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