Idioms

the biggest, most powerful player in a market, which dominates everything around it

used after simple instructions to signal that the task is finished or the result achieved

used to criticize a selfish attitude of being comfortable and ignoring other people's difficulties

an action or situation that unleashes many unexpected and hard-to-control problems

an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted

A person who surprises everyone by showing unexpected talent or success.

A friendly way of asking what someone is quietly thinking about.

A great deal of fuss made about a trivial matter.

a hard problem to solve or a hard person to convince

A dangerous person who pretends to be harmless or friendly.

honest, legal, and transparent

behaving as if you belong to a higher social class or rank than you do

a secret advantage kept hidden until it is needed

a hidden advantage kept in reserve

in a way that conflicts with what is usual or with someone's natural character

a competitive spiral in which rivals keep escalating their investment to stay ahead

if it becomes absolutely necessary, though the option is barely adequate

in strong disagreement or conflict with someone

in a confused, disorganized state

without exception, especially when declaring something the best in its category

to leave a place very quickly (get); or to defeat or hit something severely (beat)

to make one naturally want to ask a particular question; (formally) to assume the very point being argued

Completely unacceptable by ordinary moral or social standards.

spending a disproportionate amount of time on trivial details while ignoring the important parts of a problem

the very newest and most experimental technology, so new it may be unstable or unreliable

people with no experience guiding others who have no experience

an uncontested market space with no direct competitors

completely ordinary, with no special features (British, informal)

to attempt something impossibly large or ambitious, especially by trying to solve every problem at once

building a company without outside investment, funding it from personal resources and revenue

born into a wealthy family

basic comforts and entertainment offered to distract the public from serious problems

short-term financing that keeps a company afloat until a larger funding round closes

a clever, lively, attractive young person with strong social appeal

he looks perfectly innocent or gentle despite behaving quite differently

by whatever method is necessary, whether fair or unfair

for the same or a closely related reason

to do something by instinct and improvisation rather than by plan

to challenge someone to prove that their threat or claim is real

to ask for extra help or reinforcements in a difficult situation

an early warning sign, or a small test group, that reveals a danger or failure before it affects everyone

in a humble or pleading manner when asking someone for help or a favor

To take the blame or responsibility for a problem, especially when others avoid doing so.

using whatever opportunities or resources happen to be available

a no-win situation in which every possible solution is blocked by the very rules of the problem

Very close together physically or closely associated.

a situation in which two things each depend on the other, so neither can get started

to make a mocking gesture that expresses disrespect or defiance

Consolation that offers little real relief in a painful or difficult situation.

to stop a habit or addiction completely and suddenly

to regain safety or acceptance after living in secrecy, isolation, or exclusion

to fail or encounter a problem that causes a plan or effort to break down

to gain such control of a market that competitors cannot operate in it

the process by which new innovations destroy and replace outdated firms and industries

an outward show of sadness that is false or insincere

to attract admiring attention with a stylish appearance or confident manner

fully settled and clear, with little room for debate or alteration

the vigorous back-and-forth of intense argument or competition

to gain your first experience of something, usually early in your career

describing a startup whose normal growth will make it profitable without needing more funding

someone who argues against an idea just to test it or explore other views

to cause intense mental strain, frustration, or irritation

fiercely competitive, with people willing to harm others to succeed

using your own product internally, before customers do, to test and improve it

to be extremely careful about every detail, especially paperwork

something that has both great benefits and serious risks

shabby, worn, or neglected in appearance, often because of poverty

a funding round in which a company raises money at a lower valuation than the previous round

cash reserves kept ready to invest when opportunities appear

the careful investigation of a company's business, finances, and legal position before investing

an environment where one set of opinions is endlessly repeated and reinforced while dissenting views are never heard

deliberately omitting important facts in order to give a misleading impression

an unusual or extreme scenario that lies outside the normal inputs, often where software fails

choose the safer course when uncertainty makes either option imperfect

a persistent love rivalry among three people whose attachments conflict

to get into trouble with someone or break a rule or law

to lose respect, status, or favor because of a failure or wrongdoing

the intellectual isolation created by algorithms that feed you only content you already agree with

a member of a formally equal group who holds the leading or most prominent role

the edge a company gains by entering a market before competitors

choose between taking useful action and stepping aside

to oppose or be the opposite of what is expected, accepted, or sensible

a self-reinforcing growth engine in which each success feeds the next

from something impressive or elevated to something absurd or trivial

to deal with the most important or practical details of something

to organize things carefully before acting

become unnecessarily upset or annoyed

to fail completely, especially of a business

To fail suddenly and completely.

to go wrong, to fail in an awkward way

To commit fully to doing something, without holding anything back.

collapse or fail completely, particularly as a business or financial venture

adding unnecessary features, polish, or complexity to a product beyond what was asked for

a reliable source of money that must be protected, not exploited to death

financial incentives designed to keep a valuable employee from leaving

a generous severance package guaranteed to an executive who loses their job, typically after a takeover