Office Life & Work: English Vocabulary List

something that is a typical or normal part of a person's job

"For a firefighter, this is all in a day's work."

"Dealing with difficult customers is all in a day's work for a restaurant waiter."

to combine enjoyable activities with one's work

"I don't like to mix business with pleasure."

"I prefer not to mix business with pleasure so I do not date my colleagues at work."

a draining and stressful lifestyle that consists of constantly competing with others for success, wealth, power, etc. and so leaving no room for rest and pleasure

"Corporate rat race."

"Many people want to escape the stressful corporate rat race of modern city life."

to have work-related discussions outside of work, particularly when it is annoying or inappropriate

"They always talk shop."

"During the family dinner, it was frustrating when the colleagues started to talk shop about their latest project."

used to refer to the lack of communication between the different parts of an organization about their roles or activities that leads to confusion and dysfunction

"Nobody told the sales team about the change — the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing."

"The two departments launched conflicting campaigns on the same day — a classic case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing."

official procedures or rules that are unnecessary and time-consuming

"Too much red tape delayed the new building project."

"Starting a small business requires dealing with so much government red tape that many entrepreneurs become frustrated with the endless paperwork and delays."

to no longer make new entries when an accounting period is at its end

"Let's close the books on this project."

"The accountant stayed late to close the books for the financial year before the holiday."

conflict between the people of an organization or company that leads to unpleasant situations

"There was blood on the carpet."

"The recent merger has caused a lot of blood on the carpet as departments are reorganized and staff are let go."

a person who holds the highest rank in a particular group or organization

"She is top dog."

"After years of hard work and dedication, she finally became the top dog in the company."

a person or thing that has recently joined a specific place, field, company, group, etc.

"I am the new kid on the block."

"I am the new kid on the block so please be patient while I learn how things work."

something or someone that has been at a place for so long that one no longer notices them

"He is part of the furniture."

"The old librarian had been working there for so many years that she had become part of the furniture."

to control and manage an organization, group, business, etc. in a manner that is very strict, efficient, and effective

"The captain runs a tight ship."

"The new manager runs a tight ship and expects all employees to follow the rules strictly."

to have a disagreement with someone or something that provides one's primary source of income or livelihood

"Don't fall out with your bread and butter."

"It's unwise to fall out with your bread and butter, especially when you rely on that client for your livelihood."

a period of time in which someone no longer works due to old age

"Their golden years were peaceful."

"She spent her golden years near her family and garden."

a job that does not provide one with the chance to advance to a better position or job

"He feels stuck in a dead-end job with no future."

"He feels stuck in a dead end job with no future and dreams of starting his own business."

a period of leisure or vacation spent engaging in activities related to one's job or profession

"The pilot spent his busman's holiday at an airshow."

"The pilot spent his busman's holiday at an airshow and watched planes instead of relaxing."

people who are newly employed or admitted in order to provide the group, company, etc. with enthusiasm and new and exciting ideas

"The company needs fresh blood now."

"The team really needs some fresh blood to bring new ideas and energy to the project."

used when one is back to doing one's job and normal activities at work, particularly after a leave or vacation

"He is back in harness after his vacation."

"The old doctor is still in harness at seventy five because he loves his job very much."

a way of referring to the woman who is a leading member or the founder of an organization, movement, etc.

"She is big mama."

"The influential senator was considered the big mama of the entire political party."