Ten business collocations with drive

If you’re a frequent listener of my podcast, then you will know that I love to teach you new collocations to help you better understand the English language. Today is no exception.

In episode 130 of the Art of Business English we will look at ten collocations for the business using the word “drive”. You may think that this is a strange word to collocate and especially in business, isn’t “drive” something you do with a car?

Well, today you are going to discover some amazing collocations that you can use in your next business interaction with the word “drive”. 

Watch the episode here

Collocation with drive

To have or lack drive

If you have a lot of drive then you are someone who is motivated and hard working. you want to succeed at what you do. If you lack drive then you are the opposite, someone who is mediocre and unlikely to succeed.

Example: He lacks the competitive drive needed to succeed

Within a(n) (time expression) drive

If something for example is within a 30-minute drive, that means that it is a 30-minute car journey from where you are.

Example: The company’s head office is only within an hour’s drive of Barcelona’s main airport.

Launch a (insert adjective) drive

When we decide to launch a drive, it means that we are going to start a process to push towards an objective. For example, if you launch a fundraising drive then you are trying to raise money for a specific purpose, and you are pushing to reach your goal.

Example: We’re going to launch a big recruitment drive in the autumn.

Driving force (behind)

We often use this expression with the preposition “behind”, this is because the “driving force” is the thing that is causing the propulsion or thrust on something. It is the force that is moving

Example: Government legislation is the driving force behind these changes in renewable energy use.

In the driver’s seat

If you are in the driver’s seat you are the one who is in control or in charge of something. If used literally, you are the one driving the car.

Example: The company began to collapse when it became apparent that there was no one in the driver’s seat.

Drive “customers” away

If you drive someone away then, you force them to leave, or you do something that makes people want to leave.

Example: The company drove many customers away when the company changed its pricing model to a monthly subscription.

To drive someone crazy

To drive someone crazy means to make them made or exasperated.

Example: John’s new boss is driving him crazy. He is always complaining about everything.

To drive a wedge between

If you drive a wedge between someone then you make a situation hostile and make enemies.

Example: The CEO tried to drive a wedge between two key board members in order to achieve her hidden agenda.

To drive change in an organisation

If you are driving change then you are the one who is pushing to make change happen within an organisation.

Example: The quality team is always driving change within our company; they want the best processes and systems in place.

Competitive drive

Someone with 'a competitive drive', has a strong need or desire to compete with others or win at something.

Example: I have a strong competitive drive, so I played quite a few sports when I was in school.

Final thoughts

There is my list of 10 awesome collocations for business with the work “drive”. Make sure you start learning them and implementing them right away. I am sure you will agree, they are very descriptive and will make your English sound even more native.

If you would like to build on your knowledge of collocations, then why not grab a copy of my eBook entitled “500 Business English Collocations for everyday use”. It includes example sentences and all of the correct pronunciation in mp3 format.

Well, that is the last episode of the Art of Business English until after the summer. Next week I will begin my summer series of 2020, where each week I release the top three episodes from the year.

Take care and have a great summer.