Post: Real English please
Real English please →
Posted Friday 28th November 2008 15:59 GMT
In Brits decline to 'think outside the box'
Many of these phrases are absolutely fine, and I don't find them annoying at all. However, I do find them very annoying when used incorrectly, which is what a lot of management seem to do.
I have a nasty habit of correcting or asking questions about meaningless phrases:
2. Touch base
Thank you, but I don't want to play for the company rounders or baseball team.
3. At the end of the day
It's dark and I'm either asleep or in a pub. Oh, the end of the working day? Ok, I'm going home.
6. Blue sky thinking
Yes, nitrogen scatters blue light, what's that got to do with my job?
7. Out of the box
You want me to unpack the new shiny toys? Cool, lead me to them. Where's the screwdriver?
10. Singing from the same hymn sheet
Is it not rather bad form to bring religious doctrine into a place of work in a mostly secular country?
13. Ducks in a row
Repeats of Terry and June can be found on cable TV. Fortunately, watching them is not in my contract.
14. Brainstorming
I am not troubled by epilepsy at the moment, and my job doesn't require me to know much about it. Why are you talking about it?
16. 360° thinking
Gets you back where you started from. If you're going to just go in circles, can I go home?
18. Pushing the envelope
Bring me the head of Willy the mail boy! He knows he's not supposed to fold, spindle or mutilate!
19. At this moment in time
Do you mean "Now"?
20. In the loop
I don't have one for this, but loop reminds me of rope, which usually means sailors, so I can use the pirate icon. Yarr!
