The business world can be confusing if you don’t know the lingo. So to help you avoid misunderstandings, we’ve waded through the jargon to find seven of the most baffling business buzzwords! We’ll explain what they mean here, but we don’t necessarily recommend using them…
Metaphorically, ‘opening the kimono’ means revealing plans or sharing information freely. This is an odd phrase, but not essentially a problematic thing to do at work. However, if you literally go into the office wearing a kimono and open it in front of everyone, you are probably going to get fired.
To ‘boil the ocean’ is to unwisely attempt the impossible. We actually quite like this one for being poetic, as boiling the ocean is an evocative image. But as buzzwords go it is definitely confusing!
If you ‘peel the onion’ in a business context, it means you’re examining a problem in detail. We guess this is because the problem has ‘layers’ of complexity. But it might instead be because dwelling on a work-based problem (or business buzzwords) for too long can induce tears.
To have a ‘thought shower’ is to come up with several ideas, apparently. To us, though, it sounds like a way of cleaning a dirty mind. And while there are undoubtedly offices that should be cleansed of innuendo, we’re not sure that this deserves a buzzword of its own.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
An unpleasant term that refers to doing something unthinkable as a last gasp option. And while we realise it isn’t celebrating canine violence, we’re strongly against even metaphorical puppy punching.
If something makes enough to cover its own expenses, it is said to ‘wash its own face’. But while facial cleanliness is a start, we hope that business people are also washing the rest of their bodies before heading into the office. Or at least taking regular thought showers.
Technically this is short for ‘business method’. If it also conjures up images of Walter White delivering his specialist product to a conference room, that’s just a coincidence. Probably. Who really knows what business people get up to at the end of the day? Either way, you’re better off using the term ‘business method’ in full to avoid any methamphetamine related confusion.
Δ
3-minute read
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
2-minute read
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...
No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...
In a world where you need to stand out, press releases are key to being...
In the United States, the US Patent and Trademarks Office issues patents. In the United...