Jargon

Index

Business Jargon

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.