Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
90 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
word
|
Definition
|
|
|
Best in breed [adj.]
|
A claim of superior quality relative to the competition. "Go with us and you're going best in breed."
|
|
|
Best practices [n.]
|
Procedures and policies that have shown to be the most effective.
|
|
|
Betamaxed [adj.]
|
When a product has been overtaken by an inferior, but well marketed alternative.
|
|
|
Bifurcate [v.]
|
An overly complex word that HR uses when splitting your position into two separate jobs. Feel free to reapply for either of them. Suggested by JPT
|
|
|
Big enchilada [n.]
|
An important person within an organization.
|
|
|
Big learn [n.]
|
The process of gaining skills that are difficult to master. "We know things didn't go well, but you have to remember that it's been a big learn for all of us." Suggested by Russell H.
|
|
|
Binary answer [n.]
|
A yes or no response. "Stop dancing around the question and give me a binary answer." Suggested by JP.
|
|
|
Bio break [n.]
|
A short pause during a meeting to give participants a chance to use the restroom. Suggestion: Just say, "Let's take a ten minute break." I don't need to think about why Joan is getting squirmy. Suggested by bk
|
|
|
Biome [n.]
|
Environment or market. "We just can't justify full-time hires in today's regulatory biome."
|
|
|
Birdtable [v.]
|
To meet and discuss an issue before assigning tasks. "We'll birdtable the new schedule tomorrow." Suggested by Steve S.
|
|
|
Black box [n.]
|
New and unfamiliar technology about which uninformed decisions are often made.
|
|
|
Black sky thinking [n.]
|
One step beyond blue sky thinking. For those who will not abide any limitations on their flights of fancy. Suggested by Mark.
|
|
|
Blackberry Heisman [n.]
|
A dismissive gesture typically performed by pompous executives. The subject fields a call in one hand while holding up the symbolic "stiff arm" with the other.
|
|
|
Blamestorming [v.]
|
Meeting to discuss a failure and find a scapegoat.
|
|
|
Blast of leadership [n.]
|
When a company that prides itself on employee self-esteem and a non-threatening PC atmosphere must urgently adopt an authoritarian leadership style. "You coddled the union and grievances doubled... it's time for me to step in and deliver a blast of leadership." Suggested by Chris K.
|
|
|
Bleed [v.]
|
To extract a large sum of money from an organization or individual.
|
|
|
Bleeding-edge [adj.]
|
Something even more current than the 'cutting-edge'. Reserved for only the most novel (or hyped) technologies.
|
|
|
Blessed [adj.]
|
Approved and supported by company leadership. "Don't commit another dollar till this is blessed by the corner office."
|
|
|
Bloatation [v.]
|
Filling non-essential positions instead of core staff. Usually occurs just before bankruptcy.
|
|
|
Bloombergsmanship [n.]
|
The art of using Bloomberg's signature financial news terminal so well that it makes up for a total lack of experience in finance.
|
|
|
Blow by blow [exp.]
|
To cover every single detail when giving a report.
|
|
|
Blow hot and cold [v.]
|
To frequently change one's mind.
|
|
|
Blow-in [n.]
|
Advertising materials inserted between the pages of a magazine that you'll spend 10 minutes removing before it's readable.
|
|
|
Blue hairs [exp.]
|
A derogatory term for a female seniors.
|
|
|
Blue money [n.]
|
Funds spent quickly and recklessly. Suggested by Yuri
|
|
|
Blue ocean [n.]
|
A metaphor for the wider and deeper potential of a market that is not yet explored. "I look at the sales opportunities in front of you clowns, and all I see is blue, blue ocean." Suggested by Indranil.
|
|
|
Blue-ocean opportunity [n.]
|
A promising option that might not be foreseen by the competition. "Blue-ocean opportunity baby, we're talking uncharted waters here." Suggested by Jeremy.
|
|
|
Blue-sky thinking [n.]
|
A thought exercise where any possibility is considered. Suggested by Patti
|
|
|
BOHICA [exp.]
|
Bend Over Here It Comes Again.
|
|
|
Boiler room [n.]
|
A sales firm with questionable practices.
|
|
|
Boilerplate [n.]
|
Standard legal wording used company or industry-wide. Since no one really reads it, this is a great place to be sneaky.
|
|
|
Boiling the frog [v.]
|
The art of managing change so smoothly that it goes unnoticed. From the overused, possibly bogus cliché claiming that frogs will jump directly out of boiling water, but will happily perish when heated slowly. Suggested by Jeff I.
|
|
|
Boiling the ocean [v.]
|
Attempting to do something with too broad a scope. This is generally in reference to a project or initiative to avoid. "The client is living a pipe dream; when are they going to stop trying to boil the ocean?" Suggested by w3.
|
|
|
Book the goods [v.]
|
A really slick way of saying 'place an order.' "Make sure you book the goods before you take off this afternoon."
|
|
|
Boondoggle [n.]
|
An unethical use of public money.
|
|
|
Boot camp [n.]
|
A company training program.
|
|
|
Boots on the ground [n.]
|
An overly dramatic way to refer to employees sent to work at an off-site location.
|
|
|
Bootstrap [v.]
|
To start a company with little capital and no outside investment.
|
|
|
Bottom fishing [v.]
|
Purchasing stocks that have a very low value.
|
|
|
Bottom line it [exp.]
|
To summarize. "I don't have time to read your progress report. Can you bottom line it for me?" Suggested by Linda
|
|
|
Bounce [v.]
|
To be removed forcefully, fired.
|
|
|
Bouncebackability [n.]
|
The ability to reverse a losing situation and then succeed. Suggested by Paul G.
|
|
|
Bow wave [n.]
|
The initial effects caused by upper management changes. "The bow wave might hit them a little hard, but they'll get past it." Suggested by Guy from Melbourne.
|
|
|
Brain dump [v.]
|
To extract the knowledge of an expert employee for the benefit of others.
|
|
|
Brand terrorist [n.]
|
An employee who is undermining the organization.
|
|
|
Brandatories [n.]
|
All of the branding elements that must be included in a given ad or campaign. "Make sure the brandatories are in place before the shoot begins." Suggested by Andy B.
|
|
|
Brass tacks [n.]
|
1) Fundamental business information or practices. "We need to scale back R & D and get back to brass tacks." 2) The raw material required for a company's core products. Suggested by Pulkit B.
|
|
|
Breadcrumbing [v.]
|
Sweeping up multiple odd jobs into one single position. Fulfillment and respect not guaranteed. Suggested by Andy W.
|
|
|
Break bread [v.]
|
1) To share profits or wealth with another. "If you're not willing to break bread on this, we walk." 2) To hold a meeting with an informal and friendly tone (and maybe food). "Let's break bread this afternoon and lock it down." Suggested by Chris B.
|
|
|
Break your crayons [exp.]
|
To harm or insult another person. "I don't mean to break your crayons, but your performance has been terrible lately."
|
|
|
Brick and mortar [adj.]
|
A business with a physical location and building, as opposed to the basements and garages that most online retailers ship from.
|
|
|
Bricks-to-clicks [exp.]
|
When a traditional company realizes that a website is necessary to stay competitive.
|
|
|
Bring to the table [exp.]
|
The contribution (or lack thereof) that one makes to a group. "What do you feel you would bring to the table if you were hired for this position?"
|
|
|
Bronx cheer [n.]
|
A loud sound expressing dislike, made by sticking out your tongue and blowing; a raspberry.
|
|
|
Brown-bag [v.]
|
To discuss a topic at a later time, over lunch. "Let's brown-bag your idea and get this meeting back on track. Suggested by Ben.
|
|
|
Bubble it up [v.]
|
To send an issue to the next-higher level of management. "I've noted your concern and I'll bubble it up by the end of the week." Suggested by Charley O.
|
|
|
Bucket shop [n.]
|
A place where questionable deals occur.
|
|
|
Bucketize [v.]
|
To organize information into logical groups. "Let's take a moment to bucketize our ideas." Suggested by Mo.
|
|
|
Build [n.]
|
Borrowed from software types, this term has been heard referencing a revision or addition to a piece of text. "Still working on that report? Make sure I have the latest build by this afternoon." Suggested by Q.
|
|
|
Bullish [adj.]
|
To be in favor of. "I'm feeling bullish about this new product."
|
|
|
Burn grass [v.]
|
To sit down as a group and discuss. May reference assumed Native American culture. "Make sure you burn grass with the engineering before tomorrow." Suggested by Eric.
|
|
|
Burn rate [n.]
|
The speed at which cash is being used up in a given company or project. "We gotta get our burn rate under control, time to let a few go."
|
|
|
Burn the boats [v.]
|
Total commitment to an action that can't be undone. "This 11th-hour financing gives us one final burn-the-boats shot at it." Suggested by Dean H.
|
|
|
Bush league [adj.]
|
A baseball reference describing anything amateurish or unprofessional. "That bush league secretary hung up on our biggest client while putting him on hold."
|
|
|
Business-end [n.]
|
The part of an object that performs an action. "I looked up from my desk and found myself staring down the business-end of a 9 millimeter."
|
|
|
Business-macho [adj.]
|
Describes a male office worker with his shirt opened too far at the neck—at least one button beyond what could be considered business casual. Often accented with tufts of chest hair or gold chains. Suggested by David R.
|
|
|
Business-provocative [adj.]
|
Work attire that is sexy to the point of being inappropriate. "I see that Kim has decided that the dress code for today is business-provocative."
|
|
|
Buy-in [exp.]
|
To agree with a particular position. "How can we get management buy-in on this idea?"
|
|
|
Buzz [n.]
|
Excited discussion in the media and between individuals. Closely linked to word-of-mouth advertising.
|
|
|
Buzzworthy [adj.]
|
A novel idea or product that has the potential to generate public interest in its own right. "These proposals are all terrible. Why can't you morons come up with something buzzworthy?"
|
|
|
C-level [adj.]
|
Describes the people at the top of a company that get fancy 'C' titles such as C.E.O., C.F.O., and C.O.O.
|
|
|
Cabinet condom [n.]
|
Tape applied to the button of a filing cabinet to prevent it from being locked (since the key has long since disappeared.)
|
|
|
Cadence [n.]
|
A far too poetic way to describe how often a scheduled event is repeated. "If we just hit the right cadence on our sprint meetings…" Suggested by brat.
|
|
|
Cafeteria plan [n.]
|
A package of benefits that allows the employee to make choices.
|
|
|
Calendar tickler [n.]
|
A calendar entry with a reminder alarm. Usually sent as an Outlook meeting request. "Throw a tickler on my calendar so I don't forget to join the call." Suggested by Erika S.
|
|
|
Call on the carpet [v.]
|
To discipline. "If you keep exaggerating your expenses, it's only a matter of time before you get the carpet call."
|
|
|
Can I stir fry an idea in your think-wok? [exp.]
|
Could I have your opinion on this issue?
|
|
|
Cannibalize [v.]
|
To launch a new product that takes market share away from one's own established products.
|
|
|
Capsizing [v.]
|
Laying-off employees (downsizing) to the point where an organization can no longer function.
|
|
|
Captive lunch [n.]
|
When management wheels in the sandwiches at 12pm, just when you thought you could escape to run a few errands. Suggested by Tom T.
|
|
|
Care [n.]
|
Synonym for 'concern'. Used by managers who don't want to admit to having concerns. "I have a care about this budget decrease." Suggested by NoTable.
|
|
|
Career Limiting Move (CLM) [n.]
|
An action or comment that could hinder the future progression of one's career.
|
|
|
Career suicide [n.]
|
An action that causes you to lose both your current job, and any chance you'll find another one in your field. "If you blow the whistle on this, it's career suicide."
|
|
|
Carpool tunnel syndrome [n.]
|
The semi-conscious state that is the result of repeated early morning ride sharing.
|
|
|
Carrots and sticks [n.]
|
Incentives and punishments. "If you want to motivate these clowns, try less carrot and more stick."
|
|
|
Carte blanche [exp.]
|
The freedom to make any and all decisions.
|
|
|
Cascade [v.]
|
Disseminate, for people who aren't comfortable saying the word disseminate. "Document the learning and cascade it down the ranks." Suggested by Robin G.
|
|
|
CFO [n.]
|
Chief Finagle Officer. The person who's responsible for manipulating a company's finances to avoid legal penalties.
|
|
|
Chainsaw consultant [n.]
|
Someone brought in to do management's dirty work at lay-off time.
|
