在商务英语背景下，通过搭配而形成了许多专用于商务英语的具有商务特征的短语。

　　例如：

　　outstanding accounts：accounts that are overdue for payment (到期未付的帐)

　　e.g. We hope the outstanding account can be settled within this month. Otherwise, our accounting department will consider changing the conditions of payment for future orders. (我们希望你方本月能将欠帐结清，否则，我方财务部将考虑改变定单支付条件。)

　　debit note： a note in a form similar to an invoice but used where an invoice would not be right for the purpose. The debit note relates to charges, such as freight, extra to amounts already invoiced for goods, and is also used to correct mistakes such as an amount under-charged in an invoice. (借项通知单，指卖方通知买方更正错误的文件，即：通知买方，因其错误而要借记(增加)买方应收账款账户，向对方补收钱;与之相对的是credit note(贷项通知单)。)

　　e.g. We shall of course refund to you the premium upon receipt of your debit note or, if you like, you may draw on us at sight for the amount required. (一收到你们的索款通知单，我们当立即把保险费付还给你们。如果你们愿意的话，也可以开即期汇票向我们收取所需金额。)

　　unsocial hours：time for overwork (与社交活动冲突的时间、加班的时间)

　　e.g. We should emphasize the large extra bonus for working in unsocial hours.(我们应当重视对额外加班发高额奖金。)flexitime system：system of flexible working hours (弹性工作制度：一种根据工作特点灵活确定上下班时间的工作制度。例如，某人每天工作的八个小时内，只有从上午十点钟到下午三点钟是一天中最忙的时间，那么，经商定他可以不在正常的上午八点钟上班，在晚些时候到公司上班;下午也不一定在规定的五点钟下班，可以提前下班。他集中精力的工作时间(如 10：00～15：00)叫做core time，灵活的工作时间叫做flexiband)

　　e.g. The first item on the agenda is a discussion of the management's proposals on flexitime system.(会议安排表的第一项是讨论资方提出的弹性工作制。)

　　living out of a suitcase: often go on business trips (经常出差在外)

　　e.g. My husband is a sales-manager. He is a man living out of a suitcase.(我丈夫是销售经理，老是出差在外。)

　　make five clerks redundant：dismiss five clerks (裁员五名)

　　e.g. Our branch is badly overstaffed. We have now decided to make eight clerks redundant.(我们分公司严重超员，我们已经决定裁员八名。)