Idioms in the work place

Hiring and firing

take on = hire someone: “They’re taking on more than 200 people at the cotton factory.”

-When were you taken on? Is the company taking on new staff?

give someone the sack = fire someone: “He was given the sack for stealing.”

-Do you know anybody who was given the sack? Why?

to fire: usually for doing something “wrong” or illegal: you are responsible

to be made redundant or to be laid off: usually as the result of down-sizing or technological

change: You are not responsible for the situation

Do you know somebody who has been made redundant? What happened?
Why are people laid off? Wat would you do if you were made redundant?

How do you work?

burn the candle at both ends = work day and night at something: “He’s been burning the candle at
both ends to finish this order.”

-Have you ever burn the candle at both ends? When?

let’s call it a day = to finish the class, the meeting, the activity (possibly earlier than anticipated)

-What is the translation for “let’s call it a day”? When would you use it?

work your fingers to the bone = work very hard: “I work my fingers to the bone for you.”

-Do you work your fingers to the bone in everything you do? When would you?

-Do you know anybody who works their fingers to the bone?

pull your weight = do your fair share of the work: “He’s a good team worker and always pulls his
weight.”

-Do you know anybody who doesn’t pull their weight? Do you? Do you pull your weight at home?

pull your socks up = make a better effort: “You’ll have to pull your socks up and work harder if
you want to impress the new boss!”

-When do you pull your socks up? Do you ever have any guests at home? Do you pull your socks
up and cook your best dish?

put your feet up = relax: “At last that’s finished– now I can put my feet up for a while.”

-When you have been through a tough situation and it’s over, you can put your feet up. Do you put
your feet up after you’ve been through a lot, or you’ve done so many things?

Office politics and relationships

Idioms in the work place

get on the wrong side of someone = make someone dislike you: “Don’t get on the wrong side of
him”.

-Why would you get on the wrong side of somebody? Have you ever done it? Maybe outside work?
Or do you just go off people?

get off on the wrong foot = start off badly with someone: “You got off on the wrong foot with him
– he hates discussing office politics.”

-Have you ever got off on the wrong foot of somebody you’ve just met? Like, asking “Are you
pregnant” to someone who actually isn’t?

be in someone’s good (or bad) books = be in favour (or disfavour) with someone: “I’m not in her
good books today – I messed up her project.”

-Have you ever done something that upset another person? Then, you were in that person’s bad
books. You should say something like: I didn’t mean being in your bad books.

pull a few strings = use your influence for something: “I had to pull a few strings to get this job.”

-Did anyone pull a few strings so as for you to get this job? Have you ever pulled a few strings to
help someone get a job?

put your cards on the table = tell people what you want: “You have to put your cards on the table
and tell her that you want a pay rise!”

-Do you remember the last time you put your cards on the table? Why?

beat around the bush = not say exactly what you want: “Tell me – don’t beat around the bush!”

-Do you know anybody who just beats about the bush? Andarse por las ramas.

-Why do they do so?

sit on the fence = be unable to decide about something: “When there are arguments, she just sits on
the fence and says nothing.”

-Do you just sit on the fence when you have an argument with someone?

-Why do you think people sit on the fence when they should actually be doing something about a
situation?

pass the buck = pass on responsibility to someone else: “The Director doesn’t pass the buck. In
fact, he often says “the buck stops here!”

-Do you pass the buck to someone else in work? Or outside work? Why would you do that?

Buck=informal for Dólar

show someone the ropes = show someone how things are done: “My supervisor showed me the
ropes, so I felt quite confident.”

-Who showed you the ropes in the company? Have you ever shown the ropes to anyone? No?? then
the following expression is for you:
Idioms in the work place

be thrown in at the deep end = not get any advice or support: “He was thrown in at the deep end
with his new job. No-one helped him at all.”

-Were you thrown in at the deep end when you started in the company? How did you manage to
learn?

to drop someone in it = to give someone a really difficult job, or place them in a difficult situation:
“Have you heard? Maria has really dropped him in it!”

-When was the last time someone dropped you in it? What happened?

a them and us situation = when you (us) are opposed to “them”: “The atmosphere between the two
departments is terrible. There’s a real them and us situation.”

-What do you think “a them and us situation means? Se corta el ambiente con un cuchillo.

-Think of a situation when this could happen.

ROLE PLAYS.

1. You are a boss and you have a terrible employee, fire that person, try to be tactful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMctTIUSPPc
2. There’s a new colleague in the office, they are a bit lost, show them the ropes.
3. You have a son who is not fantastic, he was never a great student, he has never worked a
day in his life, ring a friend to see if he can pull a few strings to get him a job in his
company.
4. You have been working your fingers to the bone for the last few months, and your
colleagues haven’t been pulling their weight, talk to your boss and try to sort this problem
out.