Name?
Address?
Phone?
Occupation?
Previous occupation?
Income level?
Education level?
Sex?
Gender?
= Sex?
Race?
Ethnic group?
Religion?
Church affiliation?
Age?
DOB?
= Date of birth?
Date of birth?
SSN?
= Social Security Number?
Social Security Number?
Marital status?
Account number?
Comments?
What’s the salary?
Is it salaried or hourly?
Is it part-time or full-time?
What are the hours?
What are the benefits?
Do I get insurance?
What would be expected of me?
What are you looking for (in an employee)?
What are your qualifications?
What is your degree in?
Where did you go to school?
What sort of salary do you expect?
Let me see your resume.
Let me see your dossier.
a dossier = a resume = a list of one’s accomplishments
Let me see your references.
Do you have a portfolio?
a portfolio = a collection of samples of one’s work
Why did you leave your last job?
When can you start?
We will call you if we need you.
Don’t call us; we’ll call you. (cliché)
I want to fill out an insurance form.
I want ≈ I need, I would like
I want to change my insurance coverage.
I want to change my withholding (tax).
I want to schedule my vacation days for this year.
I’d like to set up a training session for my department.
I’d like ≈ I need, I want, I have, I would like
I’d like to book the audio/visual room for today.
I’d like to schedule a meeting in the conference room.
I’d like some information on the alcohol awareness program.
I’d like some information on the substance abuse program.
I’d like to take a leave of absence.
I’d like to be considered for the opening in the accounting department.
accounting ≈ credit, editorial, auditing, sales, etc.
Here’s my expense report.
I think there was a mistake in my last paycheck.
I’d like to file a complaint.
I’m not getting along with one of my co-workers.
My boss has been harassing me.
My boss has been sexually harassing me.
I’m being discriminated against.
You haven’t had much experience (in this line of work).
You are still a little new to all this.
You’re a little green. (idiomatic)
green = new; fresh to the job
You’re still wet behind the ears. (idiomatic)
wet behind the ears = new to this
You’re still new.
You’ll catch on.
Give it time.
I can do that.
No sweat. (slang)
= Not difficult.
Simple.
Simplicity itself.
Nothing to it.
(It’s) a piece of cake. (slang)
a piece of cake = easy
I could do that with my eyes closed.
I could do that with one arm tied behind my back.
I could do that standing on my head.
I could do that in my sleep.
It’s easy as pie. (cliché)
pie = eating pie
It’s easy as ABC.
It’s as easy as falling off a log. (cliché)
It’s water off a duck’s back. (cliché)
It’s like taking candy from a baby.
It’s second nature.
It’s like breathing.
I wrote the book on that. (idiomatic)
= I am an authority on that.
I know it like a book. (idiomatic)
I know it like the back of my hand. (cliché)
I know whereof I speak.
= I know what I’m talking about.
I know all the tricks of the trade. (idiomatic)
the tricks of the trade = the ways to do things correctly
I know it backwards and forwards.
I know it inside and out.
I know my math.
math ≈ carpentry, cooking, history, computers, etc.
It’s my job.
I’m a professional.
I’m an old hand at this. (idiomatic)
an old hand = an experienced worker
I’ve been there.
I’ve paid my dues.
The stories I could tell you!
You want to hear about my battle scars?
= Want to hear about my past experiences and problems?
I’ve run the gamut.
I’ve run the gamut from A to Z.
I know it all from A to Z.
I’ve traveled the globe from pole to pole.
I’ve traveled the states from sea to shining sea.
I’ve traveled the country from sea to shining sea.
I’ve looked high and low for you.
high and low = everywhere
I’ve been to hell and back again. (cliche, mildly vulgar)
to hell and back = everywhere
I’ve been to hell and back. (mildly vulgar)
I’ve been to the end of the earth and back. (cliché)
I searched this room from top to bottom.
from top to bottom = thoroughly
I slept from dusk to dawn.
I worked from sunup to sundown.
You’re late.
You’re late again.
Try to be on time next time.
Let’s try to be here on time.
Let’s try to get here on time.
Don’t be late.
May I have a word with you? (formal)
Might I have a word with you? (formal)
Could I have a word with you?
Could I see you in my office?
I’ll see you in my office in ten minutes.
Good work.
Keep up the good work.
Nice work.
Nice job.
Very nice.
Very impressive.
I’ve been hearing some good things about you.
You keep this up and you are going to get a raise.
We are very pleased with your work.
I’m sorry, I’ve never done this before.
I’m new at this.
I’m a newcomer to this.
This is a first for me.
I’ll get onto this yet. (informal)
Oh, well. You can’t lose them all. (informal)
I’m just following orders.
I was only following orders.
That’s the way I was told to do it.
That’s the way we’ve always done it.
I’m doing the best I can.
I’m doing my best.
I’m doing my very best.
You can’t get blood from a turnip. (cliché)
There are only so many hours in a day.
= There is a limited amount of time in the day for work.
It’s not in my job description.
It’s not my job.
It’s not my responsibility.
I have no training in that area.
I am not competent to do that.
I have a deadline to meet.
This deadline is looming large on the horizon. (cliché)
I’ve got to crank out this project tonight. (informal)
I’m under the gun. (informal)
under the gun = under pressure
It’s getting down to the wire. (idiomatic)
down to the wire = close to the finish, as in a horse race
It’s down to the wire. (idiomatic)
I’m running out of time.
I’m going to need an extension (of the deadline).
I need it now.
I need it immediately.
I need it in a flash. (informal)
in a flash = in a big hurry
I need it in a jiffy. (informal)
in a jiffy = in a big hurry
I need it in two shakes (of a lamb’s tail). (informal)
in two shakes of a lamb’s tail = very fast
I need it yesterday.
Hurry up!
Hurry!
Get moving!
Get going!
Get cracking! (slang)
Get the lead out! (slang)
Get your ass in gear! (mildly vulgar)
Get a move on. (informal)
Get on it. (informal)
Get right on this.
Get with it. (informal)
Get on with it. (informal)
Shake a leg! (informal)
= Get your legs moving!
Snap to it! (informal)
snappy = fast
Look alive! (informal)
Step on it! (informal)
Make it quick! (informal)
Double time!
= Twice as fast!
On the double! (informal)
Chop, chop! (informal)
Go! (informal)
Drop everything (and do it)!
This is top priority.
This is priority one.
This is a rush job.
(There’s) no time like the present. (cliché)
Let’s get the show on the road. (idiomatic)
Let’s get this show on the road. (idiomatic)
You’ll get the hang of it eventually.
to get the hang of it = to learn how to do it; to get used to it
You’ll get the knack of it.
the knack of it = the way to do it
You’ll pick it up as you go along.
to pick it up = to learn it
You’ll learn more as you go along.
I’d like to call the meeting to order.
This meeting is called to order.
Will the clerk please read the minutes of the last meeting?
the minutes = the official record of a previous meeting
I move that the minutes be approved.
The chair recognizes Mr. Smith.
the chair = the presiding officer of a meeting
Mrs. Jones has the floor.
has the floor = is officially and exclusively permitted to address the group for a piece of business
You have not been recognized.
recognized = called on; given the floor
Please address the chair.
= Please direct your remarks to the presiding officer.
Please address the chairman.
the chairman ≈ the chairperson, the chair, the chairwoman
Point of order.
You’re out of order.
Will the secretary please strike that last remark from the record?
I’d like to make a motion.
a motion = a formal proposal to be voted on
I’d like to move that we accept the proposal.
I move that we accept the proposal.
A motion has been made. Is there a second?
a second = an endorsement from an additional person
I second that motion.
All those in favor, say aye.
aye = yes
All those opposed, say nay.
nay = no
Abstention.
= I choose not to vote
Roll call vote, please.
Please confine your remarks to the motion before us.
I move to table the motion.
to table the motion = to delay consideration of the
proposal
I move to table the discussion.
I move we move this issue to committee.
I call the motion to question.
= I call for a vote on the motion.
Question.
= Let’s vote on the motion.
I move to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting is adjourned.
Hear me out.
I’m willing to hear you out.
I’m more than willing to meet you halfway.
Try to avoid a no-win situation.
a no-win situation = a situation where no one wins
Let’s try for a win-win situation.
a win-win situation = a situation where there are no losers
We’re ready to deal.
We’re willing to strike a bargain.
We’re willing to compromise.
We’d like to offer a compromise.
Let’s talk turkey. (idiomatic)
to talk turkey = to get serious
Let’s cut to the chase. (idiomatic)
= Let’s get to the serious matters.
What’s the bottom line?
the bottom line = the end result; the final cost or profit
That item is not negotiable.
We reject your latest offer.
That is unacceptable.
We’ve hit a stumbling block.
We’ve reached an impasse.
Negotiations have broken down.
Where do we begin?
How should we go about doing this?
What’s the first step?
What’s first on the agenda?
Let’s organize a task force.
Who will be in charge?
We’re on our way.
We’re off and running.
We’re off to a good start.
We’ve hit the ground running.
We’re headed in the right direction.
We’re off on the right foot.
We’ve laid a good foundation.
We’ve only just begun.
We’re just getting our feet wet. (idiomatic)
getting our feet wet = just getting started
We’ve made a good dent in it. (idiomatic)
It’s a start.
You’ve got to begin somewhere.
I’d like to lay down a few ground rules.
It’s not as easy as it seems.
It’s not as easy as it looks.
It’s harder than it looks.
It’s harder than you think.
Easier said than done.
There’s more to it than meets the eye.
It’s surprisingly difficult.
It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.
It’s a real challenge.
That won’t work.
That’ll never hold water.
= That will never be operable.
Never happen. (informal)
There’s no way. (informal)
No can do. (informal)
You’re wasting your time.
You’re wasting your energy.
You’re wasting your effort.
It doesn’t stand a chance.
It doesn’t stand a chance in hell. (mildly vulgar)
There’s not a chance in hell. (mildly vulgar)
It doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell. (mildly vulgar)
When hell freezes over. (mildly vulgar)
= Never.
You’re spinning your wheels. (informal)
You’re (just) running around in circles.
You’re beating a dead horse. (informal)
beating a dead horse = trying to activate or motivate something that is finished
It isn’t worth beating your brains out (for). (informal)
It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. (cliché)
It’s fit for the junkyard.
It’s headed for the junk heap. (informal)
It doesn’t matter.
It makes no difference.
It makes no nevermind. (folksy)
= It doesn’t matter to me.
It don’t make (me) no nevermind. (folksy)
It’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.
= It doesn’t matter which one or which way.
It’s not important.
It’s not worthwhile.
It’s not worth your while.
It’s not worth a hill of beans. (idiomatic)
It’s not worth mentioning.
It’s not worth the trouble.
It’s not worth it.
Get rid of it.
Finish it off.
Nip it in the bud.
Do it in. (informal)
86 it. (slang)
86 = nix = to negate; to destroy
Kill it off. (informal)
Wipe it out. (informal)
Wipe it off the map. (informal)
Sound the death knell. (informal)
the death knell = the sound of bells that signals an impending or recent death
Put it out of its misery. (informal)
Pull the plug on it. (slang)
Pull the rug out from under it. (informal)
Put the skids on it. (informal)
Nuke it. (slang)
= Destroy it with a nuclear bomb.
Throw it away.
Throw it out.
Pitch it. (informal)
Toss it. (informal)
Junk it. (informal)
Trash it. (informal)
Dump it. (informal)
Put it in the circular file. (informal)
the circular file = a (round) wastebasket
File it in the circular bin. (informal)
the circular bin = the circular file; a (round) wastebasket
File it. (informal)
Back to the drawing board.
It’s back to the drawing board.
Well, it’s back to square one.
Well, it’s back to basics.
Time to start over from scratch.