Idioms

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 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

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

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

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

people with no experience guiding others who have no experience

an uncontested market space with no direct competitors

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

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

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

by whatever method is necessary, whether fair or unfair

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

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.

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the process by which new innovations destroy and replace outdated firms and industries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

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

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

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

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

a persistent love rivalry among three people whose attachments conflict

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

the edge a company gains by entering a market before competitors

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

from something impressive or elevated to something absurd or trivial

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

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

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

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

the default, well-supported, happy-path way of using a system, opposed to exotic configurations

a movement started and driven by ordinary people rather than leaders or organizations

To be involved in too many activities at once.

keep your abilities or achievements from being noticed

to be in a position of complete control in a negotiation

successfully completed or achieved, with the main risks safely past

deliberately and without compassion, especially when committing violence or cruelty

expected to happen or become available soon

to maneuver competitively in order to gain the most advantageous position

remain outwardly brave and composed during difficulty

maintain the home and its familiar routines while someone is away

to destroy a reliable source of future profit through greed or short-term thinking

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation given to revive someone who is not breathing

the only survivor of a fight, consolidation, or market shakeout

to be completely honest about your intentions or position

accept whatever consequences follow from an action

to cohabit romantically without having married

old or growing old, especially when age affects suitability for something

the gradual expansion of a project's goals beyond its original scope

a durable competitive advantage that protects a business from rivals

something that grants what you asked for while exacting a terrible, unforeseen price; a wish fulfilled in the worst possible way

a question that is debatable or no longer relevant because it has been settled or made irrelevant

a great deal of fuss about something unimportant

to speak directly and honestly, even if it is unpleasant

anxiously waiting in suspense because the outcome is uncertain

continually busy or active, with no real break

misaligned, unsettled, or operating abnormally

To escape one bad situation only to land in a worse one.

a fundamental change in the assumptions, models, or approach of a field

to be judged good enough after an examination or review

to deal with the price or consequences created by your earlier choices

to endure hard, unglamorous work early on as the price of later success

an informal ranking that determines status and authority within a group

being careful with small amounts of money while wasting large amounts

a rare combination of bad circumstances that produces a disaster

used as an emphatic rejection of an idea considered intolerable

to negotiate or compete aggressively, without compromise

a defensive tactic a company uses to make a hostile takeover unattractive

to risk criticism by stating an opinion publicly

to bring something, especially a plan or hope, to a definite end

a competitive spiral that drives prices, quality, or standards lower and lower