Business English: Company Operations and Office Life

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering company structures, business performance metrics, modern office culture, and workplace discussion phrases.

Hot-desking

A system where office workers do not have their own personal desk but use any available desk on a day-by-day basis.

Nine-to-five

Work which begins at 9:00 am and ends at 5:00 pm, representing normal Monday to Friday office working hours.

Montage

A piece of work made up by putting together several different items, often in interesting combinations.

Sense of familiarity

A feeling of knowing something or someone so well that you feel close, comfortable, and relaxed around them.

Worn out

So old or damaged from continual use that it cannot be used any more.

Hard graft

A slang phrase meaning hard work.

Open-plan office

Large office spaces without internal walls dividing them up, intended to create a sense of togetherness.

Number one office complaint (Metro 2021 survey)

People speaking too loudly, voted as the worst thing about working in an office by British workers.

Managing Director

The corporate executive positioned below the President who holds overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the company.

Subsidiary

A subordinate company or operating branch set up and owned or controlled by another company.

Floated on the stock exchange

Entered the public stock exchange to sell company shares, allowing the company to become listed.

Turnover

The total sales or gross revenue generated by a company over a specific operational period.

Roll out

To officially launch, introduce, or add new products or services to the market offering.

Pioneered

Been the first to develop, introduce, or lead new ways, methods, or innovations.

Area of expertise

The specific field, subject, or domain in which an organization or individual possesses specialized, expert knowledge.

Acquire / Take over

To buy or assume controlling interest and ownership of another company.

Merge with

To combine or join together with another commercial entity to operate as a single combined company.

Report to

To have a direct line of operational and organizational accountability to a specific manager or supervisor.

To the best of my knowledge

An epistemic phrase used to state information according to what is believed to be accurate within the bounds of one's knowledge.

Weak agreement

Expressions such as "You could be right" or "You may have a point there" used to express mild or tentative concurrence.