firm

noun

/fɜːm/

/fɜːrm/

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a business or company
- a law/consulting/research firm
- an accounting/investment firm
- They hired an engineering firm to produce a model of their device.
- a firm of something a firm of solicitors/accountants/architects
- She works for a firm of management consultants based in London.
Collocations Business
BusinessRunning a business
- buy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchise
- set up/establish/start/start up/launch a business/company
- run/operate a business/company/franchise
- head/run a firm/department/team
- make/secure/win/block a deal
- expand/grow/build the business
- boost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/trade
- increase/expand production/output/sales
- boost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitability
- achieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitability
- cut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/prices
- announce/impose/make cuts/cutbacks
Sales and marketing
- break into/enter/capture/dominate the market
- gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share
- find/build/create a market for something
- start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign
- develop/launch/promote a product/website
- create/generate demand for your product
- attract/get/retain/help customers/clients
- drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales
- beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform the competition
- meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targets
Finance
- draw up/set/present/agree/approve a budget
- keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget
- be/come in below/under/over/within budget
- generate income/revenue/profit/funds/business
- fund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficit
- provide/raise/allocate capital/funds
- attract/encourage investment/investors
- recover/recoup costs/losses/an investment
- get/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loan
- apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide finance
Failure
- lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue
- accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts
- suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses
- face cuts/a deficit/redundancy/bankruptcy
- file for/ (North American English) enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy
- (British English) go into administration/liquidation
- liquidate/wind up a company
- survive/weather a recession/downturn
- propose/seek/block/oppose a merger
- launch/make/accept/defeat a takeover bid
Extra Examples
- By the age of only 28 she was a partner in a top law firm.
- the city's oldest and most prestigious law firm
- I'm a designer at a London-based publishing firm.
- The group hired a large PR and lobbying firm.
- They are an investment-banking firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions.
- She set up her own software firm.
- The technology is now available for use by government agencies and private firms.
- He founded a firm called Artek in 1935 to manufacture and distribute his designs.
- He owns a local construction firm.
- Wendy has joined the firm as director of marketing.
- Local firms are finding it difficult to compete in the international market.
- She hired a firm of private detectives to follow him.
- He is the senior partner of a firm of solictors.
- She heads a firm of independent financial advisers.
- The firm employs 85 000 people around the world.
- The firm was taken over by a multinational consultancy.
- The well-established firm closed down with the loss of 600 jobs.
- They are likely to merge with a bigger firm.
- US firms operating in China
- firms operating in domestic makets
- a firm specializing in high-tech products
- At 16 he went to work for the family firm.
Topics Businessb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- large
- major
- …
verb + firm
- establish
- found
- launch
- …
firm + verb
- be based in something
- expand
- grow
- …
preposition
- in a/the firm
- within a/the firm
phrases
- a client of a firm
- a firm of accountants, consultants, solicitors, etc.
- a partner in a firm
- …
See full entry
Word Originnoun late 16th cent.: from Spanish and Italian firma, from medieval Latin, from Latin firmare ‘fix, settle’ (in late Latin ‘confirm by signature’), from firmus ‘firm’; compare with farm. The word originally denoted one's autograph or signature; later (mid 18th cent.) the name under which the business of a firm was transacted, hence the firm itself (late 18th cent.).

firm

adjective

/fɜːm/

/fɜːrm/

(comparative firmer, superlative firmest)

Idioms

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fairly hard; not easy to press into a different shape
- a firm bed/mattress
- These peaches are still firm.
- It was good to feel the firm ground underfoot after hours of trudging through flooded fields.
- Bake the cakes until they are firm to the touch.
Extra Examples
- Use extra stuffing to make the cushions firmer.
- exercises to keep your muscles firm
- He put a hand on her shoulder, which was firm and slender.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- feel
- look
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
See full entry
not likely to change
- a firm believer in socialism
- a firm agreement/date/decision/offer/promise
- firm beliefs/conclusions/convictions/principles
- She is a firm favourite with the children.
- We have no firm evidence to support the case.
- They remained firm friends.
Extra Examples
- No firm agreement was reached.
- No firm date has yet been set for the launch.
- Jo held firm: nothing else would do.
- We stand firm on these principles.
- At the age of 87 he is still a firm believer in socialism.
- Further research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- sound
- hold
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
preposition
- with
See full entry
strongly fixed in place synonym secure
- Stand the fish tank on a firm base.
- No building can stand without firm foundations, and neither can a marriage.
(of somebody’s voice or hand movements) strong and steady
- ‘No,’ she repeated, her voice firmer this time.
- With a firm grip on my hand, he pulled me away.
- She took a firm hold of my arm.
- Her handshake was cool and firm.
- Close the hatches with a firm push on the lever.
(of somebody’s behaviour, position or understanding of something) strong and in control
- to exercise firm control/discipline/leadership
- Parents must be firm with their children.
- The company now has a firm footing in the marketplace.
- This book will give your students a firm grasp of English grammar.
- We need to keep a firm grip on the situation.
Extra Examples
- Her employees regarded her as firm but fair.
- Many of the teachers feel that firmer discipline is needed in the school.
- People are looking towards him for firm leadership.
- The authorities took firm action to end the violence.
[usually before noun] firm (against something) (of a country’s money, etc.) not lower than another
- The euro remained firm against the dollar, but fell against the yen.

firm

adverb

/fɜːm/

/fɜːrm/

Word Originadverb Middle English: from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus.

Idioms

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Idioms

hold firm (to something)

(formal) to believe something strongly and not change your mind
- She held firm to her principles.

stand fast/firm

to refuse to move back; to refuse to change your opinions

firm

verb

/fɜːm/

/fɜːrm/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they firm	/fɜːm/ /fɜːrm/
he / she / it firms	/fɜːmz/ /fɜːrmz/
past simple firmed	/fɜːmd/ /fɜːrmd/
past participle firmed	/fɜːmd/ /fɜːrmd/
-ing form firming	/ˈfɜːmɪŋ/ /ˈfɜːrmɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[transitive] firm something to make something become stronger or harder
- Firm the soil around the plant.
- This product claims to firm your body in six weeks.
[intransitive] firm (to/at…) (finance) (of shares, prices, etc.) to become steady or rise steadily
- The company's shares firmed 3p to 696p.

Word Originverb Middle English: from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus.

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