Business Slang: Top 10 Spoiled Sports Sayings
Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 by Sarah Chambers
These ten spoiled sports sayings make you wonder if you’re at work or on the field.
Businesspeople Aren’t Playing Ball
Employees continue to foul words. Shouldn’t there be some penalty for this? Here’s the damage — Top 10 Spoiled Sports Sayings.
- Play ball. To go along with what everyone else wants. I was never very good at this. Increasingly important among the corporati (bonus business slang word — corporate elite).
- Ball park. To estimate something. Why do we insist on replacing perfectly good words? “Ball park” isn’t even in the ballpark.
- Goaltending. To protect your business. These days, everyone seems to be doing a bit of goaltending. Depending on the culture of your company, if you don’t protect your assets, you may have them handed to you.
- Right off the bat. To do something immediately. Except, no one says immediately anymore. In the land of hyperbole, immediately isn’t strong enough – it’s been replaced with yesterday, e.g. I need it yesterday.
- Step up. Short for “step up to the plate.” It’s not take your turn at bat, but rather take responsibility.
- Level the playing field. HR loves to level the field. Yep, you can leave out “playing.” Making things more equitable is always a good thing in HR.
- Play hardball. To get mean and get tough. Most companies don’t encourage winning at all costs anymore. But, there are degrees of playing hardball.
- Slam dunk. A complete and easy success. Managers love to hear when projects are a slam dunk. Results matter.
- The whole nine yards. In business, “the whole nine yards” means everything… but does it mean anything in football? Business people use the whole nine yards” as a sports phrase, even though it’s not. (That’s another issue all by itself.)
- Lateralled. To move to a new position that’s the same as your old position, only with a new title. Sometimes employees take lateral moves to learn new skills. But, in this time of hiring freezes and tight budgets, “lateral promotions” (more bonus business slang) are increasingly common (and unfair). I’ve got a sweet deal for you…more work, more responsibility, same pay. I think I’ll pass.
The sports words and phrases seem never ending… Who’s “on deck”? He’s way out in “left field.” There’s no “I” in “team.”
About Business Slang
Please send your HR and business slang suggestions to business [DOT] slang [AT] knowhr.com – we’ll feature some in an upcoming articles.
Steve
Feb 11th, 2008
I’m going to go to the mat here and say you knocked this one outta the park, it was a grand slam. In fact, you can take your victory lap now if you would like. But hey, time out here…I don’t think that these should necessarily be down for the count. To spike these out of hand is almost unsportsmanlike…upon further review these word or phrases may serve to rally the team. These may not be by the book but in the world today it seems that the business world would like to equate itself more with the scrum than the boardroom. The ‘reinforcement’ of that image is to utilize the terminology from that arena. Maybe benchwarmers like me can relate and feel a part of the team (or not) when we get sent to the minors. Well my response is coming down to the wire here but I would like to thank everyone who gave me this opportunity…you know I’m just taking it one day at a time…making the best of my abilities…because there is no I in team…had enough…I’ve got a million of ‘em…
Parting shot, as with all words overuse of them makes them useless. At one time there may have been (or may still be) a time a place where the sports imagery to capture or convey a certain thought is appropriate but not in every other sentence. Are we reading out of the same playbook with this one?
One final note, in our company we don’t do ballpark project estimates…even better we now do “T-shirt sizings” if that doesn’t get my knickers in a twist…
Frank Roche
Feb 11th, 2008
Steve, that’s just brilliant. LOL.”T-shirt sizings?” I’ve not heard that one before. But you can bet I’ll be using it this afternoon! Funny.
Sarah Chambers
Feb 11th, 2008
Steve, very fun. And, I rest my case.
JT
Feb 12th, 2008
Nothing more can be added to Steve’s comments plus the original post.
amresh
Feb 18th, 2008
Awesome. I know when i am hurled at just words…we trying to improve and bring in a process…@#$%
Sports Picks
Jan 11th, 2009
No question! You nailed it.