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A number of years ago when I began to work at several corporations teaching accent
reduction to non-native speakers of American English, I was often asked to define informal,
everyday expressions. These employees were eager to know the meaning of idioms and
slang that they had heard their colleagues use in the workplace.
At lunches, in meetings, at seminars and conventions, even in homes, Americans use
language that is often incomprehensible to non-native English speakers. This can interfere
with understanding as well as effectiveness.
Non-native speakers believe that some of these sayings could be used to strengthen their
own work presentations or interpretations of employee and customer business related issues.
Certainly these informal expressions are important for doing business and getting along at
the workplace. Again and again my students reported that they smiled politely and laughed
inappropriately when they heard their colleagues talking informally. They knew that these
Americans would soon learn the secret that they did not totally understand what was being
said.
WORD OF MOUTH was created to help remedy this problem. Many of the expressions
explained in these pages are also used in non-work situations. However, the author wanted
to focus this book especially on the work environment.
Thus, the terms included here are defined primarily in the context of the workplace. The
number of non-native speakers is growing dramatically in the workplace of our nation. Men
and women in this group should understand that they are valued citizens and that their
contributions are needed and very much welcomed in America.
If this book helps you learn our language practice better, gets you closer to other Americans
or improve your communications on the job, the author will be pleased and this publication
will have accomplished its goal.
Introduction
One of the problems that the non-native speaker of American English has in the workplace is
a limited knowledge of informal language. Many times the non-native speaker hears
expressions that seem to make no sense. These expressions are called idioms and slang and
are an integral part of any language.
An idiom is an expression that cannot be defined literally, so the dictionary cannot help. It is
an informal phrase, although Americans sometimes use idioms even in formal situations.
Slang is similar to idioms, but slang is so informal that one can only use it with people one
knows very, very well.
Where can you find idiomatic phrases? There is a host of such idiomatic dictionaries. This
book is just an introduction to informal language that is specifically created for the nonnative speaker. From here you can get dictionaries dedicated to defining idiomatic
expressions. Sometimes you can find slang words in a traditional dictionary, but the real
resource for this vocabulary is a special book of slang. This is just a beginning.
I have limited the alphabetic list of informal language to the expressions most commonly
used in the workplace. I feel that these words will immediately help you to better understand
the culture of the workplace, helping you to better understand both colleagues and
customers.
I urge you to try some of this vocabulary because it will help you to learn more about
Americans and get closer to them.
Workplace Idioms
above suspicion - Honest.
Example: Fran said that her boss was above suspicion in all his negotiations.
across the board - Including everyone; frequently related to a change in wages.
Example: The administration gave a 7% increase across the board.
ahead of the game - In a leading position; having an advantage.
Example: Joe is far ahead of the game in sales for the month.
AKA (Also Known As) Also named.
Example: Dan lives near Washington, DC, aka the Nation's Capital.
all year round - Every season.
Example: Christmas decorations are sold all year round at the company.
answer to - 1. Justify all actions to a superior.
Example: He must answer to the department head for last months sales. 2. Respond when
spoken to.
Example: When you contact him, remember he answers to the nickname J.Q.
ants in his pants - Impatient; anxious.
Example: The girl got ants in her pants while waiting two hours for a job interview.
apple polish - Flatter someone in order to gain favor.
Example: Georgia likes to apple polish her boss so he will give her time off.
arm and a leg - Very expensive.
Example: Dont give me back talk. You either do as I say or youre fired!
back to the salt mines - Return to hard work, usually after some relaxation.
Example: Ive been away at a conference or vacation. Now it is back to the salt mines.
back to the basics - To start a project over again.
Example: At the start-up company they decided to back to the basics.
bad egg - Someone who is an evil or intolerable person.
Example: There is always a bad egg in the company who gives the supervisor a lot of grief
and trouble.
bad mouth - Say unpleasant or critical things about someone.
Example: For some reason he always bad mouths the manager.
barking up the wrong tree - Looking in the wrong place or misdirecting ones efforts.
Example: Junichi was barking up the wrong tree if he thought the decline in sales was due
to the recession.
bat around - Discuss something to try to come up with a conclusion.
Example: At the meeting they batted around ideas for a new name for a new perfume.
beat around the bush - Avoid getting to the point; evade the important issues.
Example: Judy beat around the bush so much that no one knew why she was angry.
beat the bushes - Search or scout for someone or something after trying the usual methods.
Example: With the incredible shortage of nurses in our area, we have been beating the
bushes for new candidates.
beef up - Increase or add to.
Example: If you want to beef up your retirement fund, buy CDs, aka, certificates of deposit.
beg off - Avoiding involvement or participation.
Example: Mala was asked to work on Saturday but she begged off because she was
exhausted.
behind the times - Old-fashioned; obsolete; out-of-date.
Example: The company is so far behind the times that it most likely will fail.
bend over backwards - Try very hard or with great effort.
Example: Tom bent over backwards to be friendly with the mailroom clerk despite the lack
of a friendly response.
bet on it - Assert a strong belief or make a prediction.
Example: Ill bet on it that those two companies merge by year end.
big head - A person who thinks he is very important and probably isnt.
Example: The sales department manager has a big head but does nothing to contribute to
sales.
big shot or big wig - Someone important.
Example: They were told that a big shot from the home office was going to pay a visit, so
everyone was making sure things looked attractive in the store.
bite ones lip - To keep quiet.
Example: She had to bite her lip so as not to say anything to her boss about Amy, her coworker.
black sheep - Individual in a group who seems to get into trouble more than the others.
Example: Michael is the black sheep in his department because he is mostly not at his desk
Example: He was told to bone up on the companys products because the VIPs from Japan
were expected to visit next week.
boob tube - Television set.
Example: The cafeteria at the company has a boob tube.
botch up - To ruin something.
Example: He botched up his experiment.
bottom line - The important idea or fact to remember; conclusion; resulting profit/loss.
Example: The bottom line here is that you can do all the research you want, but if it doesnt
make money, you will be fired.
bound for - Traveling to or in the direction of.
Example: Mike and Helen were bound for the convention in San Jose.
brain drain - The loss of intelligent professionals from institutions, businesses or countries.
Example: There was a serious brain drain from the university.
brain trust - A group of expert advisors.
Example: They gathered the brain trusts from the different departments and asked them their
thoughts on the whole company.
brainstorm - Generate a large number of ideas with a group in a non-critical setting.
Example: The group brainstormed over possible ways of presenting a speech on fiber
optics.
branch out - Expand a business or activity.
Example: To serve people in New York they are planning to branch out by next year.
in his pocket.
burn out - Work excessively over a long period so as to lose effectiveness.
Example: Joe, who had his own accounting firm, was so burned out after tax season that he
reserved a hotel room in the mountains to rest for a week.
burn the midnight oil - Work overtime; working late into the night.
Example: Mardian brings work home and burns the midnight oil at least twice a week.
burnt up - Angry.
Example: Shuk was so burnt up about the way she was treated by Juanita, that she decided
not to see her again.
butt out - Do not interfere.
Example: Butt out, will you? I know exactly how to do my job and I dont need your help.
buy out - Take over a company or business activity; buy all of the stock or merchandise.
Example: A group of five men will buy out the company.
by and large - Usually.
Example: By and large, the company pays its employees quite well.
by chance - Accidentally.
Example: She heard by chance that she was going to get a promotion.
by the book - Exactly as laid out by someone or by a company.
Example: The boss went by the book at the office, and fired anyone who did not do so.
call it a day - Stop working or stop doing something.
Example: Im going to call it a day and go home to be with my family.
cheer up - Be happy.
Example: Cheer up! You are on vacation in another week.
chew someone out - Scold someone.
Example: Ginos group had the poorest production record for the last six months. He spent
an hour chewing them out for their poor performance.
chill or chill out - Calm down; relax.
Example: He was told to chill out or leave the meeting.
chip in - Contribute money or help.
Example: Everyone chipped in $5 in order to buy a baby gift for the department secretary.
clam up - Become quiet; refuse to talk about something.
Example: When every teller in the bank was asked whether Mitze had seemed nervous for
the past month, each one clammed up, as no one wanted to get her into trouble.
clean out - Remove or sell everything.
Example: They cleaned out all of the merchandise at the moving day sale.
clear up - Make something understandable.
Example: I want to clear up your ideas about this customer even though she is a little
strange.
climb the corporate ladder - To be promoted.
Example: Marne climbed the corporate ladder and is now a vice president of her firm.
climb the wall - Become nervous, anxious or tense.
Example: Ken was ready to climb the wall before giving his speech to a group from London.
clock watcher - An employee who constantly checks the time, usually in order to do no
more work than absolutely necessary.
Example: Sandra is such a clock watcher that her boss has decided to fire her.
closeout - Sale to remove all or certain kinds of merchandise in a store or department.
Example: Bloomindales is having a big closeout of womens merchandise tomorrow.
coffee break - A brief rest period for employees to stop working and relax, usually but not
necessarily, while drinking coffee or some beverage.
Example: Most companies allow two coffee breaks a day for all employees.
cold feet - Fear.
Example: Edgar usually has cold feet whenever he has to give a report to the board of
trustees of the college.
come down hard - Punish or criticize severely.
Example: She comes down hard when someone makes a mistake in her billing department.
come in handy - Be useful.
Example: Mary found that her knowledge of the Chinese culture came in handy.
come out with - Make public; introduce a new product or service.
Example: The womens organization at that firm came out with a very attractive newsletter.
come through - Do what was promised or expected.
Example: The waiters and waitresses always come through when they make everything go
smoothly at a wedding.
come to light - Become or make known.
Example: It came to light that Ernest was the actual author of the article about layoffs in the
firm.
come up with - Discover.
Example: Josh came up with a solution to the problem.
cool it - Calm down and relax.
Example: Cool it, will you? Getting angry at everybody wont help.
cover ones ass - Give alibis, conceal something or take precautions, so one will not get
into trouble.
Example: You had better cover your ass regarding the mistake you made.
crashed - The computer doesnt work; have to restart it.
Example: Ben had to do some work on his laptop but he couldnt because it crashed.
cut corners - Omit certain steps in a work task to save time or money, usually with poorer
results.
Example: The contractors building those condos cut corners so much that the realtors are
having a hard time selling them.
cut in - Interrupt.
Example: I had to cut in while he was speaking to allow someone else to speak.
cut it out - Stop doing something.
Example: Cut it out will you! I am tired of your complaining.
cut the mustard - Succeed.
Examples: Mike could not cut the mustard as a manager, so he was replaced.
Example: Martin had to drum up new business for his law firm.
easy going - Informal; relaxed; not demanding.
Example: She was such an easy going person that everybody wanted to work with her.
elbow grease - Extra effort to clean something or complete a task.
Example: Josie uses so much elbow grease when she clean the cafes kitchen each night that
she received a promotion and raise in pay.
elbow his way in - Go when not invited.
Example: He elbowed his way into the meeting and everyone was surprised to see him.
eye opener - Surprising and revealing event.
Example: The survey of what our competitors were doing came as an eye opener, forcing us
to respond immediately.
face the music - Assuming responsibility for having made a mistake or doing something
wrong.
Example: Her friends told her that she had to face the music and talk with her supervisor
about her incorrect calculations.
fall apart - Lose ones confidence and poise; be out of control.
Example: Bob fell apart when he was told he was being laid off; he started to cry.
fall down on the job - Fail to adequately perform.
Example: When the manager fell down on the job he was replaced within a short time.
fall guy - One who is blamed for anothers errors or misdeeds.
Example: Dick was the fall guy for Teds mistakes in the department. The boss had assumed
that Dick, not Ted, had made the bad decisions.
Example: While this is the fourth company he has worked for, he says that this time hes
there for keeps.
fork over - Give or hand something to another.
Example: Everyone in the office was asked to fork over ten dollars toward the Christmas
party.
freeze up - Nothing works on ones computer.
Example: Isabel went to her computer and was so frustrated; it had a freeze up and she had
to get someone to help her.
from scratch - From the beginning.
Example: Adele had to start her research from scratch because no one else had investigated
this particular formula.
front office - Where the companys headquarters is located.
Example: Youll have to go to the front office to get approval for that particular project.
full of crap - Not to be believed.
Example: The boss told a man in the restaurant that he was full of crap when the man said he
paid much less for the same meal across the street.
full of oneself - Believing that one is wonderful while having no time to think about anyone
else.
Example: Marie is so full of herself that she can only think of how to get ahead in the
company rather than meet the needs of her employees.
get a feel - Find a way to solve a problem or handle a situation.
Example: Management had to get a feel on how to find other jobs for executives they laid
off.
get across - Have someone understand ones ideas or positions.
Example: The union president failed to get across his ideas for solving a contract dispute.
get ahead - Advance in a job or in life; achieve a better position; make more money.
Example: Mary wants to get ahead in her company, so she has decided to get an MBA.
get away with something - Do something wrong without getting caught.
Example: Ken presented Norms plan as his own and got away with doing so.
get down to business - Start talking about or doing important things.
Example: Johnny gets down to business the minute he walks into the office and has no time
for small talk.
get off on the wrong foot - Start something poorly or unfavorably, especially in a new job
or relationship.
Example: Georgio got off on the wrong foot with his supervisor when he started contacting
other departments directly.
get off ones back - Leave someone alone; stop bothering someone.
Example: Get off my back, I am tired of having you tell me what to do!
get the ball rolling - Start something.
Example: The builders wanted to get the ball rolling on the new building by starting
construction ASAP.
get the hang of it - Understand how to do something.
Example: Chan bought a new computer for the office but he had to get the hang of it before
he could start using it.
Example: The client gave the go ahead to start promoting the new product.
go down the drain - Be discarded or replaced.
Example: The old computer system went down the drain when a new one was installed.
go dutch treat - Go out and each person pay for his or her self.
Example: When they went to the Four Seasons restaurant, they went dutch treat.
go-getter - One who is ambitious.
Example: Sam was a real go-getter; he became the head of the company in two years.
go for it - Try to get what you want.
Example: We told the interns to go for it! They might get a full time job!
go out of ones way - Make a special effort that takes extra time and care in order to help
someone or get a job done.
Example: Pierre went out of his way to help George use the computer.
go public - 1. Sell shares of a private company to the public through an Initial Public
Offering (IPO) on a stock exchange; 2. Tell the world about private company news.
Example: The private cosmetics firm will finally go public by selling stock; or, it will make
public news that it does not have to go public.
go to bat for someone - Support or help someone who is having problems.
Example: Frank always goes to bat for Karla when her childcare problems threaten her
attendance on the job.
go under - Fail; go bankrupt.
Example: That business will go under because it does not keep up with technology.
Example: Doctor Hou hung up his shingle and began seeing patients right away.
hard (or tough) as nails - Strong willed and able to face many problems without getting
upset.
Example: The new boss is hard as nails when he faces adverse and difficult situations.
hard going - Difficult time.
Example: Stella found it hard going looking for a job.
hassle - 1. A situation that is difficult or imposing.
Example: It is such a hassle to get a secretary to type a letter for me. 2. A heated debate.
Example: I had a real hassle with Peter yesterday but we are still friends. 3. Argue.
Example: George hassled with Sebastian about who was going to use the computer first. 4.
Berate; bother.
Example: The boss hassled Pedro for no apparent reason.
have a time - Have difficulties.
Example: The men are really having a time with the increase in work.
have a short fuse - Get angry very quickly.
Example: I wouldnt want to work for her boss because she has such a short fuse.
have charge of - Be responsible for.
Example: She has charge of the biggest department in the store.
head hunter - A person or a firm that finds jobs for executives.
Example: She went to a head hunter to find a new job in New York.
heart to heart talk - A serious talk between sympathetic people.
Example: She had a heart to heart talk with her supervisor about her career path.
Example: I cannot keep up with Su Pi as she types much faster than I do.
kick around - Discuss in an informal fashion.
Example: The team kicked around several solutions to the problem of hiring part-time help.
kick in - Contribute money along with others to help pay for something.
Example: Everyone was asked to kick in ten dollars to pay for a retirement gift for Malcolm.
kick in the pants - 1. An insult.
Example: The strikers felt they got a kick in the pants when the company owners refused to
offer even a small pay increase. 2. Action to encourage someone to move or work more
rapidly.
Example: Don would be a good worker if only someone would give him a good kick in the
pants.
kick in the teeth - Insult.
Example: When the boss told her she was a sloppy worker, it was a kick in the teeth to her.
kick ones self - Be sorry about an action.
Example: When I heard how good the office party was, I could have kicked myself for not
going.
kickback - Money paid back, usually secretly and illegally, in order to get a favorable job
or contract.
Example: Myron was arrested because he received a kickback from his clients so that he
would award the contract to them over the competition.
kiss off something or someone - Put out of ones mind; ignore.
Example: You can kiss off that raise because there is not enough money to increase
anybodys salary.
knock it off - Stop.
Example: Knock it off! I dont like the way you are talking to that co-worker.
know the ropes - Know all of the facets of a job; know the job very well.
Example: He knows the ropes here, so, if you have questions, go see him.
know the score - Know whats going on; understand the situation.
Example: He was promoted because he knows the score. If you want to get ahead in this
company, you have to treat the customer like a king.
know-it-all - Someone who always acts as if they know everything about anything and
annoys people with such an attitude.
Example: Donna is a know-it-all. People always get exasperated with her at meetings and
wish she would be quiet.
labor of love - Something one likes very much to do, usually without regard to financial
gain.
Example: Joel said that fixing the bosss car was a labor of love. Hes an automobile buff
and especially likes to work on BMWs.
laid out - Put in order; displayed.
Example: Harriet laid out all the new merchandise and put it in the stores window.
lame duck - Powerless (pertaining to someone whose tenure is soon finished and who
cannot enforce his decisions).
Example: Mr. Kim is the lame duck president, so most of us now go to Mr. Rodriquez, the
president-elect, for important issues and decisions.
could be so entertaining.
lie down on the job - Be lazy.
Example: Dont lie down on the job as the boss could fire you. Then where will you go?
lighten up - Take things less seriously.
Example: Raj was told to lighten up at the meeting after he became angry with all the
suggestions for his project.
log off - Finish working on the computer.
Example: Stefan logged off his computer before he went to sleep.
log out - Put ones name on a list telling management you are leaving for the day.
Example: Susie forgot to log out at work.
loner - A person who prefers to act or do things alone; not associate with other people.
Example: He never consults anyone about his medical cases. Hes considered a loner by
most of his colleagues.
loss of ones shirt - Lose a lot of money.
Example: He was advised that if he invested money in that particular stock, he would lose
his shirt.
low ball - Attempt to get a low or cheap price for a purchase.
Example: The salesman was low balling her for her used car trade-in for a new car.
low man on the totem pole - A person who is at the lowest position at work or because he
was the last hired.
Example: Chu is low man on the totem pole. He has twenty people in his department who
have been there for many years and he was just hired.
Example: My boss is really off his rocker. He thinks he can keep us working after the store
closes without paying us overtime.
off the cuff - Impromptu; not prepared in advance.
Example: She made some off the cuff remarks to the press about the companys new
television show.
off the phone - Stopped talking.
Example: May finally got off the phone.
off the record - Something said without the speakers name being used.
Example: The vice president spoke off the record about the new lawsuit against the
company.
off the top of ones head - Impromptu; without forethought.
Example: Off the top of my head, I think we should hire a full time advertising agency to do
our publicity.
on a roll - Continuing to have success.
Example: Eliezer was on a roll and sold two houses in one day.
on approval - Bought with the understanding that the item can be returned for the full
purchase price.
Example: The floor manager sold the leather couch to the customer on approval.
on duty - Working on the job.
Example: The fireman was on duty when a fire broke out near the station. He put it out
himself.
on edge - Nervous.
Example: Everyone was on edge because we heard that there soon would be layoffs at the
company.
on faith - Agreed to without a signed contract or formal commitment.
Example: She gave Mrs. Knowlton the rug on faith. She told her that if it looked good in the
room, she could come back and pay for it.
on guard - Watchful.
Example: Myron tells everyone to be on guard for shoplifters as much of the merchandise is
openly displayed.
on ones shoulders - Ones responsibility.
Example: Ever since the president resigned, management of the business has been on the
vice presidents shoulders.
on ones toes - Alert; ready to respond.
Example: There were so many customers at the sale that all salespeople had to keep on their
toes.
on sale - Reduced in price.
Example: Those suits are on sale today only. Tomorrow they will be at regular price.
on schedule - On time; at the correct time.
Example: The clothes from the manufacturer were sent to the stores right on schedule.
on the ball - Alert, intelligent and capable.
Example: Karen was on the ball and everyone wanted her to be promoted.
on the level - Honest.
Example: Be on the level with me. Do you really think you can do the job on time?
on the right track - Nearing a correct solution; about to make a beneficial discovery;
improving.
Example: Roberto thinks hes on the right track in finding out why the drug he just
discovered makes people nauseated.
on the spot - In a difficult situation.
Example: Barbara was put on the spot by her co-worker, who lied about the status of the
new project when Barbara wanted to tell the truth.
on the way out - About to leave a job or be fired.
Example: Hes a real troublemaker, so hes on the way out.
out front - Honest and candid.
Example: She was out front about the plans for the new building, saying that business was so
bad that they might have to postpone any new projects.
out in the cold - Left alone to do a job; no support; ignored.
Example: Thawat was left out in the cold when he suggested hiring a new secretary.
out of commission - Not working.
Example: The oven was out of commission, so the restaurant had to close until it was fixed.
out of gas - Exhausted; losing energy or vigor.
Example: The men had worked on the project so long and hard that they were running out of
gas.
out of order - Not working properly.
Example: That printer is out of order. You better find another machine.
Example: Geraldo worked quickly and his report was over with well before the deadline.
own up - Confess; take responsibility for ones actions.
Example: Margo owned up to taking food home from the supermarket without paying for it.
pack ones bag - Get ones belongings together and move; move the contents of ones office.
Example: Pack your bag. Youre fired.
pain in the neck - Someone or something annoying.
Example: This job was a pain in the neck and I wont offer to do it again.
parting of the ways - Separation; usually implying some disagreement.
Example: Those two partners have had a parting of the ways, and each has come out of it
feeling terrible.
pave the way - Prepare for something.
Example: John is doing a lot of work to pave the way for a successful experiment.
payoff - A profitable or beneficial result.
Example: Getting the contract was the payoff for months of serious negotiations.
pay through the nose - Pay a large amount of money for something.
Example: In order to get the new phone system for the office, we had to pay through the
nose.
pay up - Give what is owed.
Example: All union members were asked to pay up their dues or be expelled.
PC - Any personal computer. (Originally used only for IBM-type machines, but has been
generalized to include all types of computers.)
Example: Jorge has a PC at home so he doesnt have to go to the office in the evening when
he has extra work to do.
PDQ - Pretty Damn Quick; immediate.
Example: Get this letter out PDQ.
pep talk - Speech to boost morale or performance.
Example: After twenty people were laid off in that office, the boss gave the remaining
employees a pep talk.
pick someones brain - Get ideas or knowledge from talking with someone.
Example: Charley went into Pams office to pick her brain about how to handle their clients
law suit.
pick up the tab - Pay the bill for someone.
Example: We were told that when the engineer came to our company for interviews, we
should pick up the tab for all of his meals.
pie in the sky - Unrealistic expectations of benefits or results.
Example: Ramons estimates of foreign demand and potential profits for our new product
line were nothing more than pie in the sky.
piece of cake - Something that is easy.
Example: I found the job to be a piece of cake. We had the report on the supervisors desk
two hours ahead of schedule.
piece of the action - Participation in a new plan or activity that will benefit you (with more
money or fame).
Example: She heard about the lottery at work and wanted a piece of the action, as she
Example: Mei and Yoko felt pooped out after they went to Japan on a business trip.
pull rank - Assert authority over individuals in less important positions.
Example: The project manager pulled rank and told the members of his sales staff that he
would speak to the European customers himself.
pull the plug - Stop doing something.
Example: They pulled the plug on buying new fall merchandise.
pull together - Cooperate with others and work as a team.
Example: The chemists at the paint company realized they had to pull together to produce a
better enamel paint.
push around - Take advantage of.
Example: Mr. Smith pushes around the people who work for him.
pushover - Someone who is easily persuaded or convinced.
Example: Veronique was such a pushover that if her boss asked her to jump out of the
window, she would probably do it.
put across - Make oneself clear when communicating.
Example: Stella put across her ideas in her speech to management.
put on ones thinking cap - Actively think about the solution to a problem.
Example: Isaac put on his thinking cap and came up with a new and better way to serve the
customers in his restaurant.
put on the back burner - Set aside an idea or a job until a later time; give something low
priority.
Example: Lets put that idea on the back burner until were ready to talk about a new
Example: She asked me to do an impossible job yesterday and it made me see red.
sell oneself short - Have insufficient confidence in oneself and ones abilities.
Example: Aida was advised not to sell herself short; many thought she could do a good job
as the head of the new department.
sell out - Betray.
Example: Stanton did not want to sell out by revealing his companys secrets to a
competitor, but he needed money for his daughters medical bills.
sell someone on something - Persuade someone to accept an idea or buy something.
Example: The ad agency tried to sell the product manager on a new advertisement for an old
product.
send one packing - To dismiss someone from a job.
Example: He was sent packing for yelling at a customer.
shake a leg - Hurry up; go faster.
Example: Juanita, shake a leg. The meeting is going to start in five minutes.
sharp as a tack - Very intelligent; smart.
Example: He is sharp as a tack and people think he will win a Nobel Prize.
shoulder the responsibility - Be accountable for something; assume responsibility.
Example: Teresa always shoulders the responsibility for what happens in her office. After
all, she is the boss.
shopworn - Merchandise in a store that is old and not in style.
Example: The sale at Macys consisted of shopworn clothes.
smooth operator - A person who has finesse; very diplomatic and pleasant.
Example: She could sell the Brooklyn Bridge to anyone because she is such a smooth
operator. I would want her to work for me.
soft sell - Selling without pressuring the customer or buyer.
Example: They do such a soft sell at that car place that I dont mind going there.
soft soap - Flatter someone in order to get what you want.
Example: He is trying to soft soap the new secretary to get his typing done immediately.
song and dance - Long, evasive explanation.
Example: He gave me this song and dance about why he couldnt come to the office
Christmas party.
sound out - Find out what someone thinks of something.
Example: We tried to sound out that investment broker to discover his views on the new
building.
spacy - Distracted; not thinking clearly.
Example: George was so spacy while giving his speech that he didnt make any sense.
spin doctor - One who manipulates the results of a competitive performance to advantage or
the side he/she favors.
Example: The spin doctors who favored a side in the debates may help them win the
election.
split the difference - Share the cost of something.
Example: They split the difference at the retirement dinner.
spread oneself too thin - Do too many activities or take on too many tasks or assignments.
Example: Mary spread herself too thin and as a result did not do her job as well.
square one - Where one started on a plan or project; the beginning.
Example: Lets go back to square one on the plan. The other ideas just are not working.
start ups - New businesses.
Example: Silicon Valley in California has many start ups.
stay put - Remain in place or not move.
Example: The director was late for the meeting but everyone was asked to stay put until he
arrived.
steamed - Angry.
Example: I was so steamed at that manager that I wanted a transfer out of the department or I
would quit.
straight from the horses mouth - Information gotten from a person who was an original
source.
Example: Stephen got the news about the layoffs straight from the horses mouth, namely the
president of the company.
sweat it out - Wait and worry about something.
Example: I dont know whether we got the contract or not, so well just have to sweat it out
until we hear from the customer.
take care of - Take responsibility for; look after.
Example: He took care of the library two days a week.
TGIF (Thank God Its Friday) - An expression of pleasure that the work week will soon be
over.
Example: Im so tired that all I have to say is TGIF and the weekend is coming up
tomorrow.
thumbs up - Approval.
Example: The union leadership gave the thumbs up for the new contract with the company.
ticked off - Very angry.
Example: Isabelle was so ticked off at her boss that she called him a bad name when he
accused her of being lazy.
tie ones hands - Prevent someone from doing something.
Example: I wanted to go to California to attend a conference, but management tied my hands
by telling me that it would cost too much money.
tied up in knots - Very nervous and tense.
Example: When Josh has to give a presentation at meetings he becomes tied up in knots
because of his shyness.
tight or tightfisted - Cheap; not willing to spend money.
Example: Fred is so tight (tightfisted) that he always waits until some else picks up the
check for lunch.
toe the line - Do everything that is expected of you; fulfill all of your obligations.
Example: Dr. Singh expects everyone to toe the line and get each days work done on time.
toe the mark - Do all that is required or expected in a job or situation.
Example: When Mandy did not toe the mark in her division she was scolded by her
superiors.
top brass - Heads of companies.
Example: The top brass at AT&T entertained some members of Congress last week.
top dog - The highest ranking or most important person in an organization.
Example: Mr. Chang is the top dog in our company. Every decision must be made or passed
by him.
touch base - Make contact with someone, usually to get their reaction or approval for
something.
Example: Jacques told John to touch base with him before going ahead with the new project.
try ones hand at - Attempt a new job or activity.
Example: She decided to try her hand at working the Linux computer since her Apple
computer was down.
tune out - Ignore something or someone.
Example: George tunes out Peter during monthly staff meetings because he is so boring.
turn ones nose up at - Disapprove or refuse.
Example: All of the members of the department turned their noses up at the idea of going
over time.
turnout - People who attended a meeting.
Example: The president of the company got a big turnout for his annual report.
turn over a new leaf - Change completely; start doing things differently and preferably
better.
Example: Misha decided to turn over a new leaf at work by working harder.
Acknowledgments
A big 'Thank You' goes to Daniel Skoler for making this 2nd Edition possible.
Professor Sally Small first started her career as a Speech Therapist but went back to school
to learn more about public speaking and small group discussion. She taught public speaking
for twenty-seven years at a community college in N.J., and created a pronunciation and
idiom course for international students. Professor Small used her expertise as a speech
consultant to international scientists at many corporations: AT&T, Ciba Geigy and British
Oxygen Corporation.
At present, she is teaching a pronunciation course at Stanford University at the Bechtel
Center for international students.