General Workplace Slang 1: Fire & Hire
Earl got called on the carpet!-- Basic expressions introduced:
Match the pix and the corresponding expressions:
Dialogue(BS1-Disc1: Tracks 2-3):
Jason: Did you hear the news about Earl? He was called on the carpet by some of the big wigs for missing his deadlines. They told him that if he doesn’t start pulling his weight around here, they’re going to demote him to paper-pusher. Not only that, they’re going to make him work graveyard, too!
David: Well, he’d better get cracking or those slave drivers are going to can him for sure. I’m sure he’d hate having to pound the pavement again.
Dialogue translated into standard English:
Jason: Did you hear the news about Earl? He was reprimanded by some of the executives for missing his completion dates. They told him that if he doesn’t start doing his share of work around here, they’re going to demote him to a clerical desk worker. Not only that, they’re going to make him work the late-night shift from midnight to 8:00 A.M., too!
David: Well, he’d better start working or those relentlessly demanding bosses are going to fire him for sure. I’m sure he’d hate having to look for employment again.
Vocabulary (BS1-Disc1: Track4):
big wign. executive, a person in charge of a business.
: Margaret’s first job was as a secretary. Now she’s a big wig in her company.
Margaret’s first job was as a secretary. Now she’s an executive in her company.
Synonyms: big cheese n., big shot n., biggie n., boss man / boss lady n., chief n., exec n., head honcho n.,
higher ups n.pl. (typically used in plural form), top brass / big brass / brass n., top dog n.
NOW you DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
called on the carpet (to get)exp. to get reprimanded (by a boss, parents, etc.).
Al got called on the carpet for wasting time at work.
Al got reprimanded for wasting time at work.
Synonyms: bawled out (to get) exp., chewed out (to get) exp., raked over the coals (to get) exp.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
can someone (to) v. to fire someone from a job.
: Earl arrived late to work, so the boss canned him!
: Earl arrived late to work, so the boss fired him!
Variation: get canned (to) exp. to get fired.
Synonym 1: give someone the axe (to) exp.Synonym 2: give someone the boot (to) exp.
Variation: boot someone out (to) v.
deadlinen. completion date.
The boss said that if I miss my deadline one more time,he’ll can me!
The boss said that if I miss my completion date one moretime, he’ll fire me!
Also: under the gun (to be) exp. to be pressured to make adeadline.
get cracking (to)exp. to start working.
If you plan on finishing your assignment before you leaveon vacation, you’d better get cracking.
If you plan on finishing your assignment before you leaveon vacation, you’d better start working.
Synonym 1: get the ball rolling (to) exp.Synonym 2: get the show on the road (to) exp.
paper-pusherexp. a clerical desk worker (who does boring administrative tasks that require largeamounts of paper work).
I’ve been a paper-pusher in a law firm for two years.I need to find a more interesting job.
I’ve been a clerical desk worker in a law firm for twoyears. I need to find a more interesting job.
pound the pavement (to)exp. to look for employment.
I’ve been pounding the pavement for three weeksand I still can’t find a job.
I’ve been looking for employment for three weeksand I still can’t find a job.
Synonym 1: job hunt (to) exp.Synonym 2: knock on doors (to) exp.
Variation: job hunting (to go) exp.
pull one’s weight (to)exp. to do one’s share of work.
If Pat doesn’t start to pull his weight around here, we’regoing to have to find a replacement for him.
If Pat doesn’t start to do his share of work around here,we’re going to find a replacement for him.
Synonym: tow the line (to) exp.
slave driverexp. a relentlessly demanding employer.
Our new boss is a slave driver. She demands excessivework from all the employees.
Our new boss is a relentlessly demandingemployer. She demands excessive work from all.
work graveyard (to)exp. to work the late-night shift from midnight to 8:00 A.M.
I prefer working graveyard because I can do errandsearly in the day.
I prefer working the late-night shift because I cando errands early in the day.
Variation: work the graveyard shift (to) exp.
Also: work [the] swing shift (to) exp. to work from 4:00P.M. to midnight.
Nancy finally got a cush job! -- Basic expressions introduced:
Match the pix and the corresponding expressions:
Dialogue(BS1-Disc1: Track9-10):
Jane: I heard you’re between jobs. Is that true?
Nancy: Well, I was. But not any more. I got tired of holding down a job during the day andthen moonlighting to make extra money, so I quit those jobs. I wasn’t working at alluntil I went to a headhunter who helped me land a job with incredible perks in anew company. Not only that, but I even got a pay hike. In fact, I’m allowed to knockoff early as long as I get my work done.
Jane: That’s great! I’m glad to hear you finally got a cush job after working like a dogfor so long!
Dialogue translated into standard English:
Jane: I heard you’re unemployed. Is that true?
Nancy: Well, I was. But not any more. I got tired of maintaining a job during the day and thenworking a second job at night to make extra money, so I quit those jobs. I wasn’tworking at all until I went to a an executive job recruiter who helped me obtain ajob with incredible job benefits in a new company. Not only that, but I even got a raisein salary. In fact, I’m allowed to leave work early as long as I get my work done.
Jane: That’s great! I’m glad to hear you finally got an easy job after working extremelyhard for so long!
Vocabulary(BS1-Disc1: Track11):
between jobs (to be) exp. a more positive and euphemistic way of saying “to be unemployed.”
exampI worked for a printing company for ten years, but lastweek I got laid off. Now I’m between jobs.
I’m sure I’llfind work again real soon.
translI worked for a printing company for ten years, but lastweek I got laid off. Now I’m unemployed. I’m
sure I’llfind work again real soon.
Variation: between engagements (to be) exp.
Synonym: laid off (to be) exp.
cush jobn. an extremely easy job.
exSteve just got hired as a restaurant critic. He’s going to flyall over the world to review the food
served in differentrestaurants. What a cush job!
Steve just got hired as a restaurant critic. He’s going to flyall over the world to review the food
served in differentrestaurants. What an extremely easy job!
Variation: cushy job n.
Synonym 1: breeze (a) n. said of sg easy to do.Synonym 2: cakewalk (a) n. said of sg easy to do.
Synonym 3: cinch (a) n. said of sg easy to do.Synonym 4: piece of cake exp. said of sg easy to do.
Synonym 5: snap (a) n. said of anything easy to do.Antonym: grunt work exp. a tedious, physically demanding job(that makes the worker grunt from the effort).
headhunter exp. a job recruiter who helps companies find candidates to fill executive positions.
I just got a call from a headhunter who said that a majorcompany is looking for someone with my
skills. He got me an interview tomorrow morning!
I just got a call from an executive job recruiter whosaid that a major company is looking for
someone with my skills. He got me an interview tomorrow morning!
"real speak":
Note: The literal mean ing of headhunter is “a savage who kills hisvictims by cutting off their heads.” The above is a playonwords since head also means “the person in charge(such as an executive).”
hold down a job (to) exp. to maintain a job.
I don’t know how Cecily does it. She holds down twojobs, takes care of her family, and does
volunteer work atnight!
I don’t know how Cecily does it. She main tains twojobs, takes care of her family, and does
volunteer work atnight!
"real speak":
knock off early (to) exp. to leave work early.
I’m going to knock off early today. I have to go homeand get ready to go to the theater tonight.
I’m going to leave work early today. I have to go homeand get ready to go to the theater tonight.
Also: call it a day (to) exp. to leave work.Synonym 1: call it quits (to) exp.
Synonym 2: cut out (to) exp.Synonym 3: pack it in (to) exp.
Synonym 4: wind it up (to) exp.Synonym 5: wrap it up (to) exp.
land a job (to) exp. to obtain a job.
I have great news! I landed a job today! Next week I’mgoing to start working as an editor in a big
publishing company.
I have great news! I obtained a job to day! Next weekI’m going to start work ing as an editor in a
big publishingcompany.
Synonym 1: land a gig (to) exp.Synonym 2: land a nine-to-five (to) exp.
Also: land a contract (to) exp. to sign a contract with a newclient.
moonlight (to) v. to work a second job, typically at night.
My sister works in a nursery school during the day, thenmoonlights as a nurse until one o’clock in
the morning.
My sister works in a nursery school during the day, thenworks a second job at night as a nurse until
oneo’clock in the morning.
Note: Although to moonlight means “to work at night,” evennative speakers commonly make the mistake of beingredundant, using “at night” with “moonlight.” Forexample: Al works in a factory during the day, then
moonlights at night as a teacher.
pay hike (to give someone a) exp. a raise in salary.
My boss just gave me a pay hike. Now I’ll be makingtwice as much money!
My boss just gave me a raise in salary. Now I’ll bemaking twice as much money!
Synonym: bump up someone’s salary (to) exp. to givesomeone a raise in salary.
Antonym: dock someone’s pay (to) exp. to deduct from someone’ssalary, usually as a punishment.
perksn.pl. special benefits you get from your job (such as free medical and dental coverage, free car,
free gas, free car insurance, etc.)
I’m going to get some great perks with my new job. Fromnow on, I won’t have to pay for any
medical and dentaland I’m even going to get a company car to drive!
I’m going to get some great special benefits with mynew job. From now on, I won’t have to pay for
any medicaland dental and I’m even going to get a company car todrive!
Synonym 1: extras n.pl.Synonym 2: fringe benefits exp.
work like a dog (to) exp. to work extremely hard.
Lee worked like a dog to get her assignment finishedby the deadline.
Lee worked extremely hard to get her assignmentfinished by the deadline.
Synonym 1: plug away (to) exp.Synonym 2: put one’s nose to the grindstone (to) exp.
Synonym 3: work like a maniac (to) exp.Synonym 4: work like crazy (to) exp.
Synonym 5: work like mad (to) exp.Synonym 6: work one’s butt off (to) exp.
Complete the phrase by choosing the appropriate word fromthe list below(BS1-Disc1: Track8).
CanCarpetCrackingDeadlineGraveyard
PavementSlaveWeightWig
1. I just found out that Carl got fired! I warned him that if he didn’t start pulling his ______
around here, he’d lose his job.
2. Alan just got called on the ______because he was making too many personalphone calls at work.
3. Poor Tessa. She’s been pounding the ______every day for the past threeweeks and she still can’t find a job.
4. We have to get all this work finished in only one week. It’s going to be difficult, but we can do itif we get ______right away.
5. Betty and I used to work together as secretaries, but last month she got a promotion to generalmanager. Now she makes constant, excessive demands on everyone. She’s really turned into a______driver!
6. Henry just got his job evaluation and it is was really poor. It wouldn’t surprise me if the bossdecided to ______him.
7. I hate working ______. When my friends invite me to go with them to themovies at night, I can never go.
8. I just got a job as senior vice president at one of the largest law offices in Los Angeles! I can’tbelieve I’m actually going to be a big ______!
9. I wish I could go to your party tonight, but I have a big ______tomorrow. I have toget this assignment finished by noon.
Complete the dialogue by filling in the blanks with the correctword (BS1-Disc1: Track12).
Claudia: Your sister just told me that you quit your horrible job and found a ______job
somewhere. Is that true?
Patricia: It sure is! I got tired of working like a ______. I was ______down afull-time job and ______to make more money. So, last week I______off early and went to see a ______hunter who said hecould help me ______a job with great ______. I even got a pay______! I make better money and do less work! And the best part is that I was never______jobs. I just went from one job to another.