IDIOM CONNECTION
Accounting Idioms
Introduction
Do you ever use the services of an accountant? For what?
Reading
The small company has been in the red for several years and the situation is becoming serious. The company is saddled with debt and the chance of getting back in the black seems impossible. They have invited a group of bean counters from outside the company to go over the books. One problem is that the company does not really know how to keep the books. The only solution to their financial problems seems to be for the company to ask the bank to write off some of their loans. They can then close the books for the year and find an outside accounting firm to help them manage their business better.
Reading Questions
Answer the following questions. The answers can easily be found in the reading above.
1. Is the small company in the red?
2. Is the company saddled with debt?
3. Is there a good chance for them to get back in the black?
4. Were some bean counters invited to the company?
5. Will the bean counters go over the books?
6. Can the company keep the books well?
7. Will the company ask the bank to write off some of their loans?
8. Can the company then close the books and find an outside accounting firm to help manage the business?
Making Connections and Idiom Meanings
Some of the idioms have another meaning or are connected to another meaning. Use this information to help you choose the correct meaning for each of the underlined idioms:
Your score is: ___ out of 8
Yes/No Questions
Your score is: ___ out of 8
Grammar Focus
Your score is: ___ out of 8
Discussion Questions
Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:
1. Do you know any companies that are in the red?
2. Have you ever worked for a company that was in the red?
3. Do you know anybody who is saddled with debt?
4. Have you ever been saddled with debt?
5. Is your personal budget usually in the black?
6. Do you know anyone whose personal budget is not in the black?
7. Would you like to be a bean counter?
8. Do you know anyone who is a bean counter?
9. Do you think that the president of a small company should regularly go over the books?
10. Would you like to go over the books in a company?
11. Do you know how to keep the books in a company?
12. If you had a company, who would keep the books?
13. Did you ever write off a personal loan to a friend?
14. Do you know any bank that wrote off a loan to someone?
15. When does a company usually close the books for the year?
16. Have you ever helped to close the books for a company?
Role Play
Student A: You own a small restaurant which is not doing well. You are saddled with debt and you are not making any money.
You are talking with an accountant about this situation.
Student B: You are an accountant and you are going over the books of the small restaurant. You are advising them to close the business because you believe that it will be impossible for them to get back in the black.