Want to Fit In a Teamwork? Learn These 12 Essential Office Phrases
Want to Fit In a Teamwork? Learn These 12 Essential Office Phrases
Working in an American office comes with its own set of phrases and expressions. For foreigners who are still learning English, understanding these phrases can make a big difference in feeling comfortable and fitting in at work. From phone calls to daily chats with colleagues, here are 10 commonly used phrases in American offices and how you can use them to communicate more effectively.
1. “Let’s Touch Base”
Meaning: This means to connect with someone briefly or to check in.
Example: “Let’s touch base tomorrow morning about the project.”
2. “I’ll Loop You In”
Meaning: When someone says this, they mean they’ll include you in future communication.
Example: “I’ll loop you in on the client emails so you’re updated.”
3. “I’m Swamped”
Meaning: “Swamped” means very busy or overwhelmed with work.
Example: “I’m swamped today; can we reschedule our meeting?”
4. “I’ll Get Back to You”
Meaning: This phrase is used when someone doesn’t have an answer at the moment but will respond later.
Example: “I don’t have that info now, but I’ll get back to you by the end of the day.”
5. “I’d Like to Run This By You”
Meaning: This phrase is used when someone wants to check an idea or proposal with someone else.
Example: “I’d like to run this by you before we send it to the client.”
6. “It’s in the Pipeline”
Meaning: “In the pipeline” refers to something that is in progress or being planned.
Example: “The project is in the pipeline, and we’ll start next week.”
7. “Let’s Take This Offline”
Meaning: Used to suggest that a discussion should continue privately or at another time, especially if it’s off-topic.
Example: “This is a good question, but let’s take it offline so we can focus on the agenda.”
8. “We’re On the Same Page”
Meaning: This phrase means that everyone understands and agrees on something.
Example: “Before we move forward, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page about the project goals.”
9. “Keep Me Posted”
Meaning: It’s a way of asking to be updated on a particular topic or project.
Example: “Keep me posted on any changes to the schedule.”
10. “It’s a Win-Win”
Meaning: This phrase is used to describe a situation where all parties benefit.
Example: “If we partner with them, it’s a win-win; they get more clients, and we get better rates.”
11. “Let’s Get the Ball Rolling”
Meaning: This phrase is used to start a task or project.
Example: “Let’s get the ball rolling on the new marketing campaign by setting up a kick-off meeting.”
12. “Circle Back”
Meaning: This means to revisit a topic or conversation later.
Example: “Let’s circle back on this after the meeting.”
Understanding these terms is one thing, but being able to say them correctly can help you fit in better at work. Pay attention to the pronunciation of acronyms like “ASAP” (pronounced /ˌeɪ ˌɛs ˌeɪ ˈpiː/) or “CEO” (pronounced /ˌsiː iː ˈoʊ/). Also, remember that terms like “HQ” and “FYI” are often spoken as individual letters.
Learning work-related English terms will help you feel more confident in your job and improve your communication with colleagues and supervisors. The more you practice these words and their meanings, the easier it will become. At Elite Language Academy, we offer language programs tailored to professionals like you, designed to help you succeed in your career. Explore our courses and take your English to the next level!
Tag:usa culture, vocabulary, work, work culture, workplace
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