across the board
- including everyone or everything
The computer company decided to give the workers an across-the-board increase in their salary.

at a loss
- sell something and lose money
We were forced to sell the computers at a big loss.

bail a company out
- help or rescue a company with financial problems
The government decided to bail out the failing bank in order to maintain stability in the economy.

ball park figure/estimate
- a rough estimate or figure
The contractor gave us a ball park figure for the cost of repairing the new building.

bang for the buck
- value for the money spent
We were able to get a big bang for our buck when we advertised on the Internet.

- short work hours
My sister's husband owns his own company and is able to work banker's hours most days.

bean-counter
- accountant
We asked the bean-counters to look over the figures in the new budget.

big gun/cheese/wheel/wig
- an important person, a leader
The new director was a big wheel in his previous company but is not so important now.

bottom fall out/drop out
- to fall below an earlier lowest price
When the bottom fell out of the coffee market many companies had to stop doing business.

bottom line
- the total, the final figure on a balance sheet
When they examined the bottom line of the company they decided not to invest in it.
bottom out
- reach the lowest or worst point of something
The value of the stock has begun to bottom out and should soon begin to increase in value.

boys in the backroom
- a group of men making decisions behind the scenes
The boys in the backroom told us that we must close down the factory as soon as possible.

break even
- have expenses equal to profits
After only three months the company was able to break even and start making a profit.

budget squeeze/crunch
- a situation where there is not enough money in the budget
We have been going through a severe budget squeeze at our company and must begin to stop spending money in a wasteful manner.

buy off
- use a gift or money to divert someone from their duty or purpose
The land developer tried to buy off the politician but he was not successful.

buy out
- buy the ownership or a decisive share of something
The company was bought out by another large company in the textile industry.

by a long shot
- by a big difference, by far
The soap company was able to beat out the bids of the other companies by a long shot.