1- Learn/Know The Ropes
Meaning: learn/know how to do something
This comes from a sailing or nautical type of reference because ropes are something we use when people are sailing. When people sail on yachts and boats, they have to tie up the boat in a certain way. They have to pull certain ropes to get the sails to move. So to learn the ropes is when you’re trying to learn how to sail.
We use this now in a reference to job and work. So somebody would have a conversation,
He’ll be fine. Just give him a few weeks to learn the ropes and then he’ll be as good as anybody else. He’s got a bright future here.
To learn the ropes to understand what you have to do, to understand the business and then when you’re off on your own, you can get out there and show them what you can do.
2- Carry The Can
Meaning: take the blame or responsibility for something that goes wrong
When somebody has to carry the can, it means that somebody has to take the blame for something that goes wrong. Normally, it’s the boss, but it might not always be.
So if something happens in the office, something goes wrong with an order, we lose a client or a customer, whatever that might be, somebody will say,
Well, somebody is going to have to carry the can for this mistake. So who’s going to take responsibility?
And somebody might complain,
Oh, I always have to carry the can. Why can’t somebody else make these key decisions? Why can’t somebody else step in instead of me?
3- Burn The Candle At Both Ends
Meaning: do too many things in a short period of time; work hard and play hard
A guy gets up at six o’clock, has his breakfast, goes to work gets there for eight o’clock, works hard until six o’clock comes home, has a bite to eat, goes out on the town with his friends, parties as a real party animal for several days of the week. By the end of the week, he’s completely exhausted.
His mother or father says,
Well, what do you expect? You’re burning the candle at both ends.
Meaning you’re working hard, but you’re also playing hard so something will give, something will happen. Either your work will start to deteriorate, or you’ll get totally exhausted. You shouldn’t burn the candle at both ends.
4- A Cushy Number
Meaning: a relatively easy job
Somebody has a cushy number who doesn’t have to start work until 10 am, and he leaves at 5 pm.
Perhaps he gets a review every three months and is increases in his salary on a regular basis, but doesn’t seem to be doing a lot of work.
His friends say,
Ha, Harry is a real cushy number, that guy. Have you seen what he does or in fact, what he doesn’t do? And he still gets paid!
5- Hanging By A Thread
Meaning: you (or something) are in a dangerous situation; for example, you’ve had a warning from your boss
So if your job is hanging by a thread, it might mean you’re on a little bit of thin ice, you’ve probably had a warning from your boss,
Your future in this company is hanging by a thread. If you don’t improve your work, we’re going to have to let you go.
It could also be related to an account you’re trying to get, a big account, and the decision is hanging by a thread. You’re not sure whether you’ve done enough to attract the customer.
It’s all hanging by a thread, it could go either way. I’m done sure if I’ve done enough to attract the customer.
6- Get The Sack/ Get The Boot
Meaning: to lose your job, to get fired
So these are both references to losing your job and again they’re very informal ways to refer to it.
The more formal ways are:
- to lose your job
- to be made redundant
- to be dismissed (from)
If the company has to downsize because things are not going so well then somebody is going to get the sack.
If your performance hasn’t been up to scratch, you haven’t done as well as they thought you would, you could get the boot.
7- Give Somebody The Elbow
When you give somebody the elbow, you push them out the way or you push them out of the company.
I got the elbow last week, I’m gonna have to look for another job. I didn’t like it anyway, but it’s never nice when it happened.
8- Off The Hook
Meaning: no longer in trouble; you’re free
So when you’re off the hook, it means that you’re no longer attached to it.
Good news, you’re off the hook for this weekend. I’ve got somebody else to do it. So I don’t need you on Saturday.
Just think of it as if you go fishing. When you put your fishing rod into the water, and if the fish takes the bait, it’s on the hook, you’ve got it. You bring it in and you catch the fish.
If the fish gets the food and escapes, he’s off the hook. He’s gone so you can’t catch him.
9- Go With The Flow
This is a very popular expression in English.
Meaning: accept things the way they are; to stop fighting, stop arguing
Just go with the flow, go with what the boss wants, it will make life a lot easier.
10- A Tall Order
Meaning: something that is very difficult to achieve
That’s a real tall order. How am I supposed to do it in that time?
That’s a real tall order. There are so many pallets, so many boxes. Do we even have that in stock?
Climbing Mount Everest is a real tall order. How many people actually achieve that?
11- Up To The Mark
Meaning: as good as what was required or expected
What is the performance of that individual? Is it really up to the mark?
So often, the reason why people have to go through a probationary period, so they have a period of three months or six months. Within that period of probation, the boss can decide, that they’re not up to the mark.
So to be up to the mark is to make sure that you go either up to eight or beyond to show the bosses that you can achieve what they want, you can get to that level you do you have the skill levels to do the work.
I’m really up to the mark. They asked me lots of questions. I was able to answer them.
12- Rat Race
I think many and most people that will be watching and listening will have heard of the rat race.
Meaning: an unhealthy and exhausting modern lifestyle in which people compete for more money or power
You’re forever in this rat race. I have to do better, I have to get promoted, I have to get a salary increase.
