Idioms for Making Decisions
- (Give Someone) Carte Blanche
- All Things Being Equal
- Up for Grabs
- On the Bubble
- All Told
- All Things Considered
- Up in the Air
- Raise Red Flags
- Rubber-Stamp (v.)
- Take It or Leave It (command)
- Out of the Loop
- On the Same Page
- Flip-Flop (v. or n.)
- Fish or Cut Bait (usually an exclamation)
Phrases & Idioms for Making Decisions with Meaning & Examples
(Give Someone) Carte Blanche
- Meaning: Allow someone complete freedom; entrust a decision to someone.
- Example: We gave the new project manager carte blanche to make any changes necessary to improve the team’s productivity.
All Things Being Equal
- Meaning: Assuming everything is the same.
- Example: All things being equal, we should choose the option that costs less.
Up for Grabs
- Meaning: Available to be taken or chosen.
- Example: The promotion is up for grabs, so we should all apply for it.
On the Bubble
- Meaning: Uncertain or undecided.
- Example: The outcome of the election is still on the bubble, with both candidates having a chance to win.
All Told
- Meaning: Considering everything.
- Example: All told, we spent over $10,000 on our vacation.
All Things Considered
- Meaning: Taking everything into account.
- Example: All things considered, we decided to cancel the project due to budget constraints.
Up in the Air
- Meaning: Uncertain or undecided.
- Example: The future of the company is up in the air, with rumors of a merger circulating.
Raise Red Flags
- Meaning: To signal a potential problem or issue.
- Example: The lack of communication from the team leader raised red flags about the project’s progress.
Rubber-Stamp (v.)
- Meaning: To approve or authorize without much thought.
- Example: The manager rubber-stamped the proposal without reviewing it thoroughly.
Take It or Leave It (command)
- Meaning: Accept the offer as is or decline it.
- Example: The seller said, “This is my final offer. Take it or leave it.”
Out of the Loop
- Meaning: Not informed or included in the decision-making process.
- Example: The new employee felt out of the loop because he wasn’t invited to the team meeting.
On the Same Page
- Meaning: In agreement or understanding.
- Example: We need to get everyone on the same page before we can move forward with the project.
Hobson’s Choice
- Meaning: A choice among bad options.
- Example: The restaurant only had one dish left, so it was Hobson’s choice between that or nothing.
Flip-Flop (v. or n.)
- Meaning: To vacillate between two choices, to be indecisive.
- Example: The politician’s flip-flop on the issue made it hard to trust him.
Fish or Cut Bait (usually an exclamation)
- Meaning: To make a decision and take action.
- Example: The boss said, “It’s time to fish or cut bait. We need to decide whether to expand the business or not.”
