Cut corners - skip certain steps in order to do something as easily or cheaply as possible
💬 Pójść na łatwiznę/skróty
Examples:
Don't cut corners on this project - it has to be done thoroughly, no matter the cost.
If you cut corners and don't apply a top coat, then the paint will come off faster.
Cut-throat - very intense, aggressive and merciless competition
💬 Zaciekły, bardzo wymagający
Examples:
Competition in the food retailing business is cut-throat.
Thanks to a lot of work Daniel has succeeded in the cut-throat world of international finance.
Cut to the chase - reach the most important points quickly
💬 Przejść do sedna (sprawy)
Examples:
I'm a very busy woman so I need an assistant who can cut to the chase.
After a few introductory comments, we cut to the chase and began negotiating.
Dip (one's) toe in the water - begin or become involved in a new experience or activity in a partial and tentative manner
💬 Spróbować czegoś (nowego)
Examples:
We've decided to dip our toe in the water and begun expanding our operations overseas.
I've been dipping my toe in the water at a local writer's club to get a sense of what others think.
Dot the/one's i's and cross the/one's t's - to do something carefully and make sure that every last minor detail is completed
💬 Dopilnować wszystkich szczegółów, postawić kropkę nad i
Examples:
Please make sure to dot your i's and cross your t's when signing this contract.
I made sure to dot my i's and cross my t's when installing the circuit breaker—you can never be too careful with electrical work.
Down the drain - in a state of failure or ruination; wasted or lost
💬 Poupadać, zmarnować się
Examples:
My father's company is now going down the drain because of the incompetent new CEO.
All of our savings have gone down the drain ever since Jack had his little gambling spree in Las Vegas.
Elephant in the room - an obvious problem or controversial issue that no one wants to discuss
💬 Oczywisty problem, o którym się nie mówi, niewygodny temat
Examples:
After work we sat at the pub but it was clear John's dismissal was the elephant in the room.
Our pending litigation turned out to be the elephant in the room at the staff meeting.
Face the facts - accept reality; deal with the truth (usually negative)
💬 Pogodzić się z rzeczywistością, zaakceptować fakty
Examples:
You have to face the facts. If this company doesn’t start earning money soon; we will have to go bankrupt.
If you don’t face the facts, you are going to lose this account for the company.
Food for thought - something to consider
💬 Coś wartego przemyślenia/zmuszającego do refleksji
Examples:
That meeting really gave me food for thought - I might invest in their company after all.
My adviser gave me some food for thought about job opportunities.
From the ground up - from the first step through to completion; entirely
💬 Od podstaw, od zera
Examples:
This place is a real dump - we'll have to rebuild it from the ground up.
Daniel built his company from the ground up.