food words used in business

bread and butter (noun)

The core, and often most stable or profitable, part of a business or line of products.

“We can't eliminate the line of leather handbags; they are our bread and butter.”

cut the mustard (verb phrase)

When a product or service doesn't meet expectations or is of inferior quality.

“Jan had to rewrite her report because her boss said it didn't cut the mustard.”

apples and oranges (noun phrase)

Two products that have different attributes and should not be compared.

“Comparing a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of sandals is like comparing apples and oranges.”

a plum (adjective or noun)

An excellent assignment or position; one that will enhance one's career in the future.

“Karen turned down a plum job on Wall Street and started her own consulting company.”

a lemon (noun)

A used car, or any product, that doesn't work as advertised.

“Our office manager bought several used computers but a few were lemons.”