Idiomatic Expressions Associated with Jobs

Idiomatic Expressions Associated with Jobs.

Are you ready to give it 110%?

Do you ever wonder what English idioms you can use

​to describe things, events and behaviours in the workplace?

​Introduction

​What is an Idiom?

An idiom is a group of words in a fixed order that has a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own.

​

For example: "​I have bitten off more than I can chew" - you have tried to do something that is too difficult for you.

R

Meaning - To develop basic skills ​or qualities to do a particular job or task and to acquire expert knowledge in it.

​

Example - ​It will take Sarah at least 3 months to learn the ropes, but I am sure you will be happy with her performance.

​Learn The Ropes

​Meaning - It is a layoff notice that indicates that you have lost your job.

​

Example - ​After teaching for 5 years at Chelsea High School, T'keyah got a pink slip last Wednesday.

Pink Slip

R

Meaning - ​Unemployed or to have NO job.

​

Example - ​My sister has been out of work since December. I hope she finds a job soon!

​

​

​Out of Work

​

R

​Meaning - an invisible barrier that prevents people, mainly women and minorities, from being promoted.

​

Example - ​Camila knew she would never become a manager at her job because she would not be able to get through the glass ceiling.

​

​Glass Ceiling

R

​Meaning - A lot of customers are buying the product. Or, in other words the product is selling quickly.

​

Example - ​The new jeans at Forever 21 are selling like hotcakes. The store will need to order more to keep up with demand!

​Selling Like Hotcakes

​

R

​Meaning - you know something immediately without needing to look for the information in books or on the internet.

​

Example - ​I can't remember her name off the top of my head, but I can ask her best friend as she is in my class.

​Off the Top of One's Head

R

​Meaning - a job which does not offer any chance of promotion or advancement.

​

Example - ​Despite have a degree in Spanish, Sharlene got stuck in a dead-end job an an Insurance Company.

​Dead-End Job

​

R

​Meaning - it is used to describe a job that begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. and it is usually from Monday to Friday. It also implies that you have a stable job in an office.

​

Example - ​If you are looking for a 9-5, a government job would be the best thing for you.

​Nine to Five/ 9-5

​

R

Meaning - ​a work shift usually beginning at about midnight and continuing for about eight hours until the early morning hours.

​

Example - My grandmother works at a hotel and because of that she works the graveyard shift, she starts at 8 p.m. and finishes at 5 a.m. ​

​Graveyard Shift

​Meaning - is a result or agreement that is that is good for everyone that is involved.

​

Example - ​Flexible working hours are a win-win situation for employers and employees. Or, allowing people to work from home has proved to be a win-win situation.

​A Win-Win Situation

Fill in the Blanks

What is the correct idiom that represents a job that does not promote women?

Multiple Choice

What do you say when a new item is very popular among customers?

• Be In Demand

• Selling like Hotcakes

• Be Snapped Up

• Selling like Crazy

Fill in the Blanks

What is another way to say that you have lost your job?

Multiple Choice

What is another way to say that you have a permanent or stable office job?

• 8 to 5

• Dead-end job

• 9 to 5

Fill in the Blanks

Finish the sentence.

In a meeting, John's boss asked him how many persons were sick last week, but John could not remember the number

his head.

Multiple Choice

When someone is new to the job or workplace, you say that they have to....

• Out of Work

• Get the hang of things

• Learn the Ropes

• Learn something new

Open Ended

Write the answer below to the following statement.

*An outcome that satisfies or makes everyone happy. *