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Glossary of Business Jargon
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A little on the edge  Testy, irritable, and/or nervous reactions while working on a task.
Back against the wall  Last opportunity or chance to perform.
Back burner  Not treated as a top priority; not as important as other matters.
Back pedaling  Attempting to correct a mistake or reverse an action that was unsuccessful.
Ballyhooed  Talked about in an exaggerated way.
Bargaining chip  Situation or circumstances that are used to have an advantage in negotiating.
Been there, done that  Prior experience.
Behind the 8 ball  Actions that leave an unfair advantage on last resort in matters.
Being on the front line  Performing tasks that require technical skills.
Below the belt  Unethical or unfair tactics.
Bottom line  The last line in a profit and loss statement; it refers to net profit or lost.
Brightest days  The best of times for a person or organization.
Bring to the Table  Supplying information or facts that can be helpful when decisions have to be made.
Bull market  Situation where the stock market is increasing in value and investors feel it will continue to grow.
CCO  Chief Customer Officer.
Center stage  A very important position.
Champaign taste  Having a desire to purchase premium products and services.
Circle the wagon  Gathering person(s) who provide support and additional resources against opposing actions.
Climbed the ladder  Promoted to higher-level jobs.
Cost of doing business  Expenses necessary before making profit.
Cool under fire  Ability to complete a task under stressful conditions.
Counting on it  Expecting it.
Do the math  Providing specific facts that aid in concluding or summarizing a decision.
E-mail snooped  When someone other than the addressee reads e-mail messages.
Even playing ground/field  Circumstances and/or talents are identical for all participating parties.
Fine tuning  Giving attention to details or precision before final draft.
Free ride  Receiving a favor without incurring any expenses.
From scratch  From the beginning.
Frosting on the cake  Making a good decision even better with additional perfection.
Go for broke  Attempt that is extreme and usually lacks results or final action.
Going down a slippery slope  Actions that are not guaranteed to be successful; speculation.
Going public  A company making stock ownership available to the general public.
Gone off the deep end  Doing something risky, almost crazy—like jumping into the deep end of a swimming pool when you can’t swim.
Goofing off  Accounting system for organizations whose purpose is not generating a profit but serving ratepayer, taxpayers, and others according to a duly approved budget.
Gray area  Alternatives that are not clearly determined as positive or negative actions.
Hard and fast rule  Laws and/or restrictions that are not negotiable.
Hard copy  Copy printed on paper.
Head hunter  Person looking for qualified job applicants for a particular job position.
Hearsay  Rumors within the workplace.
Heart  The most important part of something; the central force or idea.
Heart-to-heart talk  Conversation expressing sincere or truthful opinions.
Hi-powered  Top producer or No.1 ranking.
Hot second  Immediately.
Huddle room  Room in a virtual office design used for private meetings or conversations.
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it  Don’t risk making things worse by changing things that don’t need to be changed.
In the black  Company making profit.
In the red  Company losing money.
Jumped headfirst  Began quickly and eagerly without hesitation.
Key player  Important participant.
Kick back and relax  To make a rest.
Know-how  A level of specific expertise.
Let the chips fall as they may  Attempt best move and hope for a great success.
Level playing field  Treating everyone equally.
Loggers  Persons who logged on to the internet.
Measuring stick  Tool used to evaluate or compare something.
Mint condition  In excellent condition or superior results.
Missing the Boat  Failure to understand and/or interpret an action.
More than meets the eye  More than one can see with his or her own eyes; much is happening that is not visible.
Mouse-click away  Ease of doing something by using the computer or Internet.
Muddy the water  Making things even more difficult than they currently are.
Net meeting  Conference call through computer network system.
Out of the office loop  Out of the line of communication that occurs in the workplace.
Out of the loop  Being left out of communication and/or not being included in the decision-making process within an office.
Pass the “smell test”  Circumstances and/or decisions are not illegal or unethical.
Past the smell test  Decision(s) that does not violate rules or policies.
Pave the way  Process of making a task easier.
Perks  Short for perquisites; compensation in addition to salary, such as day care or a company car.
Piece of the action  A share in the opportunity.
Pink slip  A notice that you’ve lost your job.
Pitch in  To help as needed.
Poster child  Best example.
Pros and cons  Arguments for and against something.
Pulling rank or file  Using hierarchy rank or organizational title/position authority level for making a demand to a subordinate.
Quid pro quo  Latin phrase meaning “something given in return for something else.”
Quite a stir  Something that causes a feeling of concern.
Rally the troops  Person who gathers allies to achieve a task.
Read between the lines  Interpreting information that is not obvious or requires cognitive interpretations.
Rubber meets the road  Actions must produce high results.
Sea of information  Lots of information, often too much to process.
Served notice  Giving notification and/or warning about a task or action not being completed.
Shrinking violet  Potential and/or opportunities are not being used that originally were viewed beneficial.
Snail mail  Mail or messages that are not delivered electronically.
Smoking gun  An issue or other disclosure that proves a person or organization has done something wrong.
State-of-the-art  The most modern type available.
Step up to the plate  Willingness to complete a task or deadline within a short notice.
Take a back seat  Actions or decisions are not top priority.
Telephone tag  To leave a telephone message when you attempt to return a message left for you.
Thinking out of the box  Nontraditional and/or creative ideas or suggestions.
Throwing money out the window  Decisions that are not beneficial that could have even been avoided.
Time in the trenches  Working with the other employees and experiencing what they contend with as opposed to managing from an office and relying solely on reports about what is happening in the workplace.
Time is money  Time devoted to complete a task/job has monetary value.
TMI (too much information)  Providing unrelated information and excessive information prior to a decision.
To take a break  To slow down and do something besides work.
Toys off the table  Attendees at a meeting are not allowed to place dissenting gadgets on conference tables, i.e. cell phones, back bag/laptop.
Trigger-happy  Term that refers to people reacting too fast to the circumstances facing them in a difficult situation.
Turn a blind eye  Ignore something of importance.
Turn the work off  Stop working.
Up for grabs  Opportunities are available for everyone.
Used as a buffer  An example and/or replacement is used as a filler and task is completed.
Walk out the door  Leave the company; quit your job.
Watching over your shoulder  Looking at everything you do.
We want to look you in the eye  Persons are requesting a meeting in person.
Win-win situation  Negotiations in which all parties are pleased with final decisions.
Working out the kinks  Eliminating any restrictions or stumbling blocks before completing a task.
Working under a deadline  Completing a task that has a specific due date.
Your calling  A person’s performance on the job that reflects superior skill levels.
24/7 or working around the clock  Working 24 hours 7 days a week.







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