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Processed with VS1Compare informal business phrases for opening hours, selling, financial balance, and rough estimates.
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Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThe story introduces informal language used in business and everyday planning. “Banker’s hours” refers to a shorter or more convenient work schedule; a “hard sell” is an insistent attempt to persuade. A business “breaks even” when income and expenses are equal. A “ballpark estimate” is an approximate figure, not a final quote. The guide omits “cold calls” and “cut corners,” already taught elsewhere.
Cultural note: Many expressions here are informal and should not replace precise financial terms in contracts or reports. “Banker’s hours” is sometimes used critically and may rely on an outdated stereotype about banking schedules. “Hard sell” often carries a negative tone; ask for time to review an offer if you feel pressured.
Keep exploringBusiness idioms can make a conversation vivid, but numbers and written terms still need to be exact.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe a convenient schedule or a forceful sales approach.
Meaning
A relatively short or convenient work schedule.
Tone & use
Informal and sometimes critical or old-fashioned; it can suggest that someone works less than expected.
Example
“The clinic keeps evening appointments, so its staff do not have banker’s hours.”
Meaning
A forceful attempt to persuade someone to buy or agree to something.
Tone & use
Usually negative or wary. “A difficult sale” can instead describe something that is simply hard to persuade people to choose.
Example
“The salesperson gave me a hard sell, so I asked for the offer in writing before deciding.”
Name a balance point or a rough estimate.
Meaning
Reach a point where income equals costs, so there is neither a profit nor a loss.
Tone & use
Common in business and personal budgeting. It describes a calculation for a period or activity, not necessarily long-term success.
Example
“The neighborhood concert broke even after ticket sales covered the venue and equipment costs.”
Meaning
Making a profit or having a positive financial balance.
Tone & use
Informal business language; use an exact amount or accounting term in formal reports.
Example
“After reducing waste and adding weekend hours, the small shop ended the quarter in the black.”
Meaning
A rough figure that gives an approximate idea of cost, size, or amount.
Tone & use
Informal. It is not a final quote or a promise; ask what assumptions the estimate uses.
Example
“Could you give us a ballpark estimate for translating the handbook before we approve the project?”
Knowledge check
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