Has this ever happened to you: you’re networking or in a social situation in English. Suddenly, someone says something you don’t understand. Everyone else is laughing and you don’t know why! You may have just heard a famous line from a film–and everyone else but you knows what it means. Let’s fix that today!
If you’re doing business in English, recognizing film quotes can help you understand situations, get the jokes, and feel more confident.
Some of my clients have even admitted to me they feel so uncomfortable when they don’t understand that they just ‘laugh along.’ But in business, it’s better for your confidence and communication if you understand your clients! (And better for your business too!)
In this blog post, you can read and review all the lines from these great films and take at quiz on them! But don’t miss the video lesson too where you can see the clips of the films where these quotes appear.
Ready to look at some Famous movie quotes?
Take the quiz at the end of this lesson!
Did you know that I’ve created a quick and easy quiz to go with this lesson so that you can practice everything you see here today? I want you to make this part of the English you actually use in real life! To try out today’s quiz, just scroll down to the last section and you’ll find the instructions there…and the answers too!
What you’ll learn in this article:
1. Movie quotes for Business English: “May the force be with you”
2. Movie quotes for Business English: “Life is like a box of chocolates…”
3. Movie quotes for Business English: “We’re not in Kansas anymore!”
4. Movie quotes for Business English: “I’ll be back.”
5. Movie quotes for Business English: “Feel lucky?”
6. Movie quotes for Business English: “You had me at hello.”
7. Movie quotes for Business English: Take the quiz!
1. Movie quotes for Business English: “May the force be with you”
Have you ever heard this one?
“May the force be with you”
Yes, it’s from the film Starwars!
What does it mean if someone says that to you?
Good luck.
Or possibly, they may be implying that you’re about to do something incredible–nearly impossible.
If your business partner is going on a trip to convince a client to agree to a big new contract, you might wish her the very best!
“May the force be with you!”
2. Movie quotes for Business English: “Life is like a box of chocolates…”
What if you’re talking about something surprising that happened to you with someone on your team and they say…
“Life is like a box of chocolates…”
What the heck are they talking about?
Well, they’re referring to this quote:
“My mama always said ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
It’s from the film, Forrest Gump.
What they really mean when they say that life is like a box of chocolates is that life is full of surprises.
Also check out my lesson: 3 American Movies for Learning English Language & Culture
3. Movie quotes for Business English: “We’re not in Kansas anymore!”
And what would you think if you were talking to a business contact at a conference and someone said…
“We’re not in Kansas anymore!”
Um wait…you were never in Kansas!!
This is what they’re talking about:
“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
It’s from an old classic, The Wizard of Oz.
Dorothy, a girl from Kansas gets swept up in a giant tornado and finds herself in a very, very strange land!! It’s surreal even.
4. Movie quotes for Business English: “I’ll be back.”
Alright, this one is a tricky one. Let’s say you’re in a meeting and someone gets up to leave for a bit. They use a funny accent, and say…
“I’ll be back.”
You wonder if they’re making fun of you & your accent. But no, I assure you.
What’s going on?
This is a famous quote from, The Terminator. And the former ‘Governor’ of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
If someone says this to you, there is a very good chance that they’re joking to lighten the mood. (They don’t literally mean they’re coming back to blow you up!)
You’re safe–they could be going to the restroom, to pick up donuts for everyone, or to make a photocopy.
Either way, they will literally be back.
Also check out my lesson: How to describe a film in English
5. Movie quotes for Business English: “Feel lucky?”
You may have seen this when you searched for something on the internet.
And you see this message:
“Do you want to ‘google it’…or are you feeling lucky?”
What does someone mean if they ask you if you “Feel lucky?”
Well, let’s see if you recognize this one:
“You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”
This is a famous quote from, Dirty Harry.
If someone says this, it’s a slightly humorous way of saying you’re about to try something dangerous, or very risky.
Also check out my lesson: Entrepreneur vocabulary in English
6. Movie quotes for Business English: “You had me at hello.”
What if you’re at a meeting where one person is making a convincing argument for taking an action and someone else stops them and says: “You had me at hello.”
Hmm…
This is a famous quote from Jerry Maguire.
Yes, it’s definitely a romantic moment in the film. BUT it can be used in any situation where one person doesn’t need any more convincing.
Also check out my lesson: How to continue your conversation without searching your words in English
7. Movie quotes for Business English: Take the quiz!
Now you know some of the most frequently used movie references that you might run into in a business setting where native speakers are chatting. Like a networking event, a conference or a business lunch. And now, instead of feeling confused, and wondering if you should laugh along, you’ll understand the reference. And you can feel proud of yourself for that!
Alright, now here comes your quiz!
See if you can match the movie quotes in list below to the meanings in the second list below. (You’ll find the answers in the comments section!)
Famous movie quotes:
“Life is like a box of chocolates”
“You had me at hello.”
“Do you feel lucky?“
“May the force be with you”
“I’ll be back!”
What they mean:
I’m coming back 😉
Do you really want to take this risk?
No need to keep making arguments, I’m all in!
Life is full of surprises!
Good luck.
Also check out my lesson: Let’s touch base : an English expression you can use
Improve your English in the comments
The best way to become more confident using Business English is to practice!
Here’s your Confidence Challenge for this week:
- Are there any famous movie quotes in your culture, that everyone knows?
- Share it with us in the comments! I love learning things from other cultures!
If you learned something from this lesson, please share it with your coworkers & friends. You can send your message to them in English for more practice!
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Become more fluent & comfortable in conversations
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It helps you become more confident speaking in conversations, and get a lot more vocabulary on many different topics! And it’s a fabulous community of “English buddies” from around the world!
TIP: Use the code FFCC40 to save -40% off your 1st month of membership!
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Can’t wait to see you in the Club,
Christina
More good stuff…
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Hey, I’m Marica, Christina’s assistant, and here are the answers to the quizz :
So did you remember the meanings of these famous movie quotes that every business owner should know?
“Life is like a box of chocolates” = Life is full of surprises!
“You had me at hello.” = No need to keep making arguments, I’m all in!
“Do you feel lucky?” = Do you really want to take this risk?
“May the force be with you” = Good luck.
“I’ll be back!” = I’m coming back