Thus, we hand-picked 20 of them for you to check your ‘I-know-it’ score. Never mind, even if it’s zilch; you sure are a quick learner!
Balls in the air: No this does not refer to circus jugglers! It’s a way to signify that there are several projects underway. Some skill show even then, right?
Boil the Ocean: To waste or kill time. Exactly, what else can it be?
Burning platform: The sign of an imminent crisis or big trouble (speeding towards you).
Drill down: Oil rig, no… It means getting to the crux of the matter. That simple.
Drinking the kool-aid: This word is influenced by the Jonestown Massacre of 1978, but in the corporate world, refers to blindly following something including the company mission.
Human capital: When did humans become equivalent to moolah? Show some courtesy in the form of employees, workforce, staff etc.
Jump the shark: If a product or prospect has passed its prime and is juggling to stay relevant, it has jumped the shark. Jump this phrase for heaven’s sake.
Low hanging fruit: One usually tends to pick these from the tree, it saves one from extra-effort. Similarly, some pick the low hanging fruits (tasks) in a company. Unquestionably, not in the dictionary of hard workers.
Magic bullet: Almost a no-brainer? Apparently, this is a pampering way to suggest anything that’s a cure-all.
Move the needle: Venture capitalists are known to use this pretty much, when they think something is not garnering good reactions, or basically not moving the needle on the graph.
One throat to choke: This means you are the final destination for your client for all answers. How about letting them know, that you are entirely accountable instead?
Open the Kimono: This is preachy. ‘Everyone should share data. No secrets between those in the meeting.’ A bit sleazy, huh!
Peel the onion: Almost literal. Getting into something one layer at a time. Tear-jerker, we say!
Punt: Not the dropkick from a game of football. To give up on an idea, or make it less important for the time being.
Serial entrepreneur: A person who starts several (not particularly successful) business ventures. We wish one's also not a serial shut-downer as well.
Smirting: Flirting with co-workers, especially while together for an outdoor cigarette break. Allowed or not, who cares?
Soft pedal: Giving a false impression that progress is being made, especially to a client. Can we call it cheat pedal instead?
Take it offline: Nothing to do with the internet, but means putting an issue on hold, or let it take a backseat.
Unpack: One might think of it as a closure. In fact, to unpack in the biz world means scrutinising an idea bit by bit.
Zero-sum game: This is kind of self-explanatory. A deal where one party wins and the other loses. Finito!
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