ESL, Business, Business Jargon, Buzzwords, Lingo, Slang

1. BUSINESS/ OFFICE JARGON

2. “Jargon” are special words or expressions that are used
by a particular profession or group and are difficult for
others to understand.

3. For example…. this is full of business jargon.

4. “Jargon” can also be referred to as “Lingo” or “Slang” &
“Buzzwords”.
It’s heavily used particularly in business, the tech industry, in
restaurants, and in the medical field.
Here are some examples

5. In a restaurant:
1) John’s a no-show, can you take over his tables tonight?
2) I’m one steak short! There were supposed to be 3 steaks, not 2.

6. In a restaurant:
1) A “No Show” – is an employee who doesn’t show up to work (and doesn’t call in)
2) to be “short” of something - When you don’t have enough of something.

7. In a hospital:
1) This patient needs to go into surgery, stat!
2) Scrub up, doctor. The patient is under and ready for the operation.

8. In a hospital:
1) “Stat” – means “immediately”; used for emergency situations.
2) “to scrub up” – means to wash your hands to prepare for a medical procedure, usually
surgery.

9. Internet/social media
1) OMG, I just took a selfie with Brad Pitt. LOL!
2) TBH, I don’t really want to go out tonight. I’ll take a raincheck.

10. Internet/social media
1) OMG = Oh my God; Selfie – photo you take of yourself; LOL = Laugh Out Loud.
2) TBH = To Be Honest “I’ll take a raincheck” = something said when you can’t accept
someone’s invite, but want to meet another
time

11. ‘Jargon’ used in business is extremely common. Like
fashion, some phrases go “in and out of style” if they’re
overused.
You will see an updated list of current business Jargon.
See if you can guess the meaning.

12. I just wanted to give you a heads-up that our office will
be closed next week for Tet holiday. If you need anything,
please contact me before or after next week.
What does to give someone a “heads up” mean?

13. I just wanted to give you a heads-up
=
I just wanted to let you know (ahead of time)
I just wanted to tell you…

14. With your key core competencies, you can no doubt achieve
key performance indicators, take on key challenges, overcome key
issues in order to make our key stakeholders happy.
In all of these phrases, what does “key” mean?

15. “key” + Noun
=
“Important”

16. In order to be successful, we need a paradigm shift in this department.
Now that I’m the manager, we’re going to experience a paradigm
shift in the marketing department.
In all of these phrases, what does “paradigm shift” mean?

17. we need a paradigm shift in this department
=
we need a change in the way we do something/ our model.

18. I really appreciate your efforts. I can see you’re giving 110% at work.
Going the extra mile will pay off one day.
Tom’s never willing to go the extra mile. He often leaves work early and complains
if he’s given extra responsibilities
In all of these sentences, what does 110% and to go the
extra mile mean?

19. I can see you’re giving 110% at work. Going the extra mile will pay off
one day
=
I can see you’re putting in more effort than normal to be successful

20. The synergy among the team members is strong, and this
facilitates cooperation and success in reaching their targets.
Can you guess what “synergy”
means

21. The synergy among the team members is strong, and this
facilitates cooperation and success in reaching their targets.
=
The collaboration among team members…
(synergy refers to when two or more parts work
together and produces a greater total effect as
a pair/group, than they would individually. )

22. I want to leverage my knowledge and years of experience so
that I can excel in a Marketing management position.
We need to leverage our resources and allocate the budget and
territories very carefully in order to meet our target this quarter.
What do you think “Leverage” means?

23. I want to leverage my knowledge and years of experience
=
I want to use something (valuable) to achieve a desired result.

24. Our customers are our priority, and that’s why we’ve developed a
broad range of value-added services to support our physicians
increase their medical knowledge & fully understand our
products.
What does “Value-added” mean

25. Value-added
=
(this is the technical definition) An amount added to the value of a product
or service, equal to the difference between its cost and the amount received
when it is sold. Ex: extended warranty on a product; invitation to conference

26. I’ll ping you after my meeting so we can find a time to discuss last
month’s numbers.
What does it mean to “ping” someone?

27. I’ll ping you
=
I’ll contact you through email, text or by phone..

28. “After you resolve the issue with the client, can you circle back
to me?”
Do you know another word for “circle back”?

29. can you circle back to me?
=
Can you check back in / follow up with me?

30. This strategy isn’t working.
We’re not approaching customers
in the right way. Let’s regroup
tomorrow, and find a solution.
“Regroup” can also mean…

31. Let’s regroup
tomorrow, and find a solution.
=
Let’s re-organize the plan

32. Instead of focusing on just prescription medication, there’s a new trend of
physicians taking a holistic approach to health care. They treat not only the
patient’s symptoms, but they also consider the patient’s mental/emotional well-being
and overall lifestyle.
What does it mean to take a HOLIST

33. There’s a new trend of physicians taking a holistic approach to health care.
=
There’s a new trend of physicians considering whole systems (instead of individual
parts)