General Workplace Slang 1: Fire & HireEarl got called on the carpet! -- Basic expressions introduced:

Match the pix and the corresponding expressions:

Dialogue (BS1-Disc1: Tracks 2-3):

Jason: Did you hear the news about Earl? He was called on the carpet by some of the big wigs for missing his deadlines. They told him that if he doesn’t start pulling his weight around here, they’re going to demote him to paper-pusher. Not only that, they’re going to make him work graveyard, too!David: Well, he’d better get cracking or those slave drivers are going to can him for sure. I’m sure he’d hate having to pound the pavement again.

Dialogue translated into standard English:

Jason: Did you hear the news about Earl? He was reprimanded by some of the executives for missing his completion dates. They told him that if he doesn’t start doing his share of work around here, they’re going to demote him to a clerical desk worker. Not only that, they’re going to make him work the late-night shift from midnight to 8:00 A.M., too!David: Well, he’d better start working or those relentlessly demanding bosses are going to fire him for sure. I’m sure he’d hate having to look for employment again.

Vocabulary (BS1-Disc1: Track 4):big wig n. executive, a person in charge of a business.: Margaret’s first job was as a secretary. Now she’s a big wig in her company.

Margaret’s first job was as a secretary. Now she’s an executive in her company.Synonyms: big cheese n., big shot n., biggie n., boss man / boss lady n., chief n., exec n., head honcho n.,

higher ups n.pl. (typically used in plural form), top brass / big brass / brass n., top dog n.NOW you DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:called on the carpet (to get) exp. to get reprimanded (by a boss, parents, etc.). Al got called on the carpet for wasting time at work. Al got reprimanded for wasting time at work.Synonyms: bawled out (to get) exp., chewed out (to get) exp., raked over the coals (to get) exp.NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:can someone (to) v. to fire someone from a job.: Earl arrived late to work, so the boss canned him!: Earl arrived late to work, so the boss fired him!Variation: get canned (to) exp. to get fired.Synonym 1: give someone the axe (to) exp. Synonym 2: give someone the boot (to) exp.Variation: boot someone out (to) v.

deadline n. completion date.The boss said that if I miss my deadline one more time, he’ll can me!The boss said that if I miss my completion date one more time, he’ll fire me!

Also: under the gun (to be) exp. to be pressured to make a deadline.

get cracking (to) exp. to start working.If you plan on finishing your assignment before you leave on vacation, you’d better get cracking.If you plan on finishing your assignment before you leave on vacation, you’d better start working.

Synonym 1: get the ball rolling (to) exp. Synonym 2: get the show on the road (to) exp.

paper-pusher exp. a clerical desk worker (who does boring administrative tasks that require large amounts of paper work).

I’ve been a paper-pusher in a law firm for two years. I need to find a more interesting job.I’ve been a clerical desk worker in a law firm for two years. I need to find a more interesting job.

pound the pavement (to) exp. to look for employment.I’ve been pounding the pavement for three weeks and I still can’t find a job.I’ve been looking for employment for three weeks and I still can’t find a job.

Synonym 1: job hunt (to) exp. Synonym 2: knock on doors (to) exp.Variation: job hunting (to go) exp.

pull one’s weight (to) exp. to do one’s share of work.If Pat doesn’t start to pull his weight around here, we’re going to have to find a replacement for him.If Pat doesn’t start to do his share of work around here, we’re going to find a replacement for him.

Synonym: tow the line (to) exp.

slave driver exp. a relentlessly demanding employer.Our new boss is a slave driver. She demands excessive work from all the employees.Our new boss is a relentlessly demanding employer. She demands excessive work from all.

work graveyard (to) exp. to work the late-night shift from midnight to 8:00 A.M.I prefer working graveyard because I can do errands early in the day.I prefer working the late-night shift because I can do errands early in the day.

Variation: work the graveyard shift (to) exp.Also: work [the] swing shift (to) exp. to work from 4:00 P.M. to midnight.

Nancy finally got a cush job! -- Basic expressions introduced:

Match the pix and the corresponding expressions:

Dialogue (BS1-Disc1: Track 9-10):Jane: I heard you’re between jobs. Is that true?Nancy: Well, I was. But not any more. I got tired of holding down a job during the day and then moonlighting to make extra money, so I quit those jobs. I wasn’t working at all until I went to a headhunter who helped me land a job with incredible perks in a new company. Not only that, but I even got a pay hike. In fact, I’m allowed to knock off early as long as I get my work done.Jane: That’s great! I’m glad to hear you finally got a cush job after working like a dog for so long!

Dialogue translated into standard English:Jane: I heard you’re unemployed. Is that true?Nancy: Well, I was. But not any more. I got tired of maintaining a job during the day and then working a second job at night to make extra money, so I quit those jobs. I wasn’t working at all until I went to a an executive job recruiter who helped me obtain a job with incredible job benefits in a new company. Not only that, but I even got a raise in salary. In fact, I’m allowed to leave work early as long as I get my work done.Jane: That’s great! I’m glad to hear you finally got an easy job after working extremely hard for so long!

Vocabulary (BS1-Disc1: Track 11):between jobs (to be) exp. a more positive and euphemistic way of saying “to be unemployed.”examp I worked for a printing company for ten years, but last week I got laid off. Now I’m between jobs.

I’m sure I’ll find work again real soon.transl I worked for a printing company for ten years, but last week I got laid off. Now I’m unemployed. I’m

sure I’ll find work again real soon.Variation: between engagements (to be) exp.Synonym: laid off (to be) exp.

cush job n. an extremely easy job.ex Steve just got hired as a restaurant critic. He’s going to fly all over the world to review the food

served in different restaurants. What a cush job!Steve just got hired as a restaurant critic. He’s going to fly all over the world to review the food served in different restaurants. What an extremely easy job!

Variation: cushy job n.Synonym 1: breeze (a) n. said of sg easy to do. Synonym 2: cakewalk (a) n. said of sg easy to do.Synonym 3: cinch (a) n. said of sg easy to do. Synonym 4: piece of cake exp. said of sg easy to do.Synonym 5: snap (a) n. said of anything easy to do. Antonym: grunt work exp. a tedious, physically demanding job (that makes the worker grunt from the effort).

headhunter exp. a job recruiter who helps companies find candidates to fill executive positions.I just got a call from a headhunter who said that a major company is looking for someone with my skills. He got me an interview tomorrow morning!I just got a call from an executive job recruiter who said that a major company is looking for someone with my skills. He got me an interview tomorrow morning!

"real speak": Note: The literal mean ing of headhunter is “a savage who kills his victims by cutting off their heads.” The above is a play on words since head also means “the person in charge (such as an executive).”

hold down a job (to) exp. to maintain a job.I don’t know how Cecily does it. She holds down two jobs, takes care of her family, and does volunteer work at night!I don’t know how Cecily does it. She main tains two jobs, takes care of her family, and does volunteer work at night!

"real speak": knock off early (to) exp. to leave work early.

I’m going to knock off early today. I have to go home and get ready to go to the theater tonight.I’m going to leave work early today. I have to go home and get ready to go to the theater tonight.

Also: call it a day (to) exp. to leave work. Synonym 1: call it quits (to) exp.Synonym 2: cut out (to) exp. Synonym 3: pack it in (to) exp.Synonym 4: wind it up (to) exp. Synonym 5: wrap it up (to) exp.

land a job (to) exp. to obtain a job.I have great news! I landed a job today! Next week I’m going to start working as an editor in a big publishing company.I have great news! I obtained a job to day! Next week I’m going to start work ing as an editor in a big publishing company.

Synonym 1: land a gig (to) exp. Synonym 2: land a nine-to-five (to) exp.Also: land a contract (to) exp. to sign a contract with a new client.

moonlight (to) v. to work a second job, typically at night.My sister works in a nursery school during the day, then moonlights as a nurse until one o’clock in the morning.My sister works in a nursery school during the day, then works a second job at night as a nurse until one o’clock in the morning.

Note: Although to moonlight means “to work at night,” even native speakers commonly make the mistake of being redundant, using “at night” with “moonlight.” For example: Al works in a factory during the day, thenmoonlights at night as a teacher.

pay hike (to give someone a) exp. a raise in salary.My boss just gave me a pay hike. Now I’ll be making twice as much money!My boss just gave me a raise in salary. Now I’ll be making twice as much money!

Synonym: bump up someone’s salary (to) exp. to give someone a raise in salary.Antonym: dock someone’s pay (to) exp. to deduct from someone’s salary, usually as a punishment.

perks n.pl. special benefits you get from your job (such as free medical and dental coverage, free car,free gas, free car insurance, etc.)

I’m going to get some great perks with my new job. From now on, I won’t have to pay for any medical and dental and I’m even going to get a company car to drive!I’m going to get some great special benefits with my new job. From now on, I won’t have to pay for any medical and dental and I’m even going to get a company car to drive!

Synonym 1: extras n.pl. Synonym 2: fringe benefits exp.

work like a dog (to) exp. to work extremely hard.Lee worked like a dog to get her assignment finished by the deadline.Lee worked extremely hard to get her assignment finished by the deadline.

Synonym 1: plug away (to) exp. Synonym 2: put one’s nose to the grindstone (to) exp.Synonym 3: work like a maniac (to) exp. Synonym 4: work like crazy (to) exp.Synonym 5: work like mad (to) exp. Synonym 6: work one’s butt off (to) exp.

Complete the phrase by choosing the appropriate word from the list below (BS1-Disc1: Track 8).Can Carpet Cracking Deadline GraveyardPavement Slave Weight Wig1. I just found out that Carl got fired! I warned him that if he didn’t start pulling his _______________around here, he’d lose his job.2. Alan just got called on the ____________ because he was making too many personal phone calls at work.3. Poor Tessa. She’s been pounding the ___________________ every day for the past three weeks and she still can’t find a job.4. We have to get all this work finished in only one week. It’s going to be difficult, but we can do it if we get _____________________ right away.5. Betty and I used to work together as secretaries, but last month she got a promotion to general manager. Now she makes constant, excessive demands on everyone. She’s really turned into a _____________ driver!6. Henry just got his job evaluation and it is was really poor. It wouldn’t surprise me if the boss decided to ____________ him.7. I hate working __________________ . When my friends invite me to go with them to the movies at night, I can never go.8. I just got a job as senior vice president at one of the largest law offices in Los Angeles! I can’t believe I’m actually going to be a big __________ !9. I wish I could go to your party tonight, but I have a big _________________ tomorrow. I have to get this assignment finished by noon.

Complete the dialogue by filling in the blanks with the correct word (BS1-Disc1: Track 12).Claudia: Your sister just told me that you quit your horrible job and found a __________________ jobsomewhere. Is that true?Patricia: It sure is! I got tired of working like a _____________. I was __________________ down a full-time job and ________________________ to make more money. So, last week I ____________________ off early and went to see a _______________ hunter who said he could help me ____________ a job with great ______________. I even got a pay ____________! I make better money and do less work! And the best part is that I was never ______________ jobs. I just went from one job to another.