A running dictionary of the phrases that permeate the consulting world, and business more broadly.
an extra-cautious approach that involves redundant elements in case one of them fails to perform as expected, used due to extreme prudence, perceived risk, experience, etc.; comes from the image of the gentleman wearing both a belt and suspenders (or…
(adjective) a less obvious way of suggesting that some idea, or more likely a particular statistic, was generated with no analytical support and thus was pulled out of the air, i.e., from nowhere; although derisory in implication, can be used…
to be in the middle of a generally complex set of activities, with the connotation that both the initial energy from starting out and the anticipation of an imminent conclusion are remote at the moment; may have neutral implications or…
and you are left on the pier, alone, to wave forlornly as it recedes into the horizon; indicates that an action or decision has been irrevocably taken and that there is no sense in further attempts to alter it, as…
to generate some impact that is tangible or meaningful, as if the activity in question is being measured by an analog gauge with a needle sweeping across the gradations marked off on its face; used to refer to something that…
to undertake an effort that may be draining or thankless but is sometimes necessary; this expression has its roots in generic ball sports, in which the rapid and partly unpredictable movement of the central object means effort and diligence are…
the process of managing diverging personalities or perspectives in order to achieve a broader objective, which is being hindered by the multiplicity of opinions or goals; as with cats, which stubbornly refuse to follow instructions even if they are perfectly…
to make a competitive move that encroaches on a position staked out by another party, an action likely to be perceived as provocative, devious, or disrespectful, as in “I don’t think starting our own kids’ streaming service is a good…