Russian proverbs – Similar English proverbs

Аппетит приходит во время еды. – Appetite comes with eating.

Беда не приходит одна. – Misfortunes never come alone. Misfortunes never come singly.

Бедность не порок. – Poverty is no sin. Poverty is no crime.

Без труда не вынешь и рыбку из пруда. Любишь кататься, люби и саночки возить. – No pain, no gain. No gain without pain.

Береженого бог бережет. – One cannot be too careful. Better safe than sorry.

Благими намерениями вымощен ад. Благими намерениями вымощена дорога в ад. – Hell is paved with good intentions. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Браки совершаются на небесах. – Marriages are made in heaven.

Будет и на нашей улице праздник. – Every dog has its day. It's a long lane that has no turning.

Было бы желание, а возможность найдется. – Where there's a will, there's a way.

В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше. – East or West, home is best. There is no place like home.

Век живи, век учись. – Live and learn.

В здоровом теле здоровый дух. – A sound mind in a sound body.

Взялся за гуж, не говори, что не дюж. Назвался груздем, полезай в кузов. – In for a penny, in for a pound.

Вилами по воде писано. Бабушка надвое сказала. – There's many a slip between the cup and the lip.

В каждой шутке есть доля правды. – Many a true word is spoken in jest.

В любви и на войне все средства хороши. – All is fair in love and war.

Внешность обманчива. – Appearances are deceptive. Never judge from appearances. Don't judge a book by its cover. Beauty is only skin deep. Beauty is but skin deep.

Волков бояться, в лес не ходить. – If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

Ворон ворону глаз не выклюет. – Dog does not eat dog.

Вот в чем загвоздка. Вот где собака зарыта. – That's where the shoe pinches.

Время – деньги. – Time is money.

Время – лучший лекарь. Время – лучший целитель. – Time is the best healer. Time heals all wounds.

Время не ждет. – Time and tide wait for no man.

Всему свое время. Всякому овощу свое время. – All in good time. Everything is good in its season.

Всему свой черед. Не создавай себе трудностей заранее. – Don't cross the bridge until you come to it.

В семье не без урода. – There's a black sheep in every flock. The black sheep of the family.

Все имеет начало. – Everything must have a beginning.

Все имеет свою причину. – Every why has a wherefore.

Все хорошо в меру. – Enough is as good as a feast. Enough is enough.

Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается – All is well that ends well.

Всяк кулик свое болото хвалит. – Every cook praises his own broth.

Всяк сверчок знай свой шесток. Не в свои сани не садись. – The cobbler should stick to his last.

В тихом омуте черти водятся. – Still waters run deep. Beware of a silent dog and still water.

В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят. – When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Выше себя не прыгнешь. Плоть слаба. Рад бы в рай, да грехи не пускают. – The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Где тонко, там и рвется. – The chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

Глаза боятся, а руки делают. – You never know what you can do till you try.

Глаза – зеркало души. – The face is the index of the mind.

Голодное брюхо ко всему глухо. – Hungry bellies have no ears. The belly has no ears.

Горбатого могила исправит. Черного кобеля не отмоешь добела. Как волка ни корми, он все в лес смотрит. – The leopard cannot change his spots. Can the leopard change his spots?

Гордыня до добра не доводит. – Pride goes before a fall.

Дай ему палец, он и всю руку откусит. Посади свинью за стол, она и ноги на стол. – Give him an inch, and he'll take a mile.

Дареному коню в зубы не смотрят. – Never look the gift horse in the mouth.

Двум господам не служат. – No man can serve two masters.

Двум смертям не бывать, а одной не миновать. – A man dies but once. A man cannot die more than once.

Дело мастера боится. – Practice makes perfect.

Делу время, потехе час. Сделал дело, гуляй смело. – Business before pleasure. Business first, pleasure afterwards. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Деньги не пахнут. – Money has no smell.

Деньги к деньгам идут. Деньги делают деньги. – Money makes money.

Деньги – корень зла. Деньги – корень всех зол. – Money is the root of all evil.

Деньги отпирают все двери. С деньгами всего можно добиться. – Money talks.

Долг платежом красен. – One good turn deserves another.

Дома и стены помогают. – Every dog is a lion at home.

Друг познается в беде. – A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Дуракам везет. – Fortune favours fools. Fools have fortune.

Дуракам закон не писан. – Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. As the fool thinks, so the bell clinks.

Единожды солгав, кто ж тебе поверит. – He that once deceives is ever suspected.

Если бы да кабы да во рту росли грибы. – If ifs and ans were pots and pans. If wishes were horses, beggars might ride. If the sky falls, we shall catch larks.

Если гора не идет к Магомету, то Магомет идет к горе. – If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain.

Жизнь прожить – не поле перейти. – Life is not all beer and skittles. Life is not all cakes and ale. Life is not a bed of roses.

За все берется, да не все удается. За все браться – ничего не уметь. – Jack of all trades is master of none. Jack of all trades and master of none.

За все браться – ничего не сделать. – Don't have too many irons in the fire.

За двумя зайцами погонишься, ни одного не поймаешь. – If you run after two hares, you will catch neither. Grasp all, lose all.

Задним умом крепок. Хорошая мысля приходит опосля. – It is easy to be wise after the event. Twenty-twenty hindsight. Hindsight is 20/20.

Запретный плод сладок. – Forbidden fruit is sweet. Forbidden fruit is sweetest.

Заставь дурака молиться, он и лоб расшибет. – Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse.

Здоровье не купишь. Здоровье дороже богатства. – Health is better than wealth. Good health is above wealth.

Игра не стоит свеч. Овчинка выделки не стоит. – The game is not worth the candle.

Из двух зол выбирают меньшее. – Of two evils choose the lesser. Choose the lesser of two evils. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

И на солнце есть пятна. – There are spots even on the sun.

И нашим, и вашим. И волки сыты, и овцы целы. – You can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.

Исключение подтверждает правило. – The exception proves the rule. Exceptions prove the rule.

Исправиться никогда не поздно. – It is never too late to mend.

История повторяется. – History repeats itself. There is nothing new under the sun.

Кабы знать, где падать, соломки бы подстелил. – Look before you leap.

Каждому свое. – To each his own.

Каждый за себя. – Each for himself. Every man for himself. Each for himself, and the devil take the hindmost.

Как аукнется, так и откликнется. – As the call, so the echo.

Как постелешь, так и поспишь. – As one makes his bed, so he will sleep. As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.

Капля по капле камень долбит. – Constant dropping wears away a stone.

Клин клином вышибают. – Fight fire with fire. One nail drives out another.

Когда рак на горе свистнет. После дождичка в четверг. – When two Sundays come together.

Кому везет в картах, тому не везет в любви. Кому не везет в картах, тому везет в любви. – Lucky at cards, unlucky in love. Unlucky at cards, lucky in love. Unlucky in love, lucky at play.

Кому на месте не сидится, тот добра не наживет. – A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Коней на переправе не меняют. – Don't change horses in the midstream. Don't swap horses when crossing the stream.

Конец – делу венец. Добрый конец всему делу венец. – The end crowns the work.

Копейка рубль бережет. – A penny saved is a penny gained. A penny saved is a penny earned. Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves. Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.

Кот из дома, мыши в пляс. – When the cat is away, the mice will play.

Красота – в глазах смотрящего. – Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is in the eye of the gazer. Beauty is in the beholder's eye. Beauty lies in lover's eyes.

Краткость – сестра таланта. – Brevity is the soul of wit.

Крысы бегут с тонущего корабля. – Rats desert a sinking ship. Rats leave a sinking ship.

Кто деньгам не знает цены, тому не избежать нужды. – Waste not, want not.

Кто ждет, тот дождется. Терпение вознаградится. – Everything comes to him who waits. All things come to him who waits.

Кто ищет, тот найдет. Ищите и обрящете. – Seek and you shall find.

Кто платит, тот и распоряжается. – He who pays the piper calls the tune.

Кто рано встает, тому бог подает. – The early bird catches the worm. It's the early bird that catches the worm.

Кто старое помянет, тому глаз вон. Что было, то прошло и быльем поросло. – Let bygones be bygones. Let the dead bury their dead.

Куй железо пока горячо. – Strike while the iron is hot. Make hay while the sun shines.

Легко очернить, нелегко обелить. – Give a dog a bad name and hang him. If you throw mud enough, some of it will stick. Fling dirt enough and some of it will stick.

Легок на помине. – Talk of the devil. Speak of the devil. Speak of the devil, and the devil is sure to appear. Talk of the devil, and he will appear.

Легче сказать, чем сделать – Easier said than done.

Лежачего не бьют. – Don't strike a man when he is down.

Лень до добра не доводит. – An idle brain is the devil's workshop.

Лес рубят – щепки летят. – You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

Ложка дегтя в бочке меда. – One drop of poison infects the whole tun of wine.

Лучшая защита – нападение. – Best defence is offence.

Лучше поздно, чем никогда. – Better late than never.

Лучше один раз увидеть, чем сто раз услышать. – Seeing is believing.

Лучше синица в руке, чем журавль в небе. Не сули журавля в небе, а дай синицу в руки. – A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. Never quit certainty for hope.

Лучше хоть что-то, чем ничего. – Better than nothing. A little is better than none. Half a loaf is better than no bread.

Любовь все побеждает. Для любви нет преград. – Love conquers all. Love will creep where it may not go.

Любовь не купишь. – Love is neither bought nor sold.

Любовь слепа. – Love is blind. Jack is no judge of Jill's beauty.

Любопытной Варваре нос оторвали. – Curiosity killed the cat.

Мал да удал. Мал золотник, да дорог. – Little pigeons can carry great messages. Little bodies may have great souls.

Меньше слов, больше дела. – Deeds, not words. Least said, soonest mended.

Много шуму из ничего. Шума много, а дела мало. Много слов, мало дела. – Much ado about nothing. Much cry and little wool. Great talkers are little doers.

Много будешь знать, скоро состаришься. – Too much knowledge makes the head bald.

Молчание знак согласия. – Silence gives consent. Silence means consent.

На безрыбье и рак рыба. – Among the blind the one-eyed man is king. There is small choice in rotten apples.

На бога надейся, а сам не плошай. – God helps those who help themselves.

На вкус и цвет товарищей нет. О вкусах не спорят. – Tastes differ. There is no accounting for tastes. Every man to his taste. Everyone to his own taste.

На воре шапка горит. Правда глаза колет. – If the cap fits, wear it.

На всех не угодишь. – He who pleased everybody died before he was born.

На всякого мудреца довольно простоты. – No man is wise at all times. Every man has a fool in his sleeve.

На двух стульях не усидишь. – Between two stools one falls to the ground.

На лжи далеко не уедешь. – Lies have short legs.

На миру и смерть красна. – Misery loves company. Company in distress makes trouble less.

На наш век хватит. – There's as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it. There are as many good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.

Насильно мил не будешь. – Love cannot be forced.

Нашла коса на камень. – Diamond cut diamond. When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war.

Не буди лихо, пока спит тихо. – Let sleeping dogs lie.

Не все коту масленица. – Every day is not Sunday.

Не все то золото, что блестит. – All that glitters is not gold. All is not gold that glitters.

Не выноси сор из избы. – It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

Не говори гоп, пока не перепрыгнешь. – Don't halloo till you are out of the wood. There's many a slip between the cup and the lip.

Не делай из мухи слона. – Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.

Не дели шкуру неубитого медведя. – First catch your hare, then cook him.

Не за свое дело не берись. – Every man to his trade.

Не зная броду не суйся в воду. – No safe wading in an unknown water.

Не ищи беды – беда сама тебя найдет. – Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.

Не останавливайся на полпути. Доводи дело до конца. – Never do things by halves.

Не отведав горького, не узнаешь и сладкого. – Who has never tasted bitter, knows not what is sweet. Misfortunes tell us what fortune is. He knows best what good is that has endured evil.

Не откладывай на завтра то, что можно сделать сегодня. – Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Не ошибается тот, кто ничего не делает. – He who makes no mistakes, makes nothing.

Не плюй в колодец, пригодится воды напиться. – Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you hast sometime drunk.

Не по виду суди, а по делам гляди. – Handsome is as handsome does.

Не по словам судят, а по делам. – Actions speak louder than words. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Не рой другому яму, сам в нее попадешь. – He that mischief hatches, mischief catches. Curses like chickens come home to roost.

Не руби сук, на котором сидишь. – Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Не ставь все на одну карту. – Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Не так страшен черт, как его малюют. У страха глаза велики. – The devil is not so black as he is painted.

Нет дыма без огня. – There is no smoke without fire. Where there is smoke, there is fire.

Нет правил без исключений. – There is no rule without an exception.

Нет пророка в своем отечестве. – No man is a prophet in his own country. A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country.

Нет розы без шипов. – There is no rose without a thorn.

Нет худа без добра. – Every cloud has a silver lining.

Не хлебом единым жив человек. – Man does not live by bread alone.

Не хочется, а придется. Нравится или нет, а придется. – If you don't like it, you may lump it.

Новая метла чисто метет. – A new broom sweeps clean. New brooms sweep clean.

Нужда всему научит. Голь на выдумки хитра. – Necessity is the mother of invention.

Нужда заставит. – Needs must when the devil drives. He must needs go whom the devil drives.

Обжегшись на молоке, дуют и на воду. – Once bitten, twice shy. A burnt child dreads the fire.

Один в поле не воин. – One man, no man. There is safety in numbers.

Один пирог два раза не съешь. И волки сыты, и овцы целы. – You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't eat your cake and have it.

Одна голова хорошо, а две лучше. Ум хорошо, а два лучше. – Two heads are better than one.

Одна ласточка весны не делает. – One swallow doesn't make a summer.

Одна ложь тянет за собой другую. Обман порождает обман. – One lie makes many.

Одно другого стоит. Хрен редьки не слаще. Что в лоб, что по лбу. – It is six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Око за око, зуб за зуб. – Eye for eye, tooth for tooth. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

От великого до смешного один шаг. – There is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.

От добра добра не ищут. – Leave well enough alone. Leave well alone. Let well enough alone.

От сумы да от тюрьмы не зарекайся. – Never say never.

Паршивая овца все стадо портит. – One scabbed sheep infects the whole flock. The rotten apple injures its neighbours.

Перед смертью все равны. – Death is the grand leveller.

Повинную голову меч не сечет. – A fault confessed is half redressed. Confession is the first step to repentance.

Повторение мать учения. – Repetition is the mother of learning.

Под лежачий камень вода не течет. – Nothing seek, nothing find.

Подобное лечится подобным. – Like cures like.

Пока живу – надеюсь. Пока дышу – надеюсь. – While there is life, there is hope.

Полузнание хуже незнания. – A little learning is a dangerous thing.

По одежке встречают, по уму провожают. – Clothes do not make the man.

По одежке протягивай ножки. – Cut your coat according to your cloth.

Последняя капля переполняет чашу. – The last drop makes the cup run over. It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

После драки кулаками не машут. – It is too late to lock the stable after the horse has been stolen. After death, the doctor. After dinner, mustard.

После нас хоть потоп. – After us the deluge.

Поспешишь, людей насмешишь. – Haste makes waste.

Предупредить легче, чем лечить. – Prevention is better than cure. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A stitch in time saves nine.

Предупрежден, значит вооружен. – Forewarned is forearmed.

Привычка – вторая натура. – Habit is a second nature.

Пришла беда – отворяй ворота. – It never rains but it pours. When it rains, it pours.

Противоположности сходятся. – Opposites attract. Too far East is West.

Прошлого не воротишь. – Things past cannot be recalled.

Реже видишь, больше любишь. – Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Риск – благородное дело. Попытка не пытка. – Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Nothing venture, nothing have.

Рука руку моет. Ты – мне, я – тебе. – You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. You roll my log and I'll roll yours.

Рыбак рыбака видит издалека. Свой свояка видит издалека. – Birds of a feather flock together. Like draws to like. Like to like.

Сам живи и другим не мешай. – Live and let live.

Сам заварил кашу, сам и расхлебывай. – As you brew, so must you drink. One must drink as one brews.

Свет клином не сошелся. Всегда есть другая возможность. – There are more ways than one to kill a cat. There are more ways to the wood than one. Where one door shuts, another one opens.

С волками жить, по-волчьи выть. – Who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl.

Своя рубашка ближе к телу. – Near is my shirt, but nearer is my skin.

Связался с чертом, пеняй на себя. – He that sups with the devil should have a long spoon.

Свято место пусто не бывает. – Nature abhors a vacuum.

С глаз долой, из сердца вон. – Out of sight, out of mind. Long absent, soon forgotten.

Седина в бороду, а бес в ребро. Старого дурака ничем не исправишь. – No fool like an old fool. There is no fool to the old fool.

Семь бед, один ответ. – As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.

Семь раз отмерь, один раз отрежь. – Measure twice, cut once. Second thoughts are best.

Сердце надеждой живет. – If it were not for hope, the heart would break.

Силой не всего добьешься. – You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

Скажи мне, кто твой друг, и я скажу тебе, кто ты. – Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are. A man is known by the company he keeps.

С кем поведешься, от того и наберешься. – He that lives with cripples, learns to limp. He that lies down with dogs, must rise up with fleas.

Сколько веревочке ни виться, а конца не миновать. Повадился горшок по воду ходить, тут ему и голову сломить. – The pitcher goes often to the well but is broken at last.

Сколько голов, столько и умов. – So many men, so many minds. So many heads, so many minds.

Сколько стран, столько и обычаев. – So many countries, so many customs.

Скоро сказка сказывается, да не скоро дело делается. Не сразу Москва строилась. – Rome was not built in a day.

Скупой платит дважды. – If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly. Penny wise and pound foolish.

Слепой слепца водит, оба ни зги не видят. – If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Словами сыт не будешь. Соловья баснями не кормят. – Fine words butter no parsnips.

Слово – не воробей, вылетит – не поймаешь. Что написано пером, не вырубишь топором. – A word spoken is past recalling.

Слово – серебро, а молчание – золото. – Silence is golden. Think before you speak.

Смелость города берет. Храбрым судьба помогает. – Faint heart never won fair lady. Fortune favours the brave.

Смерть все примиряет. – Death pays all debts. Death squares all accounts. Death quits all scores. He that dies, pays all debts.

Смех – лучшее лекарство. – Laughter is the best medicine.

С миру по нитке, голому на рубаху. – Every little makes a mickle.

Смотреть не запрещается. Смотреть ни на кого не запрещено. – A cat may look at the king.

Сначала научись ползать, а уж потом ходить. – Learn to walk before you run. You must learn to crawl before you can walk. Learn to creep before you leap.

Снявши голову, по волосам не плачут. – If you sell the cow, you sell her milk too.

Собака лает – ветер носит. – The dogs bark, but the caravan goes on.

Собака что лает редко кусает. – Barking dogs seldom bite.

Со стороны виднее. – Lookers-on see more than players. Lookers-on see most of the game.

Старого воробья на мякине не проведешь. – Old birds are not caught with chaff.

Старую собаку новым фокусам не научишь. – You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Старый друг лучше двух новых. – Old friends and old wine are best.

Терпение и труд все перетрут. – Patience wears away stones. Elbow grease gives the best polish.

Тише едешь, дальше будешь. – More haste, less speed. Slow and steady wins the race. Make haste slowly.

Третий – лишний. Где двое, там третий – лишний. – Two is company, three is a crowd. Two is company, but three is none.

Трудно только начать. Труден только первый шаг. – It is the first step that costs.

Уговор дороже денег. – A bargain is a bargain.

У дурака деньги долго не держатся. – A fool and his money are soon parted.

У каждой медали есть оборотная сторона. Все имеет оборотную сторону. – Every medal has its reverse. Every story has two sides. There are two sides to everything.

Умный понимает с полуслова. – A word is enough to the wise. A word to the wise.

У плохого мастера всегда инструменты виноваты. – A bad workman always blames his tools.

У семи нянек дитя без глазу. – Too many cooks spoil the broth. Everybody's business is nobody's business.

Устами младенца глаголет истина. – Out of the mouths of babes comes the truth.

У стен есть уши. – Walls have ears.

Утопающий хватается за соломинку. – The drowning man catches at the straw.

Утро вечера мудренее. – Sleep on it. (англ. идиома, не пословица)

Учиться никогда не поздно. – It is never too late to learn. You are never too old to learn.

Хорошее начало – половина дела. – A good beginning is half the battle. A good beginning makes a good ending. Well begun is half done.

Хорошенького понемножку. – Too much of a good thing.

Хорошо смеется тот, кто смеется последним. – He who laughs last laughs best. He laughs best who laughs last.

Хоть горшком назови, только в печку не ставь. Брань на вороту не виснет. – Hard words break no bones. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

Худая молва на крыльях летит. – Ill news travels fast. Bad news has wings.

Цель оправдывает средства. – The end justifies the means.

Цыплят по осени считают. – Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

Чего хочется, тому верится. – The wish is father to the thought. We soon believe what we desire.

Человек предполагает, а бог располагает. – Man proposes, God disposes. Man proposes and God disposes.

Человеку свойственно ошибаться. – To err is human.

Человек человеку волк. – Dog eat dog.

Чему быть, того не миновать. Что будет, то будет. – What will be, will be. What will come, will come.

Чистота – залог здоровья. – Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Что имеем – не храним, потерявши – плачем. – You never know what you have till it's gone. We never know the value of water till the well is dry.

Что легко наживается, то легко и проживается. Как нажито, так и прожито. Легко пришло – легко ушло. – Easy come, easy go.

Что полезно одному, то вредно другому. – One man's meat is another man's poison.

Что посеешь, то и пожнешь. – As a man sows, so he shall reap. As you sow, you shall mow.

Что с возу упало, то пропало. Что о том тужить, чего нельзя воротить. – It is no use crying over spilt milk.

Что сделано, то сделано. Сделанного не воротишь. – What's done is done. What's done can't be undone.

Что у трезвого на уме, то у пьяного на языке. – Drunkenness reveals what soberbess conceals.

Чуть-чуть не считается. Промах есть промах. – A miss is as good as a mile. Failure is failure.

Шила в мешке не утаишь. Все тайное становится явным. – Murder will out. What is done by night appears by day.

Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает. Каков отец, таков и сын. Каков батька, такие и детки. – Like father, like son. As the tree, so the fruit. Like begets like.

Яйца курицу не учат. Не учи ученого. – Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs.

Business English

Focusing on the main problem/issue

What is the main problem?

What is the real issue (here)?

(I think) the major problem is . . .

Our primary concern is . . .

The crux of the matter is . . .

(As I see it), the most important thing is . . .

The main problem we need to solve is . . .

We really need to take care of . . .

It all comes down to this:

Asking for input

What should we do about it?

What needs to be done?

What do you think we should do?

What are we going to do about it?

Do you have any suggestions?

Any ideas?

Making Recommendations

I recommend that . . .

I suggest that . . .

I would like to propose that . . .

Why don't we . . .

Getting started

Let's get started.

We need to discuss . . .

We need to talk about . . .

Talking about discussion items

The first thing we need to discuss is . . .

The first item on the agenda is . . .

The first thing on the list is . . .

First, we need to talk about . . .

Presenting Options

We have several alternatives:

We have two options:

We could either . . . or . . .

Moving on

Let's move on to Item 2.

Let's move on to the next topic.

We need to move on.

The next item (of business) is . . .

We need to go on to the next item.

Shall/Should we move on?

Stalling the Discussion

Before we move on, I think we should . . .

Wait a minute. We haven't discussed . . .

Don't you think we need to . . .

Not so fast. We haven't (yet) . . .

Asking for Clarification

What to you mean by . . . .

I don't quite follow you.

I didn't get what you meant by . . .

Could you clarify that?

Could you elaborate on that?

Making a Suggestion/Proposal

I think we should . . .

Maybe we should . . .

I suggest . . .

Why don't we . . .

How about . . .

We could . . .

Giving Feedback

(I think) that's a good idea.

You have a good point.

Good idea/point.

I agree.

I disagree. I think . . .

Sorry. I don't agree with you.

You have a good point, but . . .

That's not such a good idea.

I don't think that's a good idea.

Asking for Opinions

What do you think, George?

What's your opinion on that, Martha?

Any thoughts on that?

Any ideas?

Checking for Consensus

Do we all agree (on that)?

Does everyone agree?

Summarizing

In summary,

The conclusion is . . .

So, we've decided to . . .

We're going to . . . (then)

Closing the meeting

That's all for today.

That's it then.

(informal)

The meeting is adjourned.

(very formal)

Helpful Hints for Business Letters

Before writing a business letter, consider the following:

Objective(s)

Why am I writing this letter?

What do I hope to accomplish?

What action do I want from my reader?

Your Audience

Who will read this letter?

How can I appeal to the reader's interest?

What attitude might the reader have toward this information?

Will the reader consider this good news or bad news?

Organization

What information should be included first/last?

What details does the reader need to know?

Does my conclusion motivate the reader to do something?

Do I end the letter in a positive and polite manner?

Professionalism

Do I use a professional business letter format?

Do my language and style show a positive attitude toward the reader/the company/the product/the information.

Will my reader be offended by anything in the letter?

Proofreading

Are there any spelling errors, typos, etc.?

Is the format of the letter appropriate?

Have I signed my name?

People often become nervous or fearful when giving presentations. Here are some phrases you can keep in mind when preparing for and giving a presentation.

About Yourself

I'm happy to be here. I'm glad to have this opportunity.

(Smile) (Turn nervousness into enthusiasm.)

I (really) want to tell you about this.

I have something interesting to tell you.

About Your Audience

This is something I think you should know . . .

This is important (to you) because . . .

You will be interested to know that . . .

You will benefit by knowing this . . .

About Your Subject/Material

The information is as follows: