Job Idioms: 10+ Useful Idioms & Sayings about Jobs

 

Job Idioms & Sayings in English! Learn useful phrases and idioms related to jobs in English with meaning, ESL printable worksheet and example sentences.

Useful list of 110+ business idioms in English.

Job Idioms & Sayings

List of 11 Job Idioms & Expressions in English

1. Learn the Ropes
2. Get the Sack/ Be Sacked
3. Off the Hook
4. Hanging by a Thread
5. Burn the Candle at Both Ends
6. Rank and File
7. Pink Slip
8. Out of Work
9. Move Up in the World
10. Give Someone The Old Heave-Ho
11. All In A Day’s Work (Excl.)

Job Idioms & Sayings with Meaning and Examples

Learn the Ropes

• Meaning: Become more familiar with a job or field of endeavor; be trained
• Example: It will take me several months to learn the ropes, but I’m sure you’ll be satisfied with my performance.

Get the Sack/ Be Sacked

• Meaning: To be fired
• Example: I just got the sack, and so did 20 other people. I have three hours pack up my things and leave the office.

Note: “Be sacked” is known and understood on the USA, but “get the sack” is much less common.

Off the Hook

• Meaning: Free from blame or responsibility to do something
• Example: Jason said he’d finish the project tonight, so you’re off the hook.

Note: You can also be “on the hook.”

Hanging by a Thread

• Meaning: In great danger of elimination or failure
• Example: After you botched a third sales presentation, your job is hanging by a thread -you really need to improve.

Burn the Candle at Both Ends

• Meaning: Work very long hours
• Example: I’ve been working two jobs so we can buy a car, but I’m very tired. I’m burning the candle at both ends.

Rank and File

• Meaning: The ordinary members of an organization
• Example: Labor leaders announced that they have agreed to a new contract, but the rank and file still don’t like it.

Pink Slip

• Meaning: A layoff notice; loss of a job, typically because of layoffs
• Example: After teaching for ten years in that district, I got a pink slip last Tuesday.

Note: You can also say “pink-slipped” – I was pink-slipped.

Out of Work

• Meaning: Unemployed
• Example: I’ve been out of work since December. Hope I find a new job soon!

Move Up in the World

• Meaning: Become more successful
• Example: You’re driving a Lexus now. I can see you’re moving up in the world.

Give Someone The Old Heave-Ho

• Meaning: Fire someone, remove someone from a group or team
• Example: Linda hasn’t done a bit of work in months. I think it’s time we gave her the old heave-ho.

All In A Day’s Work (Excl.)

• Meaning: That’s what I’m here for; although I have accomplished something, it is part of what I’m expected to do .
• Example: Jim, you really did well on that presentation! – Oh, all in a day’s work!

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Useful Job Idioms and Job Sayings in English