Business Jargon: Zero-sum game

1. Business Jargon: Zero-sum game Definition: If one person has more, another has less. Example Dialogue:  A: I hear the new software is almost complete. But does it work? For Wall Street traders, it is a zero-sum game. B: I agree. Each time I make money, someone else loses exactly the same amount. http://www.openenglishworld.com

2. Business Jargon: Smoke and mirrors Definition: A form of deception; more style than substance. Example Dialogue: A: I hear the new software is almost complete. But does it work? B: I don’t know, but I hear that the new software is mostly smoke and mirrors. It looks good, but it does not work well. http://www.openenglishworld.com

3. Business Jargon: To be on a roll Definition: To be doing well at something. Example Dialogue: A: This is the fourth week in a row that I have sold the most units. B: You are really on a roll. How do you explain it? Is it luck or hard work? A: A little bit of both. http://www.openenglishworld.com

4. Business Jargon: To jump through hoops Definition: To do everything that is necessary to achieve a goal. Example Dialogue: A: He is a demanding boss. He really has me jumping through hoops. B: I agree that he is demanding, but he’s fair. I am sure that he appreciates all of the things that you are doing to make the department look good. http://www.openenglishworld.com

5. Business Jargon: To occur on his watch Definition: Something happens (usually bad) while a person is in charge. Example Dialogue: A: I hear that we lost our most important customer. B: Yeah, it occurred on Joe’s watch. He should have paid more attention. A: That’s really bad for Joe considering it was his responsibility. http://www.openenglishworld.com

6. Business Jargon: To hold one's feet to the fire Definition: To put pressure on someone to perform. Example Dialogue: A: We’ve got a real problem. Our supplier hasn’t delivered the product. B: OK. Call him up, and hold his feet to the fire. I want you to call him every day until the product arrives, and if you have to, tell him that we may have to look elsewhere if he can’t deliver. http://www.openenglishworld.com

7. Business Jargon: To bring to the table Definition: The skills or benefits that something or someone offers. Example Dialogue: A: Based on talking to him on the phone, I don’t think that he brings very much to the table. B: I understand why you have that impression, but he actually brings quite a bit to the table. He is brilliant at developing strategy and marketing plans. It is just hard to tell when you first meet him. http://www.openenglishworld.com

8. Business Jargon: To sandbag Definition: To provide incomplete information to gain an advantage. Example Dialogue: A: Why are you so confident that you will meet your sales quota this year? B: I sandbagged when I provided upper management the numbers. I gave my boss such low numbers that it will be easy to meet my sales quota. http://www.openenglishworld.com

9. Business Jargon: To take a deep dive Definition: To review something in extensive detail. Example Dialogue: A: We’ve got a real problem. Our product quality and customer satisfaction have slipped. B: Yes, I agree. Please give me a copy of all the information. I’m going to take a deep dive into the data over the weekend so that I can figure out the problem. http://www.openenglishworld.com

10. Business Jargon: On the same wavelength Definition: To think alike; to be in agreement. Example Dialogue: A: We all need to work together on this project to complete it on time. Are we on the same wavelength here? B: Yes, absolutely. We all understand, and we all agree on what needs to be done. http://www.openenglishworld.com

11. Business Jargon: Power lunch Definition: A lunch where an important business deal is discussed. Example Dialogue: A: I’m headed out to a power lunch with the CEO of our supplier. B: Do you think that you will be able to negotiate a deal? A: That’s the plan. Wish me luck. http://www.openenglishworld.com

12. Business Jargon: To be a jungle out there Definition: A difficult or highly competitive environment. Example Dialogue: A: We just launched our new product in Europe. B: How are we doing? A: It’s a jungle out there. We have so many competitors that I don’t know whether we’ll be successful. http://www.openenglishworld.com

13. Business Jargon: To need it yesterday Definition: To need something urgently. Example Dialogue: A: Our customer is waiting for the shipment. B: I didn’t know that. When do they need it? A: They need it yesterday.  They cannot proceed until they receive the shipment. http://www.openenglishworld.com

14. Business Jargon: A cakewalk Definition: Something that is easy to accomplish. Example Dialogue: A: Will it be difficult to convince the CEO to approve our project? B: No, I'm convinced that this is going to be a cakewalk. I know that the CEO already wants to undertake the project. http://www.openenglishworld.com

15. Business Jargon: To bootstrap Definition: To develop by yourself without support from others. Example Dialogue: A: Are you planning on raising money from outside investors to launch your business? B: No, we're planning on bootstrapping our business. We want to achieve success on our own terms. http://www.openenglishworld.com

16. Business Jargon: On a going forward basis Definition: In the future. Example Dialogue: A: We made some mistakes with this customer. B: Yes, but on a going forward basis, I am sure that we can do much better. http://www.openenglishworld.com

17. Business Jargon: To tank Definition: To fail; to not proceed. Example Dialogue: A: What happened to that deal you were working on? Were you ultimately successful? B: No, we couldn’t agree on price so the deal tanked. http://www.openenglishworld.com

18. Business Jargon: Eat what you kill Definition: A program in which the individual benefits more than the team from bringing in new business. Example Dialogue: A: I implemented a new sales incentive system. Only the salespeople who close sales will get paid this year. B: It sounds like you are taking an eat what you kill approach. A: That’s right. http://www.openenglishworld.com

19. Business Jargon: Win-win Definition: An outcome where both parties benefit from a transaction. Example Dialogue: A: We agreed to pay our supplier a larger commission in exchange for better service. B: So it was a win-win outcome for both of you. http://www.openenglishworld.com

20. Business Jargon: The perfect storm Definition: A situation when multiple things go wrong all at once. Example Dialogue: A: Sales are way down this month. B: I know. It seems to have been the perfect storm. Not only did our factory fail to meet its production quota, but three of our key customers switched to our competitor. A: And to top it off, we also had to fire our Vice President of Sales because he was caught stealing. I hope that next month is better. This month was certainly a perfect storm. http://www.openenglishworld.com

21. Business Jargon: Growth rate Definition: The increase in something over a period of time. Example Dialogue: A: We sold 1,000 cars last year. B: And this year we hope to sell 1,100 cars. A: Yes, our growth rate will be 10%. http://www.openenglishworld.com

22. Business Jargon: M & A Definition: Quick way to say "mergers and acquisitions," when two companies combine. Example Dialogue: A: Last year, we purchased another company. B: Does your company do a lot of M&A? A: Yes, on average, we acquire four or five companies per year. http://www.openenglishworld.com

23. Business Jargon: Marketing plan Definition: A plan for promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service. Example Dialogue: A: We are trying to decide how best to sell the new bicycle. B: Oh! You’re working on a marketing plan. A: Yes, with a good marketing plan, we will sell a lot of bicycles. http://www.openenglishworld.com

24. Business Jargon: Strategy Definition: A plan for achieving advantages over your competitors. Example Dialogue: A: What is your company’s strategy? B: We sell the highest quality products. What is your company’s strategy? A: We have the lowest priced products. http://www.openenglishworld.com