những thành ngữ này hy vọng se hữu ích cho những bạn yêu thích học tiếng anh

1. Những thành ngữ tiếng Anh cơ bản nhất
A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush = một con chim trong tay có giá trị hơn hai con
chim trên trời
"Dan has asked me to go to a party with him. What if my boyfriend finds out?" Reply: "Don't go. A
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
A Drop In The Bucket = hạt muối bỏ biến
"I'd like to do something to change the world but whatever I do seems like a drop in the bucket."
A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted = 1 kẻ ngốc không giữ được tiền lâu
Example: "Her husband can't seem to hold onto any amount of money; he either spends it or loses
it. A fool and his money are easily parted."
A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned = 1 xu tiết kiệm cũng như 1 xu làm ra
"I'm going to give you $20 but I want you to put it in the bank; a penny saved is a penny earned!"
A Piece Of Cake = dễ như ăn cháo
"Do you think you will win your tennis match today?" Answer: "It will be a piece of cake."
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder = sự vắng mặt làm tình yêu ngọt ngào hơn
"The time we spend apart has been good for us; absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Actions Speak Louder Than Words = hành động có giá trị hơn lời nói
"Don't tell me how to do this; show me! Actions speak louder than words."
Add Fuel To The Fire = thêm dầu vào lửa
"I would like to do something to help, but I don't want to add fuel to the fire."
It Is All Greek to me. = Tôi chẳng hiểu gì cả. (ám chỉ chữ viết hoặc tiếng nói)
"Did you understand what he just said?" Reply: "Nope. It was all Greek to me."
All Thumbs = vụng về, hậu đậu
"Hey! You are pouring my coffee on the table!" Reply: "Oh, I'm so sorry! I have been all
thumbs today."
Cost An Arm And A Leg = trả 1 cái giá cắt cổ, tốn rất nhiều tiền
"Be careful with that watch; it cost me an arm and a leg."
Arm In Arm = tay trong tay
"What a nice afternoon. We walked arm in arm along the beach for hours."
Beating Around The Bush = vòng vo tam quốc
"If you want to ask me, just ask; don't beat around the bush."
Better Late Than Never = thà trễ còn hơn không
"Sorry I was late for the meeting today; I got stuck in traffic." Answer: "That's okay; better late
than never."
Between A Rock And A Hard Place = đứng giữa 2 lựa chọn khó khăn
"I'd like to help you but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place."
Birds Of A Feather Flock Together = ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã
"Look; the volleyball players are eating at the same table together, as always." Answer: "Birds of a

2. feather flock together."
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew = không lượng sức
"I thought I could finish this report within one month, but it looks like I have bitten off more than I
can chew."
Bite Your Tongue = cố gắng im lặng
"Whenever that professor says something I don't like, I have to bite my tongue."
Blood Is Thicker Than Water = 1 giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã
"When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother; blood is thicker than
water."
Burn Your Bridges = đốt cầu của mình, tức là tự làm mất đi cơ hội của mình
"I wish you hadn't been rude to that man just now; he is very important in this town and you
shouldn't go around burning bridges."
Burning The Candle At Both Ends = vắt kiệt sức ra để làm việc
"Ever since this new project started I have been burning the candle at both ends. I can't take much
more of it."
Call It Off = hủy bỏ
"Tonight's game was called off because of the rain."
Cross Your Fingers = động tác được tin là sẽ đem lại sự may mắn
"Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best!"
Curiosity Killed The Cat = sự tò mò có thể rất nguy hiểm
"Hey, I wonder what's down that street; it looks awfully dark and creepy." Answer: "Let's not try to
find out. Curiosity killed the cat."
Don't Count Your Chickens Until They're Hatched = trứng chưa nở đã đếm gà
"Next Friday I will be able to pay you back that money I owe you." Answer: "I won't be counting
my chickens..."
Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket = đừng bỏ tất cả trứng vào 1 rổ, tức hãy chia đều những
nguy cơ ra nhiều nơi để giảm rủi ro
"The best way to gamble is to only bet small amounts of money and never put all your eggs in one
basket."
From Rags To Riches = từ nghèo khổ trở thành cự phú
"My uncle is a real rags to riches story."
Get Over It = vượt qua, qua khỏi
"I was very sick yesterday, but I got over it quickly."
Great Minds Think Alike = tư tưởng lớn gặp nhau
"I have decided that this summer I am going to learn how to scuba dive." Answer: "Me too! I have
already paid for the course. Great minds think alike!"
Have No Idea = không hề biết, không có khái niệm nào
"I can't find my keys. I have no idea where I put them."
It Takes Two To Tango = có lửa mới có khỏi

3. "Her husband is awful; they fight all the time." Answer: "It takes two to tango."
Keep An Eye On = xem chừng, trông chừng, để mắt đến
"I have to run to the bathroom. Can you keep an eye on my suitcase while I am gone?"
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie = đừng gợi lại những chuyện không hay
"I wanted to ask her what she thought of her ex-husband, but I figured it was better to let sleeping
dogs lie."
Neither A Borrower, Nor A Lender Be = đừng cho mượn tiền, cũng đừng mượn tiền
"Could you lend me twenty dollars?" Answer: "Sorry, neither a borrower nor a lender be."
Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You = đừng bao giờ cắn vào bàn tay đã đút cho ta ăn
"We have been your best customers for years. How could you suddenly treat us so rudely? You
should never bite the hand that feeds you."
Off The Hook = đỡ mệt, đỡ phiền, càng khỏe
"You're lucky; it turns out that Dad never heard you come in late last night." Answer: "Great, that
means I'm off the hook!"
Everybody Is On The Same Page = mọi người đều hiểu vấn đề
"Before we make any decisions today, I'd like to make sure that everyone is on the same page."
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind = xa mặt cách lòng
"I meant to read that book, but as soon as I put it down, I forgot about it." Answer: "Out of sight,
out of mind."
People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones = bản thân mình không đúng thì
đừng chê người khác sai
"Look at what time it is... you are late again!" Answer: "Hey, how often are you not on
time? People who live in glass houses should not throw stones."
Practice Makes Perfect = càng tập luyện nhiều càng giỏi
"You see how quickly you are getting better at the piano! Practice makes perfect!"
Put Your Foot In Your Mouth = tự há miệng mắc quai, nói lỡ lời
"Let's all be very careful what we say at the meeting tomorrow. I don't want anyone putting their
foot in their mouth."
Rome Was Not Built In One Day = Thành La Mã không phải được xây trong 1 ngày
"It is taking me a long time to write this computer program." Answer: "Rome was not built in one
day."
Rub Salt In An Old Wound = Xát muối vào vết thương chưa lành
"Oh please, let's not rub salt in old wounds!"
Second Nature = việc dễ dàng
"It has always been second nature for me to draw with both hands."
Start From Scratch = bắt đầu từ đầu, bắt đầu từ con số không
"How are you going to build your business?" Answer: "Just like everyone else does: starting from
scratch."
The Pros And Cons = những mặt lợi và những mặt hại

4. "I've considered the pros and cons and I've decided: it is going to be expensive, but I still want to
go to college."
The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back = giọt nước làm tràn ly
"You've been rude to me all day, and I've had it. That's the last straw!"
The Writing On The Wall = tín hiệu rõ ràng báo hiệu sự thay đổi
"Can't you see the writing on the wall?"
Third Wheel= kẻ dư thừa, kỳ đà cản mũi
"You two go on ahead without me. I don't want to be the third wheel."
Tie The Knot = kết hôn
"Did you hear about Dan and Jenny? They finally decided to tie the knot!"
Turn Over A New Leaf= quyết tâm thay đổi cuộc đời
"I'm turning over a new leaf; I've decided to quit smoking."
Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right = hai cái sai không làm nên 1 cái đúng
"That boy pushed me yesterday and I am going to get him back today!" Answer: "No you are
not! Two wrongs do not make a right."
Under The Weather = không khỏe trong người, bị bệnh nhẹ do thời tiết
"What's wrong?" Answer: "I'm a bit under the weather."
Up Against = đương đầu với
"We have been up against stronger opponents in the past."
Water Under The Bridge = chuyện đã qua rồi
"Aren't you still angry about what he said?" Answer: "No, that was a long time ago. It's all water
under the bridge."
When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do = nhập gia tùy tục
"Are you sure we should eat this with our hands?" Answer: "Why not? All of these people are
eating it that way. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"
When Pigs Fly = còn khuya, không bao giờ có chuyện đó đâu
"Would you ever take her on a date?" Answer: "Sure- when pigs fly!"
Without A Doubt = chắc chắn, không còn nghi ngờ gì nữa
"Are you going to watch the game tomorrow?" Answer: "Without a doubt!"
Word Of Mouth = sự truyền miệng
"Where did you hear about that?" Answer: "Just word of mouth."
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover = áo ca sa không làm nên thầy tu, đừng đánh giá dựa trên
vẻ bề ngoài
"He dresses in plain clothing and drives an ordinary car. Who would know he is the richest man in
town? You can't judge a book by its cover!"

5. Ngày, tháng, năm, 4 mùa, cách nói giờ
CÁC NGÀY TRONG TUẦN
MONDAY = thứ hai , viết tắt = MON
TUESDAY = thứ ba, viết tắt = TUE
WEDNESDAY = thứ tư, viết tắt = WED
THURSDAY = thứ năm, viết tắt = THU
FRIDAY = thứ sáu, viết tắt = FRI
SATURDAY = thứ bảy, viết tắt = SAT
SUNDAY = Chủ nhật, viết tắt = SUN
* Khi nói, vào thứ mấy, phải dùng giới từ ON đằng trước thứ.
VD: On Sunday, I stay at home. (Vào ngày chủ nhật. tôi ở nhà).
CÁC THÁNG TRONG NĂM
» 1. January ( viết tắt = Jan )
» 2. February ( viết tắt = Feb)
» 3. March ( viết tắt = Mar)
» 4. April ( viết tắt = Apr)
» 5. May ( 0 viết tắt )
» 6. June ( 0 viết tắt )
» 7. July ( 0 viết tắt )
» 8. August ( viết tắt = Aug )
» 9. September ( viết tắt = Sept )
» 10. October ( viết tắt = Oct )
» 11. November ( viết tắt = Nov )
» 12. December ( viết tắt = Dec )
*Khi nói, vào tháng mấy, phải dùng giới từ IN đằng trước tháng
VD: IN SEPTEMBER, STUDENTS GO BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER THEIR SUMMER
VACATION. (Vào tháng chín, học sinh trở lại trường sau kỳ nghỉ hè)
NÓI NGÀY TRONG THÁNG
* Khi nói ngày trong tháng, chỉ cần dùng số thứ tự tương ứng với ngày muốn nói, nhưng
phải thêm THE trước nó.
VD: September the second = ngày 2 tháng 9. Khi viết, có thể viết September 2nd
* Nếu muốn nói ngày âm lịch, chỉ cần thêm cụm từ ON THE LUNAR CALENDAR đằng
sau.
VD: August 15th on the Lunar Calendar is the Middle-Autumn Festival. (15 tháng 8 âm
lịch là ngày tết Trung Thu)
* Khi nói vào ngày nào trong tháng, phải dùng giới từ ON trước ngày.
VD: On the 4th of July, Americans celebrate their Independence Day. (Vào ngày 4 tháng 7,
người Mỹ ăn mừng ngày Quốc Khánh của họ).
4 MÙA
SPRING = Mùa xuân
SUMMER = Mùa hè

6. AUTUMN = Mùa thu (Người Mỹ dùng chữ FALL thay cho AUTUMN -"fall" có nghĩa là "rơi",
mà mùa thu thì lá rụng nhiều!?)
WINTER = Mùa đông
* Khi nói vào mùa nào, ta dùng giới từ IN.
VD: IT ALWAYS SNOWS IN WINTER HERE = Ở đây luôn có tuyết rơi vào mùa đông.
CÁCH NÓI GIỜ
Ở đây ta sẽ lấy 9 giờ làm mẫu. Bạn có thể dựa vào mẫu để thay đổi con số cần thiết khi nói giờ.
9:00 = IT'S NINE O'CLOCK hoặc IT'S NINE.
9:05 = IT'S NINE OH FIVE hoặc IT'S FIVE PAST NINE hoặc IT'S FIVE MINUTES AFTER
NINE.
9:10 = IT'S NINE TEN hoặc IT'S TEN PAST NINE hoặc IT'S TEN MINUTES AFTER NINE.
9:15 = IT'S NINE FIFTEEN hoặc IT'S A QUARTER PAST NINE hoặc IT'S A QUARTER
AFTER NINE.
9:30 = IT'S NINE THIRTY hoặc IT'S HALF PAST NINE.
9:45 = IT'S NINE FORTY FIVE hoặc IT'S A QUATER TO TEN (9 giờ 45 hoặc 10 giờ kém
15)
9:50 = IT'S NINE FIFTY hoặc IT'S TEN TO TEN (9 giờ 50 hoặc 10 giờ kém 10)
12:00 = IT'S TWELVE O'CLOCK hoặc IT'S NOON (giữa trưa nếu là 12 giờ trưa) hoặc IT'S
MIDNIGHT (đúng nửa đêm, nếu là 12 giờ đêm)
* Để nói rõ ràng giờ trưa, chiều, tối hay giờ sáng ta chỉ cần thêm AM hoặc PM ở cuối câu nói
giờ.
AM: chỉ giờ sáng (sau 12 giờ đêm đến trước 12 giờ trưa)
PM: chỉ giờ trưa, chiều tối (từ 12 giờ trưa trở đi)
- Chú thích:
-Dành cho bạn nào tò mò muốn biết AM và PM viết tắt của chữ gì thôi, vì ngay cả người bản xứ
có khi cũng không nhớ thông tin này:
+ AM viết tắt của chữ Latin ante meridiem (nghĩa là trước giữa trưa)
+ PM viết tắt của chữ Latin post meridiem (nghĩa là sau giữa trưa)
- Thí dụ:
+ IT'S NINE AM = 9 giờ sáng.
+ IT'S NINE PM. = 9 giờ tối.

7. Diễn đạt các biểu tượng thông dụng bằng tiếng Anh
. dấu chấm cuối câu = period (kiểu Mỹ) hoặc Full Stop (kiểu Anh, Úc, Tân Tây Lan)
, dấu phẩy = comma
: dấu hai chấm = colon
; dấu chấm phẩy = semicolon
! dấu chấm cảm = exclamation mark
? dấu hỏi = question mark
- dấu gạch ngang = hyphen
' dấu phẩy phía trên bên phải một từ dùng trong sở hữu cách hoặc viết tắt một số từ =
apostrophe
-- dấu gạch ngang dài = dash
' ' dấu trích dẫn đơn = single quotation mark
" " dấu trích dẫn kép = double quotation marks
( ) dấu ngoặc = parenthesis (hoặc 'brackets')
[ ] dấu ngoặc vuông = square brackets
& dấu và (and) = ampersand
→ dấu mũi tên = arrow
+ dấu cộng = plus
- dấu trừ = minus
± dấu cộng hoặc trừ = plus or minus
× dấu nhân = is multiplied by
÷ dấu chia = is divided by
= dấu bằng = is equal to
≠ is not equal to
≡ is equivalent to
< is less than
> -is more than
≤ is less than or equal to
≥ is more than or equal to
% dấu phần trăm = per cent (không thêm S bao giờ)
∞ dấu vô cực = infinity
° biểu tượng độ = degree
°C biểu tượng độ C = degree(s) Celsius
′ biểu tượng phút = minute
'' biểu tượng giây = second
# biểu tượng số = number
@ dấu a còng hay a móc = at ( 123@yahoo.com đọc là '123 at yahoo dot com')
. dấu chấm không phải chấm cuối câu = dot ( 123@yahoo.com đọc là '123 at yahoo dot com')
dấu suyệt phải = back slash
/ dấu suyệt trái = slash hoặc forward slash

8. Phân biệt BECAUSE, AS, SINCE và FOR
AS:
- AS có thể được dùng để chỉ lý do, nhất là khi lý do đã được người nghe/người đọc biết rồi.
* As he wasn't ready, we went without him.
- Mệnh đề AS luôn đứng đầu câu.
SINCE:
Giống như AS, SINCE được dùng để chỉ lý do. AS và SINCE khi chỉ lý do thì được dùng như
nhau, thay thế được cho nhau. Một số người cho là SINCE trang trọng hơn AS.
* As he wasn't ready, we went without him.
* Since she wanted to pass her exam, she decided to study well.
- Mệnh đề chỉ lý do có SINCE và AS không thể đứng một mình mà phải có mệnh đề khác theo sau.
BECAUSE:
- BECAUSE thường chỉ lý do mà người nghe/người đọc chưa biết và lý do là một phần quan trọng
trong câu, được nhấn mạnh.
* We had dinner after ten o' clock because dad arrived late.
* He bought a new home because he won a lottery.
* I read because I like reading.
- Mệnh đề chỉ lý do BECAUSE thường đứng sau một mệnh đề khác nhưng nó có thể đứng một
mình không cần mệnh đề khác.
* Why are you crying? - Because John hit me.
FOR:
- Giống như BECAUSE, mệnh đề chỉ lý do FOR đưa ra thông tin mới, chưa biết trước. Thông
thường lý do mà mệnh đề FOR đưa ra có quan hệ nhân quả mật thiết với mệnh đề trước nó.
* I decided to consult a doctor for I was feeling bad.
* Something certainly fell ill; for I heard a splash.
* All precautions must have been neglected, for the epidemic spread rapidly.
- Không giống như BECAUSE, mệnh đề chỉ lý do FOR không thể đứng một mình

9. CÂU ĐIỀU KIỆN ĐẢO NGỮ, CÂU ĐIỀU KIỆN ẨN
* Trường hợp 1 - Đảo ngữ:
- Câu điều kiện đảo ngữ là câu điều kiện không thật ở hiện tại hay không thật ở quá khứ. IF trong
mệnh đề IFđược bỏ đi, chủ ngữ trong mệnh đề IF được đặt sau động từ hay trợ động từ.
+ Bình thường: IF I HAD KNOWN THAT WOULD HAPPEN, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM
THE MONEY.
-> Đảo ngữ: HAD I KNOWN THAT WOULD HAPPEN, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM THE
MONEY.
+ Bình thường: IF I WERE TO OFFER YOU A JOB, I WOULD NEED A STRONG
RECOMMENDATION FROM YOUR FORMER EMPLOYER.
-> Đảo ngữ: WERE I TO OFFER YOU A JOB, I WOULD NEED A STRONG
RECOMMENDATION FROM YOU FORMER EMPLOYER.
+ Bình thường: IF THAT SHOULD HAPPEN, I'D BE READY FOR IT.
-> Đảo ngữ: SHOULD THAT HAPPEN, I'D BE READY FOR IT.
* Trường hợp 2: Câu điều kiện ẩn có thể là bất cứ loại câu điều kiện nào (hiện tại có thật,
không thật, quá khứ không thật)
- Trong câu điều kiện ẩn, không có đủ hai mệnh đề (mệnh đề điều kiện và mệnh đề kết quả). Một
câu điều kiện ẩn thường dùng đến những từ hoặc cụm từ sau: WITH, WITHOUT, OTHERWISE,
IF SO, IF NOT, WHAT IF.
+ WITH SOME TRAINING, YOU COULD BECOME A GREAT SINGER. (= IF YOU HAD
SOME TRAINING, YOU COULD...)
+ WITHOUT HER, I WOULD DIE. (= IF I DIDN'T HAVE HER, I WOULD DIE.)
+ IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU LET PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU.
-> IF SO, YOU NEED TO LEARN TO BE MORE ASSERTIVE.
-> IF NOT, MAYBE YOU'RE JUST UNLUCKY.
+ YOU SHOULD OFFER HIM A GOOD SALARY. OTHERWISE, HE WILL NOT TAKE THE
JOB. (= IF YOU DON'T, HE WILL NOT TAKE THE JOB.)
+ WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THE TRUTH? (= WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I TOLD YOU THE
TRUTH?)

10. DICTIONARY OF BUSINESS TERMS
A
Account: A record of a business transaction. A contract arrangement, written or unwritten, to
purchase and take delivery with payment to be made later as arranged.
Account balance: The difference between the debit and the credit sides of an account.
Accountant: One who is skilled at keeping business records. Usually, a highly trained professional
rather than one who keeps books. An accountant can set up the books needed for a business to
operate and help the owner understand them.
Accounting period: A time interval at the end of which an analysis is made of the information
contained in the bookkeeping records. Also the period of time covered by the profit and loss
statement.
Accounts payable: Money which you owe to an individual or business for goods or services
that have been received but not yet paid for.
Accounts receivable: Money owed to your business for goods or services that have
been delivered but not yet paid for.
Accrual basis: A method of keeping accounts that shows expenses incurred and income earned for
a given fiscal period, even though such expenses and income have not been actually paid or
received in cash.
Actuary: A professional expert in pension and life insurance matters, particularly trained in
mathematical, statistical, and accounting methods and procedures, and in insurance probabilities.
Administrative expense: Expenses chargeable to the managerial, general administrative and policy
phases of a business in contrast to sales, manufacturing, or cost of goods expense.
Advertising: The practice of bringing to the public's notice the good qualities of something in order
to induce the public to buy or invest in it.
Agent: A person who is authorized to act for or represent another person in dealing with a third
party.
Amortization: To liquidate on an installment basis; the process of gradually paying off a liability
over a period of time.
Analysis: Breaking an idea or problem down into its parts; a thorough examination of the parts of
anything.
Annual report: The yearly report made by a company at the close of the fiscal year, stating the
company's receipts and disbursements, assets and liabilities.
Appraisal: Evaluation of a specific piece of personal or real property. The value placed on the
property evaluated.
Appreciation: The increase in the value of an asset in excess of its depreciable cost due to
economic and other conditions, as distinguished from increases in value due to improvements or
additions made to it.
Arrears: Amounts past due and unpaid.
Articles of Incorporation: A legal document filed with the state that sets forth the purposes
and regulations for a corporation. Each state has different regulations.
Assets: Anything of worth that is owned. Accounts receivable are an asset.
Audiotaping: The act of recording onto an audiotape.
Audit: An examination of accounting documents and of supporting evidence for the purpose of
reaching an informed opinion concerning their propriety.
B
Bad debts: Money owed to you that you cannot collect.
Balance: The amount of money remaining in an account.
Balance sheet: An itemized statement that lists the total assets and total liabilities of a given
business to portray its net worth at a given moment in time.

11. Bank statement: A monthly statement of account which a bank renders to each of its
depositors.
Benchmarking: Rating your company's products, services and practices against those of the
front-runners in the industry.
Bill of lading: A document issued by a railroad or other carrier. It acknowledges the receipt of
specified goods for transportation to a certain place, it sets forth the contract between the shipper
and the carrier, and it provides for proper delivery of the goods.
Bill of sale: Formal legal document that conveys title to or interest in specific property from the
seller to the buyer.
Board of directors: Those individuals elected by the stockholders of a corporation to manage the
business.
Bookkeeping: The process of recording business transactions into the accounting records. The
"books" are the documents in which the records of transactions are kept.
Bottom line: The figure that reflects company profitability on the income statement. The bottom
line is the profit after all expenses and taxes have been paid.
Brand: A design, mark, symbol or other device that distinguishes one line or type of goods from
those of a competitor.
Brand name: A term, symbol, design or combination thereof that identifies and differentiates a
seller's products or service.
Break-even: The point of business activity when total revenue equals total expenses. Above the
break-even point, the business is making a profit. Below the break-even point, the business is
incurring a loss.
Budget: An estimate of the income and expenditures for a future period of time, usually one
year.
Business venture: Taking financial risks in a commercial enterprise
C
Capital: Money available to invest or the total of accumulated assets available for production.
Capital equipment: Equipment that you use to manufacture a product, provide a service or use to
sell, store and deliver merchandise. Such equipment will not be sold in the normal course of
business, but will be used and worn out or consumed in the course of business.
Capital gains (and losses): The difference between purchase price and selling price in the sale
of assets.
Cash: Money in hand or readily available.
Cash discount: A deduction that is given for prompt payment of a bill.
Cash flow: The actual movement of cash within a business; the analysis of how much cash is
needed and when that money is required by a business within a period of time.
Cash receipts: The money received by a business from customers.
Certified Public Accountant: An accountant to whom a state has given a certificate showing that
he has met prescribed requirements designed to insure competence on the part of the public
practitioner in accounting and that he is permitted to use the designation Certified Public
Accountant, commonly abbreviated as CPA.
Chamber of Commerce: An organization of business people designed to advance the interests of
its members. There are three levels: national, state and local.
Choice: A decision to purchase that is based on an evaluation of alternatives.
Co-signers: Joint signers of a loan agreement who pledge to meet the obligations of a business in
case of default.
Collateral: Something of value given or held as a pledge that a debt or obligation will be
fulfilled.
Commission: A percentage of the principal or of the income that an agent receives as
compensation for services.
Contract: An agreement regarding mutual responsibilities between two or more parties.
Controllable expenses: Those expenses that can be controlled or restrained by the business
person.

12. Corporation: A voluntary organization of persons, either actual individuals or legal entities,
legally bound together to form a business enterprise; an artificial legal entity created by government
grant and treated by law as an individual entity.
Cost of goods sold: The direct cost to the business owner of those items which will be sold to
customers.
Credit: Another word for debt. Credit is given to customers when they are allowed to make a
purchase with the promise to pay later. A bank gives credit when it lends money.
Credit line: The maximum amount of credit or money a financial institution or trade firm
will extend to a customer.
Current assets: Valuable resources or property owned by a company that will be turned into cash
within one year or used up in the operations of the company within one year. Generally includes
cash, accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses.
Current liabilities: Amounts owned that will ordinarily be paid by a company within one
year. Generally includes accounts payable, current portion of long-term debt, interest and
dividends payable.
D
Debt: That which is owed. Debt refers to borrowed funds and is generally secured by collateral or
a co-signer.
Debt capital: The part of the investment capital that must be borrowed. Default: The failure to pay
a debt or meet an obligation.
Deficit: The excess of liabilities over assets; a negative net worth.
Depreciation: A decrease in value through age, wear or deterioration. Depreciation is a
normal expense of doing business that must be taken into account. There are laws and regulations
governing the manner and time periods that may be used for depreciation.
Desktop publishing: Commonly used term for computer-generated printed materials such as
newsletters and brochures.
Differentiated marketing: Selecting and developing a number of offerings to meet the needs of a
number of specific market segments.
Direct mail: Marketing goods or services directly to the consumer through the mall.
Direct selling: The process whereby the producer sells to the user, ultimate consumer or
retailer without intervening middlemen.
Discount: A deduction from the stated or list price of a product or service.
Distribution channel: All of the individuals and organizations involved in the process of moving
products from producer to consumer. The route a product follows as it moves from the original
grower, producer or importer to the ultimate consumer.
Distributor: Middleman, wholesaler, agent or company distributing goods to dealers or
companies.
Downsize: Term currently used to indicate employee reassignment, layoffs and restructuring in
order to make a business more competitive, efficient, and/or cost-effective.
E
Entrepreneur: An innovator of business enterprise who recognizes opportunities to introduce a
new product, a new process or an improved organization, and who raises the necessary money,
assembles the factors for production and organizes an operation to exploit the opportunity.
Equipment: Physical property of a more or less permanent nature ordinarily useful in carrying on
operations, other than land, buildings or improvements to either of them. Examples are machinery,
tools, tracks, cars, ships, furniture and furnishings.
Equity: A financial investment in a business. An equity investment carries with it a share of
ownership of the business, a stake in the profits and a say in how it is managed. Equity is calculated
by subtracting the liabilities of the business from the assets of the business.
Equity capital: Money furnished by owners of the business.

13. Exchange: The process by which two or more parties give something of value to one another to
satisfy needs and wants.
F
Facsimile machine (FAX): Machine capable of transmitting written input via telephone lines.
Financial statements: Documents that show your financial situation.
Fixed expenses: Those costs which don't vary from one period to the next. Generally, these
expenses are not affected by the volume of business.
Fixed expenses are the basic costs that every business will have each month.
Franchise: Business that requires three elements: Franchise fee, common trade name and
continuous relationship with the parent company.
Fundraising: Events staged to raise revenue.
G
Gross profit: The difference between the selling price and the cost of an item. Gross profit is
calculated by subtracting cost of goods sold from net sales.
Guarantee: A pledge by a third party to repay a loan in the event that the borrower cannot.
H
Home page: The "table of contents" to a Web site, detailing what pages are on a particular site. The
first page one sees when accessing a Web site.
I
Income statement: A financial document that shows how much money (revenue) came in and how
much money (expense) was paid out.
Interest: The cost of borrowing money.
Internet: The vast collection in inter-connected networks that provide electronic mail and
access to the World Wide Web.
Inventory: A list of assets being held for sale.
Invest: To lay out money for any purpose from which a profit is expected.
K
Keystone: Setting a retail price at twice the wholesale price.
L
Lead: The name and address of a possible customer.
Lease: A long term rental agreement.
Liability insurance: Risk protection for actions for which a business is liable.
License: Formal permission to conduct business.
Lifestyle: A pattern of living that comprises an individual's activities, interests and opinions.
Limited partnership: A legal partnership where some owners are allowed to assume
responsibility only up to the amount invested.
Liquidity: The ability of a business to meet its financial responsibilities. The degree of readiness with
which assets can be converted into cash without loss.
Loan agreement: A document that states what a business can and cannot do as long as it owes
money to the lender.
Loan: Money lent with interest.
Long-term liabilities: The liabilities (expenses) that will not mature within the next year.
M

14. Management: The art of conducting and supervising a business.
Market: A set of potential or real buyers or a place in which there is a demand for products or
services. Actual or potential buyers of a product or service.
Market demand: Total volume purchased in a specific geographic area by a specific customer
group in a specified time period under a specified marketing program.
Market forecast: An anticipated demand that results from a planned marketing expenditure.
Market niche: A well-defined group of customers for which what you have to offer is particularly
suitable.
Market positioning: Finding a market niche that emphasizes the strengths of a product
or service in relation to the weaknesses of the competition.
Market share: A company's percentage share of total sales within a given market.
Market targeting: Choosing a marketing strategy in terms of competitive strengths
and marketplace realities.
Marketing mix: The set of product, place, promotion, price and packaging variables, which a
marketing manager controls and orchestrates to bring a product or service into the marketplace.
Marketing research: The systematic design, collection, analysis and reporting of data
regarding a specific marketing situation.
Mass marketing: Selecting and developing a single offering for an entire market.
Merchandise: Goods bought and sold in a business. "Merchandise" or stock is a part of
inventory.
Microbusiness: An owner-operated business with few employees and less than $250,000
in annual sales.
Middleman: A person or company that performs functions or renders services involved in the
purchase and/or sale of goods in their flow from producer to consumer.
Multilevel sales: Also known as network marketing. Rather than hiring sales staff, multilevel sales
companies sell their products through thousands of independent distributors. Multilevel sales
companies offer distributors commissions on both retail sales and the sales of their "down-line" (the
network of other distributors they sponsor).
N
Need: A state of perceived deprivation.
Net: What is left after deducting all expenses from the gross.
Net worth: The total value of a business in financial terms. Net worth is calculated by
subtracting total liabilities from total assets.
Niche: A well-defined group of customers for which what you have to offer is particularly
suitable.
Nonrecurring: One time, not repeating. "Nonrecurring" expenses are those involved in starting a
business, and which only have to be paid once and will not occur again.
Note: A document that is recognized as legal evidence of a debt.
O
Operating costs: Expenditures arising out of current business activities. The costs incurred to do
business such as salaries, electricity, rental. Also may be called "overhead."
Organizational market: A marketplace made up of producers, trade industries, governments
and institutions.
Outsourcing: Term used in business to identify the process of sub-con-tracting work to
outside vendors.
Overhead: A general term for costs of materials and services not directly adding to or readily
identifiable with the product or service being sold.
P

15. Partnership: A legal business relationship of two or more people who share
responsibilities, resources, profits and liabilities.
Payable: Ready to be paid. One of the standard accounts kept by a bookkeeper is "accounts
payable." This is a list of those bills that are current and due to be paid.
Perception: The process of selecting, organizing and interpreting information received through the
senses.
Prepaid expenses: Expenditures that are paid in advance for items not yet received.
Price: The exchange value of a product or service from the perspective of both the buyer and the
seller.
Price ceiling: The highest amount a customer will pay for a product or a service based upon
perceived value.
Price floor: The lowest amount a business owner can charge for a product or service and still meet
all expenses.
Price planning: The systematic process for establishing pricing objectives and policies.
Principal: The amount of money borrowed in a debt agreement and the amount upon
which interest is calculated.
Pro forma: A projection or estimate of what may result in the future from actions in the present. A
pro forma financial statement is one that shows how the actual operations of the business will turn
out if certain assumptions are achieved.
Producers: The components of the organizational market that acquire products, services that enter
into the production of products and services that are sold or supplied to others.
Product: Anything capable of satisfying needs, including tangible items, services and ideas.
Product life cycle (PLC): The stages of development and decline through which a successful
product typically moves.
Product line: A group of products related to each other by marketing, technical or end-use
considerations.
Product mix: All of the products in a seller's total product line.
Profit and Loss Statement: A list of the total amount of sales (revenues) and total costs
(expenses). The difference between revenues and expenses is your profit or loss.
Profit: Financial gain, returns over expenditures.
Profit margin: The difference between your selling price and all of your costs.
Promotion: The communication of information by a seller to influence the attitudes
and behavior of potential buyers.
Promotional pricing: Temporarily pricing a product or service below list price or below cost in
order to attract customers.
Psychographics: The system of explaining market behavior in terms of attitudes and life styles.
Publicity: Any non-paid, news-oriented presentation of a product, service or business entity in a mass
media format.
Q
Quantitative forecasts: Forecasts that are based on measurements of numerical quantities.
Questionnaire: A data-gathering form used to collect information by a personal interview, with
a telephone survey or through the mail.
R
Ratio: The relationship of one thing to another. A "ratio" is a short-cut way of comparing things,
which can be expressed as numbers or degrees.
Receivable: Ready for payment. When you sell on credit, you keep an "accounts receivable" ledger
as a record of what is owed to you and who owes it. In accounting, a receivable is an asset.
Retail: Selling directly to the consumer.
Retailing: Businesses and individuals engaged in the activity of selling products to
final consumers.

16. Revenue: Total sales during a stated period.
S
Sales potential: A company's expected share of a market as marketing expenditures increase in
relation to the competition.
Sales promotion: Marketing activities that stimulate consumer purchasing in the short term.
Sales representative: An independent salesperson who directs efforts to selling your products or
service to others but is not an employee of your company. Sales reps often represent more than one
product line from more than one company and usually work on commission.
Sample: A limited portion of the whole of a group.
Security: Collateral that is promised to a lender as protection in case the borrower defaults on a
loan.
Service business: A retail business that deals in activities for the benefit of others.
Share: One of the equal parts into which the ownership of a corporation is divided. A "share"
represents part ownership in a corporation.
Short-term notes: Loans that come due in one year or less.
Sole proprietorship: Business legal structure in which one individual owns the business.
Stock: An ownership share in a corporation; another name for a share. Another definition would be
accumulated merchandise.
Suppliers: Individuals or businesses that provide resources needed by a company in order
to produce goods and services.
Survey: A research method in which people are asked questions.
T
Takeover: The acquisition of one company by another.
Target market: The specific individuals, distinguished by socio-eco-nomic, demographic and
interest characteristics, who are the most likely potential customers for the goods and services of a
business.
Target marketing: Selecting and developing a number of offerings to meet the needs of a
number of specific market segments.
Telemarketing: Marketing goods or services directly to the consumer via the telephone.
Terms of sale: The conditions concerning payment for a purchase.
Trade credit: Permission to buy from suppliers on open account.
U
Undifferentiated marketing: Selecting and developing one offering for an entire market.
V
Venture capital: Money invested in enterprises that do not have access to traditional sources
of capital.
Volume: An amount or quantity of business; the volume of a business is the total it sells over a
period of time.
Wholesaling: Businesses and individuals engaged in the activity of selling products to retailers,
organizational users or other wholesalers. Selling for resale.