Current Business Jargon

For better or worse, the American workplace is full of

idioms. People don’t begin the project. They get the
project off the ground. They don’t call each other to
discuss progress, they touch base. Later, if the project is
not going well, they don’t end it. They pull the plug.

Business jargon/idioms in the American Workplace:

Below is a list of some business jargons (idioms) used in

the business world:
1. Touch base offline
Let’s meet and talk.
Example: The two CEOs decided to touch base offline in
order to discuss matters face-to-face.

2. Blue sky thinking

Creative ideas free from practical constraints.
Example: Really successful companies allow blue sky
thinking time for their Research and Development teams.
3. Punch a puppy
Do something detestable but good for the business.
Example: The CEO adopted a punch a puppy approach by
firing 3 Assistant VPs and using the money to provide
immediate extensive funding to the Research and
Development team.

4. Thought shower
To come up with several ideas.
Example: During their monthly meeting, the CFO
required a thought shower from the directors and assistant
managers to generate multiple solutions to the problem
being discussed.

5. It’s on my radar
I am aware of it.
Example: The CEO said that a possible take-over attempt
from a larger competitor was on his radar.
6. Close of play
The end of the day.
Example: The Chief Accountant insisted that the budget
report must be ready by close of play.

7. Singing from the same hymn sheet

All in agreement.
Example: Because all members of the planning team were
not singing from the same hymn sheet, no concrete
resolutions evolved from the meeting.

8. Peel the onion

To examine a problem in detail.
Example: The tech team was ordered to peel the onion to
come up with a resolution to fix the on-going computer
related technical issues creating communication problems
within the company.

9. To wash its own face

To justify or pay for itself.
Example: Although currently an expensive process, most
automobile companies have come on board in making
fully electric vehicles because in the very near future they
believe the fully electric vehicle will wash its own face.

10. Pull one’s weight

To do one’s share of the work
Example: Don’t rely on others to get your job done. You
need to pull your own weight.

11. Pull the plug

To put a stop to a project or initiative, usually because it’s
not going well; to stop something from moving foward; to
discontinue
Example: After losing millions of dollars drilling for oil
in Nebraska and finding nothing, the oil company finally
pulled the plug on its exploration project.

12. Put a stake in the ground

To take the first step; to make a big move to get
something started; to make a commitment
Example: Our business in California has brown steadily
over the past two years. Now is the time to put a stake in
the ground and open a regional office there.

13. Rally the troops

To motivate others; to get other people excited about
doing something
Example: After the lay-offs and salary cuts, the airline
president organized a meeting to rally the troops and plan
for the next year.

14. Reality check

Let’s think realistically about this situation
Example: You think we can start selling our products
through our website next month? Time for a reality
check! Nobody at our company knows anything about e-
commerce.

15. Scale back one’s hours

To reduce the number of hours one works
Example: When Christine had a baby, she decided to
scale back her hours and just work part – time.
16. Shape up or ship out!
Improve your behavior or leave; if you don’t improve
your performance, you’re going to get fired.
Example: Martin finally had enough of Todd’s negative
attitude. “Shape up or ship out“he told Todd.

17. Step up to the plate

To take action; to do one’s best; to volunteer
Example: We need somebody to be in charge of
organizing the company holiday party. Who’d like to step
up to the plate and start working on this project?

18. Belt-tightening
Reduction of expense
Example: When worldwide demand for software
decreased, Microsoft had to do some belt-tightening.

19. Bite the bullet

To make a difficult or painful decision; to take difficult
step
Example: When demand was down, U.S. automakers had
to bite the bullet and cut jobs.

20. Jump the gun

Start doing something too soon or ahead of everybody
else
Example: The company jumped the gun by releasing a
new product before the results of the consumer testing
were in.
21. Jump through hoops
To go through a lot of difficult work for something; to
face many bureaucratic obstacles
Example: We had to jump through hoops to get our visa
to Russia, but we finally got them.

22. Keep one’s eye on the prize

To stay focused on the end result; to not let small
problems get in the way of good results
Example: I know it’s difficult going to class after work,
but just keep your eye on the prize. At the end of next
year, you’ll have your MBA.
23. Keep something under wraps
To keep something secret; to not let anybody know about
a new project or plan
Example: I’m sorry I can’t tell you anything about the
project I’m working on. My boss told me to keep it under
wraps.

24. Mum’s the word

Let’s keep quiet about this; I agree not to tell anyone
about this
Example: Please don’t tell anybody about our new
project. Remember: mum’s the word!

25. My gut tells me

I have a strong feeling that; my intuition tells me
Example: It’s true that I don’t know him well, but my gut
tells me that James is the right person for the sales
director position.

26. Nothing ventured, nothing gained

If you don’t try to do something, you’ll never succeed.
Example: It’s risky to spend so much money developing a
new brand, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

27. On top of trends

Modern; aware and responding to the latest tastes
Example: The Gap is on top of trends. They always have
the latest styles in their stores.
28. Pass the buck
Shift the blame; to blame somebody else
Example: It’s your fault. Don’t try to pass the buck!

29. Plug (a product)

Promote a product; to talk positively about a product
Example: American Express often hires famous people to
plug their credit cards. No wonder people pay attention to
their ads!

30. Bitter pill to swallow

Unpleasant.
Something unpleasant to accept.
Example: a) After Gina spent the whole summer as an
intern for American Express, not getting a full-time job
offer from the company was a bitter pill to swallow.
b) The takeover merger was a bitter pill to swallow for the
smaller company.

31. Blockbuster
A big success. A huge hit.
Example: These days almost all Apple products seem to
be blockbusters.

32. Brownie points

Credit for doing a good deed or for giving someone a
compliment.
Example: Sarah scored brownie points with her boss for
volunteering to organize the company’s holiday party.

33. Cash cow

A product, service, or business division that generates a
lot of cash for the company without requiring much
investment.
Example: With strong sales and a great brand name,
Mercedes s a cash cow for the Daimler-Benz company.

34. (To) cash in on

To make money on; to benefit financially from.
Example: Jamie Oliver, the star of the TV Show The
Naked Chef, cashed in on his popularity by writing
cookbooks and opening restaurants.
35. (To) climb the corporate ladder
Advance in one’s career; the process of getting promoted
and making it to senior management.
Example: If you want to climb the corporate ladder, it
helps to be productive and to look good in front of your
boss.

36. (To) compare apples to oranges

To compare unlike things; to make an invalid comparison.
Example: Comparing a night at Econo Lodge to a night at
the Hilton is like comparing apples to oranges. One is a
low cost motel and the other a luxury hotel.

37. Crunch time

A short period when there is high pressure to
produce/achieve a result.
Example: With only one week left to produce an
attractive business pamphlet to make available to
prospective buyers, it is crunch time for the entire design
team.

38. dog-eat-dog world

A cruel and aggressive world where people just lookout
for themselves.
Example: Your company fired you shortly after you had a
heart attack. It is certainly a dog-eat-dog world.

39. (To) dot your i’s and cross your t’s

To be very careful. To pay attention to details.
Example: When preparing financial statements, accuracy
is extremely important. So, make sure you dot your i’s
and cross your t’s.

40. (To) drum up business

To create business; to find new customers.
Example: Sales has been very slow lately. Do you have
ideas as to how to drum up business?

41. (To) face the music

To admit that there is a problem; to deal with an
unpleasant situation realistically.
Example: Enron executives finally had to face the music
by having to admit that they were involved in illegal
activities.

42. (To) fast track a project

To make a project a high priority; to speed up the time
frame of a project.
Example: In order to capture the market first, we need to
fast track this project because competitors are developing
similar products.

43. (To) generate lots of buzz

To cause many people to start talking about a product or
service, usually in a positive way that increases sales.
Example: Procter and Gamble generated lots of buzz for
its new toothpaste by giving away free samples to people
on the streets of New York.

44. (To) have a lot on one's plate

To have a lot to do; to have too much to do; to have too
much to cope with.
Example: To have a lot on one's plate is not an ideal
situation to be in for a manager.

45. The hard sell

An aggressive way of selling.
Example: In the US, in order to meet sales quotas, car
salesmen at car dealerships are famous for using the hard
sell on their customers.

46. At a premium
At a high price; at a relatively high price.
Example: When the flat-screen TVs first came out, they
were selling at a premium.
47. Back-of-the envelope calculations
Quick calculations; estimates using approximate numbers
instead of exact numbers.
Example: I don't need exact numbers right now. Just give
me some back-of-the envelope calculations.

48. belt-tightening
Reduction of expenses.
Example: When worldwide demand for software
decreased, Microsoft had to do some belt-tightening.

49. (To) bite the bullet

To make a painful or difficult decision; to take a difficult
step.
Example: Just a few months before President Obama took
the president’s office, markets worldwide crashed under
the former President George Herbert Walker Bush. As a
result of the market crash, US automakers had to bite the
bullet and make massive job cuts.

50. To stay on top of (something)

This means to stay in control, and not get behind or let
your work pile up.
Example: I have so much work at the moment that it is
difficult to stay on top of it all.

51. To be on the ball

This phrase comes from the sports field. When you are on
the ball, you have to be alert and sure not to make any
mistakes. It means the same at work.
Example: Sam’s great – he’s really on the ball and never
makes any mistakes.

52. To think outside the box

This means to think of a solution that is different to what
is normally done or to think of an unusual, creative
solution to a problem.
Example: We don’t have a lot of money to spend on our
marketing, so we need to think outside the box to find a
way of reaching a lot of customers.

53. To get the ball rolling

This idiom means to start something, usually a project or
process.
Example: Let’s get the ball rolling on this project by
contacting some suppliers and getting some estimates.

54. To brainstorm
This means spending time thinking up lots of ideas on a
topic or problem.
Example: Let’s brainstorm new ideas for the advertising
campaign then choose the best ones to develop further.

55. To pull strings

What happens when you pull the strings to a puppet? It
does what you want it to do. This phrase means to use
your power or influence to make something happen that
would usually be difficult or impossible.
Example: People aren’t usually allowed to schedule
meetings with the directors. If I pull some strings, I might
be able to find a time for you to meet them.

56. Multitasking
This means doing several tasks at the same time.
Example: Andrea’s great at multitasking – I’m so
impressed with the way she handles so many client
accounts at the same time.

57. To bite off more than you can chew

If you put too much food in your mouth at once, it’s
difficult to eat. Likewise, if you accept too much work or
a project that is too big or difficult, you might not be able
to complete it. This is called biting of more than you can
chew.
Example: Designing a new website all by myself is a real
challenge. I might have bitten off more than I can chew.

58. Downtime
This is time when you are not busy working on your main
job.
Example: If you have some downtime this week, please
brainstorm some ideas for our next team outing.

59. Cut corners

“To cut corners” is to complete a task in a fast and
careless way. To do something without paying attention
to details, thereby making mistakes or causing new
problems.
Example: The new filing system won’t work if we cut
corners.
60. Back to the drawing board
To go “back to the drawing board” means to start again
from the beginning with a completely new idea. The
phrase makes you think of a blackboard being wiped
clean. It is most often used when an idea or project is
rejected.
Example: a) The client hated your proposal so we’ll have
to go back to the drawing board. b) He’s going back to the
drawing board on this one.

61. Call it a day

To “call it a day” means that you are giving up on
something. This can refer to taking a break on a project
because you have reached a good point to stop, or to
stopping something completely. It can be negative or
positive, depending on the context. Taken literally, it is a
phrase stating that the working day is officially over.
Example: a) Right team, we’ve made plenty of progress, I
think it’s time to call it a day! b) The trial hasn’t worked,
I’m afraid we’re going to have to call it a day.

62. Workflow
This extremely ungrammatical business phrase has
become very common in offices. “Workflow,”
unsurprisingly, refers to the pace that an employee is set
tasks and expected to complete them by. When someone
says that they have “workflow issues,” they often mean
that they are overworked. It places the blame on the
“flow” of incoming tasks — i.e., communication within
the workplace — rather than the work itself, which is
quite smart, and a good way of explaining a missed
deadline! In rare cases, the term “workflow issues” also
describes not having enough work. Most companies
actually use project management software to manage their
workflows and projects to not have workflow issues.
“How is your workflow?” is a way of asking a colleague
whether they have too much work to do, or whether they
feel underused. People can be reluctant to answer or ask a
direct question about how busy they are at their job, so
this is a polite way to talk about the problem.

Example: a) I am having some workflow issues and won’t

be able to help you until next week. b) How is your
workflow at the moment?

63. Touch base

To “touch base” with someone is to talk to them, whether
digitally or in person, usually briefly. It usually described
keeping someone up-to-date with developments on
something you are both working on. (Note: This is an
expression that business jargon has adapted from the
world of sport. In baseball, players touch base with their
feet in order to be “safe” or to record an out.)
Example: If you could just touch base with Robert after
the meeting, that would be great.

64. Reach out

To “reach out” is to get in contact with someone, usually
a person who you do not know well. It is very common,
but when you first hear it, seems like a very strange use of
the word “reach,” which implies physical stretching!
Example: Don’t hesitate to reach out to Helen if you have
any questions.

65. Keep me in the loop

To “keep me/her/him/them in the loop” means to keep
someone involved and updated about developments in a
project. It comes from “looping” someone into an email
chain — that is, cc’ing them into the digital conversation.
Example: a) Keep Stuart in the loop when discussing the
merger, please. b)Keep me in the loop on decisions about
the targets for the next quarter.

66. Drill down into

To “drill down into” something is to explore it in more
depth.
Example: I think we can drill down into this further when
we meet with the Product team.

67. As of yet
This is very commonly seen in emails, and means “at the
moment,” This is another time when business jargon
defies English grammar rules, yet still comes across as
formal!
Example: As of yet, we have no plans to hire a Social
Media Manager.

68. Forward planning

Many business terms make basic concepts sound
complicated in order to come across a little more
impressive, and this is one of them. “Forward planning”
just means “planning,” since all planning is for activities
that will take place in the future.
Example: I think we need a degree of forward planning on
this issue.

69. At the end of the day

Despite the reference to the ending of the day, this phrase
has nothing to do with time, or with going home after
work. It means “when everything is taken into
consideration,” and is used to signify that a speaker is
giving their concluding statement on a matter. It can be
exchanged for the word “ultimately,” “At the end of the
day” is often heard in business English, but is also quite
informal.
Example: At the end of the day, we did the best we could
in a difficult situation.

70. Proactive
This word is not solely used in corporate speak, but it is
overused in an office setting. To be “proactive” is to take
the initiative on something — which usually means
embarking on a new task yourself, without waiting for
your colleagues or boss to prompt you. It might also mean
making the first step in contacting someone you are going
to work with.
Example: I would really appreciate if you could be
proactive on attracting new clients, George.

71. Action points

“Action points” are proposals for specific actions to be
taken. This phrase is often heard towards the end of a
meeting or written at the end of a long email.
Example: I came out of the meeting with three action
points.

72. Cut to the chase

To “cut to the chase” means to “get to the point without
wasting time.”
Example: Let’s cut to the chase: are you going to finish
the report on time, or not?

73. Get the ball rolling

To “get the ball rolling” means to get started on
something; to begin making meaningful progress.
Example: Hopefully, we can get the ball rolling on the
new project next week.

74. Stay ahead of the curve

To “stay ahead of the curve” is to maintain any advantage
you have gained over the competition. It is also
sometimes used more generally to describe the need to
work hard to avoid losing progress.
Example: We need to stay ahead of the curve otherwise
our competitors will wipe us out.

75. Due diligence

Until very recently, “due diligence” was a term only used
in a legal context. It used to describe the action that is
considered reasonable for people to take in order to stay
safe, and on the correct side of the law. In business
jargon, “due diligence” refers to the necessary research
behind a good decision. If you have done your “due
diligence,” then you have given an issue the attention it
deserves and weighed alternatives to the solution you
intend to take.
Example: We’ve done our due diligence and none of the
other contractors seem more qualified.

76. Best practice

A “best practice” is a method accepted to be the most
effective means of doing something. They can be
industry-wide or specific to a company. Many businesses
encourage employees to follow a set of “best practices”
described in a company handbook — that is, the rules,
procedures and techniques to use in day-to-day
operations.
Example: It is prudent to look into best practices in the
industry while creating Human Resources policies within
the company.

77. Upskill
This business term is another formal but ungrammatical
replacement for an existing word: to train. To some,
“upskilling” sounds more youthful than “training”.
Example: We chose to upskill a junior employee rather
than hire someone senior straight away.

78. Dynamic
The word “dynamic” is not exclusive to corporate speak,
but it is over-used in professional life. It is often heard as
a more office-friendly way of saying “exciting”,
“interesting” or “new”.
Example: We launched a dynamic new website in
February.

79. Streamline
To “streamline” something is to simplify the process,
thereby getting rid of unnecessary work. Beware if
someone talks of “streamlining” your team: the word is
sometimes used to hint that non-essential employees will
soon lose their jobs.
Example: We need to streamline the archiving process,
far too many files are getting lost.

80. Align
Businesses with high staff numbers often talk about
“alignment” between teams. This means ensuring that
different departments are working towards the same
goals, and not accidentally working against each other, or
doing similar tasks without sharing what they have
learned.
Example: I think we need to align with the customer
service department on this issue.
81. Go the extra mile
To “go the extra mile” is to put more effort into a task in
order to gain a result which is even better than necessary.
If someone says you “went the extra mile” on a project,
they are praising your work ethic.
Example: We always go the extra mile for our customers.

82. Expedite
It is a formal way of saying “speed up.”
Can you ask Frank to expedite the payment process for
this, please?

83. Down the line

“Down the line” is a friendly expression for “at some
point in the future,” It generally refers to an action that
will occur in a few months’ or years’ time, but this time
frame is vague.
Example: They won’t make a difference now, but we will
benefit from positive reviews down the line.

84. Micromanage
This is a negative word co-workers might use to discuss
the behavior of controlling bosses. To “micromanage”
someone means, literally, to manage them on a micro
level. To watch the details of their work too closely,
instead of giving them the chance to get on with it and
take responsibility themselves. If your boss stands behind
your desk and edits your emails, you might feel that they
are “micromanaging” you.
Example: Olga is a good boss, she doesn’t micromanage
her team.

85. Going forward

The phrase “going forward” is extremely common in
Business jargon, especially in emails. It is a more formal
way to say “from now onwards.” It refers to an action that
will start now and continue in the immediate future
indefinitely.
Example: a) We need to find out if increasing the budget
will be sustainable going forward. b) Going forward, I
want you to work on your time management.

86. Let go
“Let go” is a gentle way of discussing employees being
fired or made redundant. It is more commonly heard than
“fired” since it is considered much more polite. The word
“let” sounds like it could refer to someone leaving their
job willingly, but this is not the case: “let go” is never
used to talk about someone who has left a company by
choice.
Example: a) We need to let Simon go, he has been very
late almost every day this month.b) Due to budget cuts,
half of the Video Team has been let go.

87. Close of play (this is purely British. I added it to

amuse you).
This is one of the many English idioms which was stolen
from the world of sport. In cricket, “close of play” refers
to the end of a day’s matches. In the office, it refers to the
end of the working day. It is often heard in countries
where cricket is played such as the UK and Australia, but
rarely used in the US.
Example: We’re going to need the report by close of play
Wednesday.