Communication Idioms

put in a nutshellput something in a nutshell

Fig. to state something very concisely. (Alludes to the small size of a nutshell and the amount that it would hold.) The explanation is long and involved, but let me put it in a nutshell for you. To put it in a nutshell: you are fired!

"to get straight to the point”to talk directly about a subject

Woman: Well, as you may have noticed, over the past several months, sales have been declining.  Overall growth expectations for the company have not hit their targets.  As a result, profits are down.  Management has decided that, in light of the current situation, the company will have to do some downsizing, that is to say that the company will de-layer the organization.  In your middle-management position within the company, it appears that some trimming will be necessary.

Man: Excuse me.  Could you please just get straight to the point.

Woman: Sales are down.  Profits are down.  You are out of a job.

Man: I see. Thank you.

hear on the grapevinehear something on/through the grapevine

to hear news from someone who heard the news from someone else (usually + that ) I heard on the grapevine that she was pregnant, but I don't know anything more.

to put someone in the picture

Fig. well-informed; aware of what is going on. (*Typically: be ~; keep someone ~; put someone~.) Please, keep me fully in the picture. John found out about the plan. He's in the picture, so take care.

to talk at cross-purposes

If two or more people are at cross purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about different subjects without realizing this:I think we've been talking at cross purposes - I meant next year, not this year.

to be on the same wavelength

If two people are on the same wavelength, it is easy for them to understand and agree with each other To my surprise, I found that we were absolutely on the same wavelength about most of the important issues. I can't discuss anything with her - we're simply not on the same wavelength.

can’t make head nor tail of it

to not be able to understand something at all We couldn't make head or tail of the film. 'What does his message say?' 'I don't know - I can't make head or tail of it.'

to get the wrong end of the stick

to not understand a situation correctly Her friend saw us arrive at the party together and got hold of the wrong end of the stick. I said how nice he was and Julie got the wrong end of the stick and thought I wanted to go out with him.

to beat about/around the bush

To fail to come to the important point about something; from the idea of a hunted animal hiding in a bush while the hunter is too timorous to follow it in there.

To talk about something without mentioning it directly or avoid getting to the core of the subject--to try to bring up a subject in a roundabout way. Often motivated from a desire not to speak frankly about the subject, either because the subject is taboo, it's impolite to bring it up directly, or the conversation is perceived likely to be painful.Well, Joe, I heard you were thinking about selling your car...

instead of

So, Joe, how much did you want for that Explorer of yours?

Susy, what are your plans for the future?

instead of

Susy, will you marry me?

to get it straight from the horse’s mouth

Fig. from an authoritative or dependable source.I know it's true! I heard it straight from the horse's mouth! This comes straight from the horse's mouth, so it has to be believed.

to be like talking to a brick wall

if talking to someone is like talking to a brick wall, the person you are speaking to does not listen I've tried to discuss my feelings with her, but it's like talking to a brick wall.

(to keep someone/to be) in the loop

in the group of persons communicating regularly about a specific plan or project. I don't know what's going on with the Jones deal since I'm not in the loop. Bob and Jean are in the loop. They can tell you what's happening.

Sources

• idioms.thefreedictionary.com

• http://www.idioms4you.com/complete-idioms

• http://www.urbandictionary.com