This document defines and provides examples for common work-related idioms including "to use some elbow grease" which means to work hard, "to get your foot in the door" which refers to getting an entry level job that could lead to better opportunities, "golden opportunity" meaning a great job with lots of growth potential, "to hit the ground running" as getting off to a good start, and "pass the buck" which refers to blaming someone else to avoid responsibility.

1. Work idioms
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2. To use some elbow grease
To work hard
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Yes you can! Just
use a little
elbow grease!
Mommy, I can’t
do this!

3. To get your foot in the
door
To get started with an entry level job at a
company that can lead to better opportunities
in the future.
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You got the job,
but not the one
you wanted.
Maybe not, but
I’m just happy I
got my foot in
the door!

4. Golden opportunity
A great job, with lots of
opportunities
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Congratulations
on your new
job!
Thank you! I
think it could be
my golden
opportunity!

5. To hit the ground running
To get off to a good start
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It’s important
that I study hard
this week!
I want to hit the
ground running
when I start my
class next week.

6. Pass the buck
To not take the blame for something that went
wrong; to blame someone else
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I No son, you
cannot pass the
buck. You just
didn’t try hard
enough!
Dad, it wasn’t
my fault I lost
my job. It was
my boss’s fault!