Idioms

Here are 30 idioms related to work and careers, along with examples of how to use them in conversational speech:

1. Burning the midnight oil - working late into the night or putting in extra hours.
   Example: "She's been burning the midnight oil to meet the project deadline."

2. A piece of cake - a task or job that is very easy to accomplish.
   Example: "With his experience, fixing the issue was a piece of cake for him."

3. Nine-to-five - a regular and typical workday schedule.
   Example: "She prefers a nine-to-five job with weekends off."

4. Up the career ladder - advancing or progressing in one's career.
   Example: "After years of hard work, he finally made it up the career ladder and became a manager."

5. In the hot seat - being in a position of responsibility, especially during a challenging situation.
   Example: "During the meeting, she found herself in the hot seat answering difficult questions."

6. A feather in one's cap - an achievement or success to be proud of.
   Example: "Winning the award was a feather in her cap, marking her talent and dedication."

7. Break the ice - to initiate or start a conversation or interaction with strangers or colleagues.
   Example: "During the team-building event, they played games to break the ice and get to know each other."

8. Go the extra mile - to make additional effort or do more than is expected.
   Example: "She always goes the extra mile to provide exceptional customer service."

9. In the driver's seat - in control or the position of power in a situation.
   Example: "As the project manager, he's in the driver's seat and makes the final decisions."

10. Call it a day - to decide to stop working for the rest of the day.
    Example: "It's been a long day; let's call it a day and continue tomorrow."

11. Behind the desk - working in an office job or administrative role.
    Example: "After years of working behind the desk, he decided to pursue a more hands-on career."

12. Hit the ground running - to start a new job or project with enthusiasm and effectiveness.
    Example: "She quickly learned the ropes and hit the ground running in her new role."

13. Rise through the ranks - to advance in a hierarchical organization or profession.
    Example: "He started as an intern, but his dedication allowed him to rise through the ranks."

14. Go the way of the dodo - to become extinct or obsolete.
    Example: "In this fast-changing industry, outdated technologies may go the way of the dodo."

15. Learn the ropes - to become familiar with the basics or essentials of a job or task.
    Example: "As a new employee, she spent her first week learning the ropes of the company's procedures."

16. A stepping stone - a position or experience that helps advance one's career.
    Example: "The internship was a stepping stone to securing her dream job."

17. Learn the tricks of the trade - to gain knowledge and expertise in a particular profession or field.
    Example: "After years of practice, he learned the tricks of the trade and became a skilled chef."

18. Cut corners - to do something with less effort or expense, often compromising quality.
    Example: "The company decided not to cut corners and invest in quality materials for their products."

19. In the same boat - facing the same challenges or problems.
    Example: "Due to the economic downturn, many businesses are in the same boat."

20. Pave the way - to prepare the ground or create favorable conditions for something to happen.
    Example: "Her innovative work paved the way for future advancements in the industry."

21. Swim with sharks - to work in a competitive or aggressive environment, often with powerful or ruthless individuals.
    Example: "Surviving in the finance industry requires the ability to swim with sharks."

22. In the loop - to be informed or included in important discussions or decisions.
    Example: "As a team lead, it's crucial to keep your team members in the loop about project updates."

23. Bite the bullet - to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely.
    Example: "The company had to bite the bullet and downsize to survive the economic crisis."

24. A rolling stone gathers no moss - staying active and dynamic prevents stagnation and complacency.
    Example: "She's always taking up new challenges; you know what they say, a rolling stone gathers no moss."

25. Behind schedule - not meeting the planned or expected timeline.
    Example: "The project is behind schedule due to unforeseen delays."

26. No room to swing a cat - to describe a very small and cramped space.
    Example: "Their office is so tiny; there's barely enough room to swing a cat."

27. On the back burner - to put something on hold or give it lower priority.
    Example: "Due to urgent matters, we had to put the new project on the back burner for now."

28. Wear multiple hats - to have multiple roles or responsibilities in a job or project.
    Example: "In a startup, employees often wear multiple hats to get things done."

29. The ball is in your court - it's your turn to take action or make a decision.
    Example: "I've done my part; now the ball is in your court to finalize the contract."

30. Hit the nail on the head - to express something accurately or identify the exact issue.
    Example: "She hit the nail on the head with her analysis of the problem."

Feel free to incorporate these idioms into your conversations about work and careers to add depth and color to your discussions!