, relevant, and powerful. That’s why today we’re diving into key vocabulary and idiomatic expressions connected to tariffs , trade wars , and international commerce . Whether you’re studying business English, preparing for an exam, or just want to understand the news better, these terms are essential. Master English Vocabulary Through Real-World Topics: Tariffs & Trade Wars - ACR Idiomas Take a look at this mini challenge: Match each term with its correct definition. A. Tariff B. Trade War C. Import D. Export E. Protectionism F. Quota G. Subsidy H. Balance of Trade A government policy that supports domestic businesses by restricting foreign competition. A financial support from the government to encourage the production or consumption of a certain product. The difference in value between what a country sells abroad and what it buys. A limit on how much of a certain good can be brought into or sent out of a country. A situation in which two or more countries increase taxes or restrictions on each other's goods. A product or service that is sold to another country. A product or service that is brought into a country. A tax added to products when they cross international borders. Challenge 2 🌍 Story: Trouble at the Ports Use the words above to complete the story Master English Vocabulary Through Real-World Topics: Tariffs & Trade Wars - ACR Idiomas - 2 Global dynamics shifted rapidly when Country A introduced a high (1) ________  on steel products from Country B. In retaliation, Country B imposed its own restrictions, and soon both nations found themselves caught in a full-blown (2) ________ . Before this, Country A relied heavily on the (3) ________  of raw materials to supply its factories, while also maintaining a healthy (4) ________  by selling finished goods abroad. However, rising costs and shrinking markets made this increasingly difficult. In an effort to protect local industries, the government announced a wave of (5) ________  policies — limiting foreign competition and promoting domestic businesses. It introduced a (6) ________  on certain electronics, capping how much could enter the country each month. To support farmers hit by falling prices, the government offered a (7) ________  to help reduce their production costs and boost competitiveness abroad. Meanwhile, exporters struggled to meet demand as customers overseas began to look elsewhere for cheaper alternatives. Economists warned that if this continued, the country’s (8) ________  could tip into the negative, increasing the national deficit and weakening the economy even further. Why Learn This? Understanding terms like tariff  or protectionism  isn’t just about language. It’s about being informed. These words come up in news headlines, political debates, and economic reports around the world. When you understand the language of global trade, you gain a clearer view of how the world works—and your English gets sharper in the process. Ready to Go Deeper? At ACR Idiomas , we turn real-world topics into powerful language learning tools. Our classes are designed to help you connect vocabulary to meaning, context, and confident use. 👉 Take your English to the next level.📩 Contact us today to try a class for free and see how relevant, real-world learning can work for you. #LearnWithPurpose #ACRIdiomas #BusinessEnglish #GlobalTradeVocabulary #LanguageThatMatters

Even when you’re not leading the meeting, you still play an important role. Here are the expressions you need to share opinions, agree or disagree, ask questions, and request information with confidence. Speak Up - Essential Phrases for Meetings' Participants 🗣️ Phrases for sharing your opinion I think we should try… From my point of view, that’s… The way I see things… ✅ Phrases for agreeing I completely agree with that. Great point! I’m with you on this. ❌ Phrases for disagreeing That’s a great point, but maybe we should consider all the options. I see where you’re coming from, but… ✋ Phrases for suggesting Why don’t we…? Perhaps we could…? What do you think of…? 🔍 Phrases for clarifying Let me put this another way. Just to clarify… ❓ Phrases for asking questions Could you repeat that please? What are your views on…? Could you go into more detail? 📣 Ready to speak up naturally and confidently in English? Join ACR Idiomas today and transform your business communication skills.

The end of a meeting is your chance to make sure everyone leaves with clarity and motivation. Use these phrases to summarize, close, and thank participants properly. How to Close Meetings Effectively 🌯 Phrases for summarizing Here are some of the main points we discussed today. To sum up, we’ve talked about… Before we finish, let’s go over everything we discussed. 🫂 Phrases for closing To conclude, we’ve decided on… That just about covers everything for today. If there’s nothing more to discuss, we can end here. 🙏 Phrases for thanking everyone I’d like to thank everyone for coming today. Thank you all for your time. I appreciate everyone’s participation in today’s meeting. 📣 Learn to close meetings confidently with ACR Idiomas’ personalized business English coaching.

Meetings work best when everyone contributes. Smooth transitions keep your team engaged and make collaboration natural. Here’s how to hand over the floor politely and effectively. Handing Over & Collaborating 🔶 Phrases for handing the word over Now, Carl will tell us more about… I’d like to hand it over to Mike, who can share more on this topic. Kim is now going to take over. I’d like to hand you over to Joshua, who will talk you through… 💡 Example: “Now I’d like to hand you over to Mariana, who will explain our next steps.” 📣 Join ACR Idiomas to improve your teamwork and presentation skills in English.

Once a meeting begins, things can quickly go off track. People interrupt, side chats begin, and focus fades. Use these practical phrases to stay in control and keep the meeting productive. Useful Phrases for Running a Meeting 📰 Phrases for discussing updates I’d like to inform everyone about the project’s progress. How is the project coming along? Has everyone submitted their monthly reports? (Josh), can you let us know what’s new in…? ⏭️ Phrases for moving to another topic If nobody has anything else to share, let’s move on to… I think that covers it. Now we can go to our next topic. The next topic we need to cover is… 👉 Phrases for keeping the discussion on track Can we continue this discussion later and go back to…? We’re getting off topic. Can we return to…? 📣 Want to manage meetings confidently in English? Practice with ACR Idiomas.

Phrases for Beginning a Business Meeting Starting a meeting clearly and confidently helps you set the tone and keep everyone focused. Whether you’re leading a quick check-in or a strategic planning session, a few key phrases can make all the difference. 🔶 Phrases for sharing the agenda First, we will be discussing… After that, we will move on to… Then, we’ll try to cover… Shortly after, we’ll go over… Next, we will consider… If there’s enough time, we will also go through… Finally, we will talk about… 💡 Example: “First, we’ll be discussing our quarterly targets. After that, we’ll move on to the marketing budget.” 📣 Ready to start meetings like a pro? Join ACR Idiomas and build your confidence leading meetings in English.

Give me a ring #EnglishWithHumor English with Humor: Expressions ✅ 1. "Give me a ring" = Call me on the phone 🔹 This is an informal British English  expression.🔹 It simply means: "Call me"  or "Phone me." 🔸 Example: "I'm not sure what time I'll be there—give me a ring when you're free." ✅ 2. "Give me a ring" = Propose marriage 🔹 This is a literal interpretation  of the word ring —as in a wedding or engagement ring .🔹 It means: "Will you marry me?" 🔸 Example (romantic context): "If we ever get engaged, will you give me a ring?" This double meaning  often appears in jokes or wordplay because it's easy to confuse the literal and figurative uses  of the word ring . EnglishWithHumor is a fun way to learn more and more expressions ACR Idiomas / acridiomas.com

In business, being able to describe trends clearly  is just as important as understanding them. Whether you're in a meeting, writing a report, or giving a presentation, knowing what to say when the numbers rise, fall, or flatten out helps you sound confident and sharp. Describing Trends 🚀 Here’s your quick trend toolkit: ✅ Use the right verbs: go up, rise, climb, grow, peak, fall, drop, decrease, level off ✅ Add adverbs for power: sharply, slightly, steadily, suddenly, significantly ✅ Use idioms like a native: “Sales skyrocketed  in Q1.”“Profits dropped like a stone  after the recall.”“Interest in the product is gaining momentum .” ✅ Choose the correct tense: Past simple  for completed trends: Sales increased in 2023. Present perfect  for recent changes: Prices have risen since April. Future forms  for predictions: Revenue will continue to grow. 🔸 Ready to take your language skills to the next level? Join ACR Idiomas  and learn with expert teachers who make communication practical, personal, and powerful.Whether you're learning for work, travel, or connection , we’re here to guide you every step of the way. 👉 Get started today — your voice deserves to be heard. #TrendToolkit #TrendVocabulary #BusinessEnglish #EnglishTips #LearnEnglish #DataCommunication #ChartDescription #TrendVerbs #PowerAdverbs #EnglishIdioms #WriteLikeANative #ACRIdiomas #LanguageLearning #CommunicationSkills #LearnWithExperts