I speak fluent English, but I am from Brazil so my first language is Portuguese. Sometimes when I’m in a business meeting or reading an email, someone will use an idiomatic expression that makes no sense to me. I don’t always have time to look it up to find out what it means. That’s my biggest problem with English right now.
—Luiz
You may remember Luiz and his colleagues from our previous article about Global English. During a business meeting where all of the attendees were non-native English speakers, one of them used an idiom that he had picked up while working in the United States, causing confusion all around.
The English language is full of idioms, slang, colorful expressions, and cultural references that native speakers (and even some non-native speakers) use without a second thought. But when you’re dealing with a global audience, these phrases can be confusing or even meaningless to people from other cultures. It even happens among native speakers when they’re using different English dialects!
So let’s take a look at ten tricky expressions, along with some global-friendly alternatives. (You can also use this list if you want to learn/practice common English idioms!)
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1. Touch base
• “We don’t have time to go over those figures right now, but let’s touch base next week.”
Why it’s confusing: This expression comes from baseball. It only makes literal sense to non-native speakers if they are familiar with North American baseball terminology.
Try this instead: “Let’s follow up next week”, “Let’s contact each other soon”, or “Let’s have a call/meeting soon.”
2. Bite the bullet
• “We just have to bite the bullet and pay a contractor to replace these broken fixtures.”
Why it’s confusing: The phrase has military origins and might sound violent to non-native speakers.
Try this instead: “We won’t like this, but we need to do it”, or “We must persist with this task, even though it’s hard.”
3. The ball is in your court
• “Here are three different options for the new ad campaign. The ball is in your court now.”
Why it’s confusing: This is another sports idiom (from tennis) that can be unclear to those who don’t follow the sport or who don’t follow it via English language media outlets.
Try this instead: “It’s your decision now” or “It’s up to you.”
4. Back to the drawing board
• “Well, since we can’t film our video at the Grand Hotel, we’re going back to the drawing board.”
Why it’s confusing: It’s a metaphor that may not translate in all languages. Some literal-minded folks might think you are referring to an actual drawing board or white board.
Try this instead: “Let’s come up with a new plan” or “Let’s rethink this.”
5. Throw someone under the bus
• “I feel bad that Henry got thrown under the bus because of John’s accounting mistakes.”
Why it’s confusing: It’s a dramatic phrase that can sound harsh or even violent.
Try this instead: “Blame someone unfairly” or “Make someone else take the fall/blame.”
6. Jump on the bandwagon
• “Just because our competitors are using AI, that doesn’t mean we need to jump on the bandwagon right now.”
Why it’s confusing: Historically, this phrase has roots in American politics and it sounds odd when it is translated.
Try this instead: “Follow a trend” or “Do something because it’s popular.”
7. Put it on the back burner
• “I know we’re all excited about planning for our exhibition at the trade show, but we need to put that on the back burner until we’ve filled out all these tax forms.”
Why it’s confusing: While this phrase is used in both British English and American English, the metaphor of a “back burner” (from stovetop cooking) isn’t one that many non-native speakers can easily understand.
Try this instead: “Delay it” or “Focus on a different priority.”
8. Round the houses
• “Ellen went round the houses for almost an hour before she finally gave us the information we needed about the software upgrades.”
Why it’s confusing: This is a British idiom that means taking an unnecessarily long or indirect route. In a business setting, it’s used when someone is talking about unimportant topics before getting to the main point.
Try this instead: “This person takes a long time to explain things” or “This person keeps going off-topic.”
9. At the end of the day
• “Of course, we all want to help the environment and use more green technology. But at the end of the day, we need to save money on our energy costs.”
Why it’s confusing: Many non-native speakers may take it literally and think you are referring to something that is happening at the end of that particular day.
Try this instead: “Ultimately” or “In the end.”
10. Light a fire under someone
• “I’ll light a fire under Jasmine and see if we can have these documents ready by tomorrow.”
Why it’s confusing: First of all, no one is referring to an actual fire. However, it can still seem violent or disturbing.
Try this instead: “Inspire someone to work harder” or “Get someone to do something faster.”
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Does all of this mean that idiomatic expressions are always off-limits? Of course not!
In casual conversations, internal team chats, or when you know your audience shares your language/cultural background, idioms can add a little flavor to your communications. But in international settings, it’s safer to prioritize clarity. The key is knowing your audience. When in doubt, choose plain English that anyone can understand, no matter where they come from or which dialect of English they are using.
If you need help making sure your English is clear and correct, click the blue button below. One of our TextRanch editors will look over your text and give you some feedback.
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