Meaning & use
elevator pitch
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
a brief, persuasive speech that explains an idea, product, or person, typically in under a minute
Grammar: Countable; you can say 'an elevator pitch' or 'elevator pitches'.
Patterns
- give an elevator pitch
- an elevator pitch for something
She gave a perfect elevator pitch for her startup at the networking event.
I need to prepare an elevator pitch for my job interview tomorrow.
His elevator pitch was so convincing that he got a meeting with the investor.
Word forms
| plural | elevator pitches |
|---|
Common combinations
- give an elevator pitch
- He gave an elevator pitch to the CEO in the hallway.
- prepare an elevator pitch
- You should prepare an elevator pitch before the conference.
- perfect your elevator pitch
- She spent hours perfecting her elevator pitch.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sales pitch
- A sales pitch is any attempt to sell something, not necessarily short; an elevator pitch is specifically brief and often for any idea, not just sales.
- sound bite
- A sound bite is a short, memorable phrase from a longer speech, often for media; an elevator pitch is a complete short speech with a purpose.
Commonly confused: elevator pitch or elevator?
elevator pitch vs elevator
An elevator is the machine that carries people between floors; an elevator pitch is a short speech, originally one you could give during an elevator ride.
Practice
What is the best situation to use an elevator pitch?
Choose one answer.
An elevator pitch is designed for a brief encounter, so meeting an investor with little time fits. Option An is too long. Option C is a written document, not a speech. Option D is casual conversation, not a persuasive pitch.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “elevator pitch”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.