Do you often talk about finances in the business world?
Financial conversations come up in every field.
You need topic-specific vocabulary to understand and participate in these discussions!
Today Lindsay and Aubrey share vocabulary and expressions for discussing money in work meetings and discussions.
Talking about business finances
Aubrey asks Lindsay if she knows anyone who works in finance.
Lindsay shares that she does know someone in New York who works in investment banking.
Today’s episode is inspired by a listener’s question regarding financial vocabulary in the business world.
Today’s question
Dear Lindsay, Michelle and Aubrey,
I’m Julia. Your podcast has helped me a lot, and I’m truly grateful for everything you share. Recently, I’ve been diving into the world of investing and learned idioms like “nest egg,” “lose one’s shirt,” “turn a profit,” and “go belly up.” I’d love to know what other investing or money phrases native speakers use in everyday conversations. I’m all ears and can’t wait to hear your take on this!
Best regards,
Julia
Be sure to hit follow on the podcast as this will be a two-part series.
Today in part 1, Lindsay and Aubrey dive into vocabulary about financial profit.
Part 2 will focus on phrases about financial loss or ruin.
Money expressions
In the business world, it’s important to use the right vocabulary when discussing income.
This is a common topic in the workplace, so it helps to feel confident and prepared when you’re part of the conversation.
Lindsay and Aubrey share several English expressions and common business terms you can use to talk about revenue at work.
Here are some phrases and idioms you can use:
#1: Nest egg
This means savings set aside for the future.
It can also refer to a surplus of your savings that you put away to be used when needed.
Examples:
- The founders used their personal nest egg to fund the startup’s early stages.
- After the acquisition, she set aside part of the payout as a nest egg for future ventures.
#2: Turn a profit
This expression means that you’re beginning to make money or have just started to earn income.
The nuance is that it refers specifically to the moment you start earning, especially if you weren’t making money before.
Examples:
- The company didn’t turn a profit until it expanded into international markets.
- Management expects the division to turn a profit by the end of the fiscal year.
#3: Rainy-day fund
This refers to money saved for emergencies.
This expression is not exclusive to the business world, you can also use this to refer to your own savings.
Examples:
- The CFO recommended creating a rainy-day fund to prepare for market downturns.
- During the supply chain disruption, the rainy-day fund kept operations running.
#4: Cushion
You can use this to refer to extra money set aside for safety or for when you’re in a tight situation.
It suggests a financial buffer that protects you from stress or hardship if unexpected expenses come up.
Examples:
- Strong cash reserves gave the firm a cushion during the economic slowdown.
- The extra funding provided a cushion against unexpected cost increases.
#5: Make a killing
This is an informal expression, often heard in business sales or retail.
This means you are earning a lot of money very quickly.
Examples:
- Early investors made a killing when the company went public.
- The firm made a killing selling its software to enterprise clients.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay between Lindsay and Aubrey.
They will be using the vocabulary shared in today’s episode so you can better understand how to use it in a conversation.
In this scenario, Lindsay is a CEO of a retail clothing store talking to Aubrey, the CFO of the company.
Lindsay: We need to talk about cash flow. Are we turning a profit this quarter?
Aubrey: Yes. Online sales got a boost last month and margins are improving.
Lindsay: Good. Sounds like we won’t have to dip into our rainy-day fund.
Aubrey: Yeah, our cash reserves give us a decent cushion if sales slow down.
Lindsay: That’s great news. We may not be making a killing, but we’re doing well.
Takeaway
It’s not enough just to understand financial terms.
You must also feel confident enough to join real workplace conversations.
Money can be a taboo topic so you need the cultural understanding as well as appropriate vocabulary.
This will give you the confidence to discuss finances when needed.
Building your vocabulary arsenal boosts your confidence because you’re prepared to communicate clearly and professionally.
Actively using vocabulary tied to real business situations moves your from studying English to being successful in English.
What other other financial business jargon do you use often?
Share a phraes with us in the comments below.
