Annoying Workplace Expressions or Cliches

[curiosity]

It seems to me that at work, it starts out that I hear an expression used in a meeting or conversation, and then over the months it becomes a cliche which I hear a few times a week, and it really starts to irritate me, these change of course, but at the moment its "why re-invent the wheel?" and "I'm wearing two hats" I think I've got it right referring to them as cliches, anyway are there any out there that are currently annoying you that I should look out for?

[vicster2006]

what does 'im wearing two hats mean'?

i just hate work full stop never mind the expressions haha

[andy-hughes]

My hate is "It's not rocket science is it?"

I prefer "It's not rocket salad" - far better.

Why not run a couple together -

"Let's run this up the box and see what the cat licks up in the woods ...."

[curiosity]

I might be wrong, but I take it to mean that the person saying it has two roles in whatever the issue is, which may confuse/cloud their views, like maybe someone who is a mentor or tutor, but also a line manager? I sick of it now so that on hearing it I immediately drift and start to imagine the person either in a Mr Benn type scenario or wondering which one of the Village people they would suit best. Anyone any better examples, or is this phrase only used in my workplace?

[curiosity]

Yes...Andy that reminds me, when these phrases have been around a while I love it when people get them wrong, I've heard "it's not rocket surgery is it?" and "It's not brain science is it?" but my personal favourite must be "lets barn storm that idea"

[smudge]

I can't stand the expression "Ballpark figure"!

[Bex28]

My old boss was full of them, but his worst had to be the term 'Guesstimate'.

You either estimate or guess, not both at the same time - grrr.

[jno]

think outside the box

[jno]

Bex - I think guesstimate is a sort of deliberate joke word - the idea is you seem to be making a carefully considered estimate but everyone knows it's just a wild guess. Not sure if your boss knew this, of course.

[steve kite]

i hate lets touch base

[Quizmonster]

'Guesstimate' has been around since the 1930s, so it's practically hoary with age...like me. Anyone who imagines he/she's being 'cutting-edge' - there's another one! - by using it is sadly deluded.
'Ballpark', in the sense of a rough approximation, first appeared in the early days of space exploration and so is now about half a century old.
I can see little point in getting annoyed about clich�s, 'cos they just ain't gonna go away! All part of the rich caravanserai of language.

[smudge]

Thanks Quizzy - so did 'Ballpark Figure' find its way over here from America then?

[Quizmonster]

Yes, S. Of course, a ballpark was originally a baseball stadium, but below is the earliest recorded use of the word in the context of the current question...
"The Discoverer XIV capsule came down 200 miles from the center of its predicted impact area but still within the designated 'ballpark' area."
San Francisco Examiner August 1960

[smudge]

Sorry Quizzy - more haste less speed (just got back from the hairdressers)!

I meant - yet another saying from America!

[ronnie963]

"There is no I in team"

[joychow1985]

my English writing teacher told us some~~~

e,g, "2 be or not 2 be, that is the question."

short but sweet; last but least

It'll help with the development of us China.

black and blue

cats and dogs

[joko]

joychow - i don't think you are quite grasping the question.

your list is a mix of common phrases, a shakespeare quote and a random sentence.

this thread is regarding strange slang phrases that spring up and are used in the work place - americanisms and things learnt from self help programmes etc

I assume you are not english, so i doubt your teacher would have taught you any of these.

heres what your list means, if it helps you with your studies...

e,g, "2 be or not 2 be, that is the question." - this is a shakespeare quote

short and sweet; last but not least (these two don't go together)
short and sweet means that something is not long and boring and takes up a lot of your time.
last but not least means that, although you (or thing) is the last on the list or queue or pile, that doesn't mean its the least important thing there.

It'll help with the development of us China. - I have no idea what this means, it is not a phrase or quote

black and blue - usually relates to someone being beaten up - refers to the colour of their bruises

cats and dogs - not a phrase on its own but is sometime used to describe heavy rainfall - it is not a literal reference to cats and dogs

good try though - hope i make sense to you

[lepers]

"state of the art" now thats a sh1t term

[Curlylox2006]

I don't think this is exactly what you mean, but it really annoys me when you ask someone if they want a drink (at work), meaning a coffee or tea, and they say "vodka and lemonade, please!" This happens on an almost daily basis at my work, and it wasn't even funny the first time.

[smudge]

Taking a 'Rain Check' really gets up my proverbial too!!

[curiosity]

Yes Curlylox I know exactly what you mean! also jno, Thinking outside the box is a current one with us, usually when people have done their "thinking outside the box" someone says it's been done before and "why re-invent the Wheel?" arrgh (again.