Jargon

A running dictionary of the phrases that permeate the consulting world, and business more broadly.

All 186 terms, A to Z →

  • check the box

    to perfunctorily assure completion of a task, suggesting that the substance of the activity is less important than the impression it gives to others, as in “Just make sure you check the box on the fourth quarter analysis before you…

  • radio silence

    a term used to describe the situation in which an individual is completely unresponsive to repeated electronic contacts (e.g., e-mails, telephone calls), as in, “I sent Janice two emails and a text yesterday but it’s just been radio silence from…

  • play

    (noun) not to be confused with a thespian production, but often used by those with a flair for the theatrical, this term refers generically to a strategic initiative or action in a competitive environment, as in: “We’re making a strong play…

  • Pac-Man

    (verb) an extremely obscure term meaning to make consistent progress at a steady and sustainable rate; refers to the arcade game that was extremely popular in the 1980s, in which the titular Pac-Man moved at a consistent speed that could not…

  • help me understand

    a seemingly innocuous phrase often but not always used to subtly introduce disagreement or skepticism without appearing combative, as in: “Help me understand why you think that’s the right move”; has the strong implication that the recipient’s point of view…

  • leave fruit on the tree

    to act in such a way that some resources remain available for when later needs arise; in the case of sales, for instance, this could mean not aggressively pursuing all potential leads in a target company at once, leaving a…

  • tough row to hoe

    a specific task or challenge that will be especially difficult, particularly in comparison to related work that must also be completed; for example: “Getting the Asia-Pacific region to sign off on the global sales approach will be a tough row…

  • set the cat among the pigeons

    (chiefly British) to perform an action that will cause extreme agitation, nervousness, discord, or other states characterized by frantic activity; such an action is unlikely to have a productive outcome unless chaos itself is the desired end, as in: “I…

  • circle the drain

    to be caught in an accelerating process of imminent collapse or failure, as with objects in the swirling flow of water at the bottom of a sink or tub that is nearly empty; in a business context the phrase is…

  • poacher turned gamekeeper

    when an individual previously opposed to a certain initiative, approach, strategy, etc., is suddenly charged with maintaining and advancing it, usually as a result of personnel changes; in organizations this is often the case when a new leader is appointed…