Do you have all your aces in their places? Has your team consistently been moving the needle? What about pushing the envelope?
If these questions make your head spin, you’re having a typical reaction to business jargon.
So, what is business jargon in the first place?
It encompasses the language used by professionals across different industries, which may be difficult for the general public to understand. Think about your own workplace and you’ll likely remember more than a few industry buzzwords that had you scratching your head.
But if buzzwords often lead to confusion, why are they so widespread?
Many people use them because they want to sound more competent. This is unfortunate, as most examples of industry jargon have easy-to-understand alternatives.
As a result, workplace communication suffers, leading to misunderstanding, lengthy clarifications, and wasted time.
That’s why we’ve:
- Compiled an overview of some of the most commonly used business jargon,
- Explored their actual meanings, and
- Provided plain alternatives.
Let’s start.
Table of Contents
The real cost of corporate jargon
Corporate jargon differs from industry to industry, sometimes replacing much simpler words.
This language can become a significant communication barrier, especially in groups and teams where not all members have enough experience or expertise to understand it. According to a workplace jargon survey from Duolingo and LinkedIn, 60% of respondents stated they had to decipher jargon without any help.
The survey further revealed that:
- 58% of professionals believed their coworkers used too much jargon, while
- 50% of respondents wished they could eliminate industry buzzwords completely.
These sentiments can grow into more serious issues. For example, one of business jargon’s biggest downsides is how it can isolate new hires from more experienced colleagues. Consequently, their performance might suffer if they’re too embarrassed to ask for help.
We’re unlikely to find a way to fully eliminate such language, but we can try to become familiar with widely used corporate jargon examples. The next step is then switching to clearer alternatives.
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Jargon is only one part of business communication. To learn which other words and phrases you should use and when you should avoid them, check out this helpful post:
Simplify communication with Pumble
The jargon blacklist: 32 Buzzwords & their alternatives
Business jargon’s not going anywhere, so we’ve compiled this overview, breaking down our examples into 4 categories. Their explanations, example sentences, and alternatives should hopefully minimize ambiguity and provide more clarity.
Category #1: Jargon for “Let’s talk about this”
Workplace communication should be the core of transparent and productive work, not a hub of chaos. Yet, even a simple “Let’s talk about this!” can be translated into overly complicated business jargon.
#1: Circle back
Example sentence:
“Hi, the onboarding interview cut off abruptly, my apologies for that. Are you by any chance free for a video meeting tomorrow afternoon? I’d like to circle back to a few things.”
What it really means:
This typical example of office jargon means to have a conversation again at a later time or to revisit previous topics.
What to say instead:
You don’t have to “circle back” when you can just say: “Hey, can we talk about this again?” or “Let’s come back to this conversation later.”
#2: Touch base
Example sentence:
“I’m still unclear about some details from past meetings. Are you free on Wednesday so we can touch base?”
What it really means:
If a colleague sends you the above message, they want to schedule a meeting to provide updates and discuss a certain task or project.
What to say instead:
A simpler alternative could involve a message like “Can we talk about the recent updates on our project?” or “When are you free to talk about the progress on the project?”
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Meetings are an essential part of remote work, and there are many other phrases besides “touch base” that will help you get your point across effectively. To learn more about what to say before, during, and after a meeting, check out this blog post:
Upgrade your meetings in Pumble
#3: Sync up
Example sentence:
“I’m looking over our campaign reports, and I would really appreciate syncing up with you. Could we have a voice call after lunch hour, perhaps?”
What it really means:
This phrase means that we want to catch up with a coworker so that we can all be on the same page regarding a project, task, or idea.
What to say instead:
“On the same page” is mostly familiar to workers across professions and industries, which lowers the odds of someone misconstruing its meaning. As a result, a sentence like this will do just fine:
“This is a fast-paced project, and the reports are detailed. Would you mind scheduling a call so that I can make sure we’re on the same page?”
#4: Ping
Example sentence:
“Ping me when you receive the updated client information.”
What it really means:
A ping signifies the sound of a notification in business messaging apps. Remote workers are probably used to getting pinged, as they need to stay in touch with their coworkers. Additionally, many different interactions warrant a ping — usually achieved through a @mention — from starting a conversation to responding to a vacation request email.
Now, we also use “ping” as a verb, with a meaning of texting or messaging someone.
What to say instead:
You can easily substitute “ping” for “message.” Thus, our example becomes:
“Message me when you have the updated client information.”
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Even with mentions and notification alerts, starting a conversation and staying in touch can still feel like the toughest parts of the communication process. These blog posts will help you take the first step with confidence:
#5: Loop someone in
Example sentence:
“The campaign is already underway, but we have new colleagues joining us today. We’ll have an introductory meeting tomorrow to loop everyone in.”
What it really means:
“Looping someone in” means having a talk with a colleague to keep them informed. This generally involves sharing knowledge that will help your teammates in carrying out their work.
What to say instead:
A great one-word alternative is “inform.” We can rephrase our example into:
“We’ll inform you about the campaign during the introductory meeting tomorrow.”
#6: Take something offline
Example sentence:
“I understand what you’re saying, but maybe we should take this discussion offline.”
What it really means:
This example of bizspeak might make you think of technology, but we actually use it when we want to talk about a topic at a later time with a smaller circle of people.
What to say instead:
Swap this phrase for “talk about it later” or “discuss after the meeting,” and you get:
“I understand what you’re saying. Maybe we should discuss this after our meeting.”
#7: Put a pin in something
Example sentence:
“That’s a great suggestion, but we sadly don’t have time to explore it further, so put a pin in it!”
What it really means:
This phrase refers to remembering an interesting or relevant topic and revisiting it when there’s more time for discussion.
What to say instead:
“Revisit later” is the obvious alternative, transforming the above sentence into:
“That’s a great suggestion, but we sadly don’t have time to explore it further. Let’s revisit it later!”
#8: Table the conversation
Example sentence:
“The meeting has gone on long enough, so it might be best to table this conversation.”
What it really means:
This phrase is similar to the previous example. However, when we “table the conversation,” we do postpone it, but there is a possibility we won’t return to it later. In short, let’s talk about it, but not really.
What to say instead:
“Postpone” is a polite yet firm option. Our sentence is a bit different, but the meaning remains intact:
“The meeting has gone on long enough, so it might be best to postpone this conversation.”
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We all strive toward transparent communication, yet we occasionally fall into the trap of overusing jargon. Worse still, when we “table important conversations”, we further block collaboration, teamwork, and building trust. To learn more about transparent communication, as well as about the factors that can potentially hinder it, check out these resources:
Category #2: Jargon for “A good idea/easy task” & “Creating ideas/ needless complications”
Without creative and innovative ideas, team collaboration screeches to a halt. Hence, it’s unsurprising we have multiple business jargons that are a stand-in for a:
- Good idea,
- Easy task,
- Brainstorming, or
- Needless complication.
#1: Low-hanging fruit
Example sentence:
“You’re picking low-hanging fruit. Maybe we should broaden our perspective for a better result.”
What it really means:
This workplace jargon phrase references the goals and tasks that are the most easily attainable with minimal effort. So, pouring too much energy into picking low-hanging fruit can distract you from setting a business strategy that is sustainable in the long term.
What to say instead:
You can rephrase this saying into “easy target.” Now, we get the simpler:
“You’re focusing on easy targets. How about we focus on a big-picture strategy?”
#2: Quick win
Example sentence:
“Launching this product will be a quick win — there’s no app like it on the market!”
What it really means:
“Quick win” and “low-hanging fruit” are often used interchangeably to signify easy success that doesn’t require intensive effort.
What to say instead:
This phrase has become popular in non-business spheres, but you can still opt for alternatives such as “easy” or “piece of cake.” In that case, you can say:
“Launching this product will be easy because there’s no app like it on the market!”
#3: Reinvent the wheel
Example sentence:
“I think our product development strategy has gone off-course — it’s like all we ever do is try to reinvent the wheel!”
What it really means:
This piece of business jargon carries a negative connotation, which refers to wasting time and resources trying to achieve something that someone else has already done well. Given its meaning, the above statement can read as a moderately harsh critique of the product development process.
What to say instead:
For the purposes of transparent communication, we can go with “waste time.” Now, the negative sentiment is front and center:
“I think our product development strategy has gone off-course — all we ever do is waste time.”
#4: Boil the ocean
Example sentence:
“You’ve taken on too many projects simultaneously and might overexert yourself. Don’t boil the ocean.”
What it really means:
If this saying sounds overexaggerated, that’s because it is. It refers to an attempt to complete a demanding task in a needlessly complicated way. You’ve essentially undertaken a task so large that finishing it is highly unlikely.
What to say instead:
“Don’t overcomplicate things” conveys the same message. Here’s a reworked version of our example:
“You’ve taken on too many projects simultaneously — don’t overcomplicate it.”
#5: Ideate
Example sentence:
“Now that we’ve completely agreed on the offerings in the free tier, it’s time to ideate a suite of features for the paid tiers of our app.”
What it really means:
“Ideate” is a more corporate way of saying “to come up with ideas.”
What to say instead:
Take out “ideate,” replace it with “think of,” and the meaning of your sentence won’t change. But it will sound more natural, as does ours:
“Now that we’ve completely agreed on the offerings in the free tier, it’s time to think of a suite of features for the paid tiers of our app.”
#6: Mind-meld
Example sentence:
“I’m not sure we’re on the right track with this proposal. We should come together for a mind-meld tomorrow and see where that takes us.”
What it really means:
This example of corporate jargon originally came from the Star Trek franchise. Although it sounds interesting, it stands for a familiar process — brainstorming or collaboratively developing better ideas.
What to say instead:
“Mind-melding” sounds futuristic, so you can substitute it for the realistic “come up with better ideas.” Here’s how we can simplify the example sentence:
“I’m not sure we’re on the right track with this proposal. We should try to come up with better ideas tomorrow.”
#7: Idea shower
Example sentence:
“The team has come to a standstill, we could really use an idea shower to point us in the right direction.”
What it really means:
“Idea shower” (or “thought shower”) is jargon for group brainstorming. This term has a funny origin, evoking the feeling of taking a shower and suddenly thinking of a great idea.
What to say instead:
The easiest swap for this term is “brainstorming.” As a result, this is what our example looks like jargon-free:
“The team has come to a standstill, we could really use a brainstorming session to point us in the right direction.”
Pumble — your new brainstorming hub
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A few of the entries in this category can be summed up as brainstorming. Whether your team wants to “ideate” or come together for an “idea shower,” you’ll find some inspiring suggestions in the following blog post:
#8: No-brainer
Example sentence:
“Your suggestion makes so much sense — it’s a real no-brainer.”
What it really means:
This is another jargon phrase that has entered everyday language. It refers to a decision we don’t need to think about — it’s that easy to make. Consequently, when we describe an idea as a no-brainer, it means the idea is so good that we don’t need to deliberate about implementing it.
What to use instead:
You can leave this term as is, or you could use “not think about it”:
“Your suggestion is excellent — we don’t even have to think about it.”
Category #3: Jargon for “Let’s work harder” & “Think broadly”
All types of team collaboration share one thing at their center — hard work. Given these circumstances, it’s no wonder the phrases “work harder” and “think more broadly” have many bizspeak variations.
#1: Drill down
Example sentence:
“Our sales analytics show a dip in the third quarter. We’ll have to drill down and find out what exactly caused this shift.”
What it really means:
If you’ve ever heard a manager or team leader use this phrase, they expect you to work harder and investigate an issue more deeply.
What to say instead:
“Drill down” can be replaced with “examine,” which leaves us with:
“We’ll have to examine the numbers and find out what exactly caused this shift.”
#2: Give 110%
Example sentence:
“Our team has taken on additional responsibilities for the next couple of weeks. I know this has put pressure on your workloads, but I hope you can still give 110% until the campaign is completed.”
What it really means:
To give 110%, you have to give it your all and then some. In essence, you’re going above and beyond to achieve great results, sometimes under less-than-favorable circumstances.
What to say instead:
Unlike some other examples on our list, the meaning of this entry is pretty self-explanatory. But you can still opt for an alternative like “work extra hard”:
“I know this has put pressure on your workloads, but I hope you will work extra hard until the campaign is completed.”
#3: Blue sky thinking
Example sentence:
“We’re stuck because we keep applying the same approach to solve this unexpected issue. What we need is some blue sky thinking to push us toward a breakthrough!”
What it really means:
“Blue sky thinking” refers to brainstorming creative ideas without immediately taking into account how practical, expensive, or feasible they are. The goal of the brainstorming activity is to come up with multiple suggestions, and then weed out those that are impractical. A more familiar piece of jargon that carries the same meaning is “think outside the box.”
What to say instead:
As with some other examples we’ve had so far, you can simply use “brainstorm”:
“What we need is a brainstorming session to push us toward a breakthrough!”
#4: Push the envelope
Example sentence:
“Your hard work and dedication continues to push the envelope in our industry! Thank you for your contributions!”
What it really means:
“To push the envelope” doesn’t only mean to work hard — it means to work so hard that you shatter boundaries and achieve unprecedented success. In a way, it’s what every team strives for, but few ever pull off.
What to say instead:
“Surpass limits” captures the general sentiment of this phrase:
“Your hard work and dedication continue to surpass limits in our industry!”
#5: Move the needle
Example sentence:
“Although the lack of resources at the start of this project slowed our progress, this team has consistently moved the needle. Well done!”
What it really means:
If you or your team have moved the needle, you’ve made significant progress on whatever you’ve been working on.
What to say instead:
“Make progress” or “make a noticeable difference” both fit this context:
“Although the lack of resources at the start of this project slowed our progress, this team has made a noticeable difference.”
#6: Hit the ground running
Example sentence:
“If we want to improve our sales figures for the next quarter, we’ll have to hit the ground running, starting tomorrow.”
What it really means:
One of the many business jargons that have entered mainstream language, this phrase means to immediately start working on a task or project with increased effort and enthusiasm.
What to say instead:
“Work harder” is a good choice if you want to use simple language and change our example into something like this:
“If we want to improve our sales figures for the next quarter, we’ll have to work harder, starting tomorrow.”
#7: Get one’s head down
Example sentence:
“I need to get my head down because I want to catch up with my colleagues at my new job.”
What it really means:
If you’re pouring all your strength and resources into solving a specific issue or completing a particular task, then you’re getting your head down.
What to say instead:
“Focus” is a strong replacement:
“I need to focus because I want to catch up with my colleagues at my new job.”
#8: Bite the bullet
Example sentence:
“I don’t enjoy public speaking, but I have to bite the bullet and organize this skill-sharing workshop for my team.”
What it really means:
“Biting the bullet” doesn’t directly refer to intensive work, but there are definitely a few hurdles to overcome. This phrase refers to doing something you have been postponing because you find the work unpleasant, boring, or uninspiring.
What to say instead:
The more common “push through” has nearly the exact same meaning:
“I don’t enjoy public speaking, but I have to push through and organize this skill-sharing workshop for my team.”
💡 PUMBLE PRO TIP
You can work hard on your own and achieve good results. But you won’t get very far unless a trusted team has your back. To find out how high-performing teams communicate and collaborate, check out the below resources:
Category #4: The 2026 buzzwords you need to know
Jargon changes over time, as old examples get retired and new ones enter the business vernacular. The following section examines phrases we might hear in the upcoming year. Since these are relatively new instances of business jargon, they don’t yet have established, plain-language alternatives. However, the provided examples and explanations should be enough to illuminate their true meaning.
#1: Lazy girl job
Example sentence:
“I’ve been looking for a lazy girl job lately. I want minimal meetings, a flexible schedule, and no night shifts.”
What it really means:
The term “lazy girl job” is a newer piece of jargon that refers to low-stress jobs that allow workers to enjoy work-life balance and optimal compensation. The word “lazy” doesn’t stand for actual laziness. It just means that people working or looking for these jobs don’t believe that excessive labor — mental or physical — should be the norm in the modern workplace.
#2: Bare minimum Monday
Example sentence:
“I don’t think I’ll stay a minute over 5 p.m. in the office today — it’s bare minimum Monday, after all.”
What it really means:
This phrase refers to investing a minimal amount of effort into work on Mondays, which marks the start of the workweek. Since Mondays are usually associated with a high work volume that has accumulated over the weekend, this business jargon promotes an approach that makes Mondays easier to push through and manage.
#3: Dry promotion
Example sentence:
“Technically, I’ve climbed the corporate ladder and advanced to a new position. But it’s a dry promotion, so I don’t expect to see any benefits.”
What it really means:
A “dry promotion” is a promotion in name only. Your job title has changed, you’ve received greater responsibilities, but are yet to see a substantial pay upgrade. Like other business jargon examples in this category, this phrase largely stems from employee dissatisfaction.
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To make sure you get the promotion you truly want, check out this guide:
#4: Resenteeism
Example sentence:
“Joanne constantly complains that she’ll quit but never does, due to the instability of the current job market. Resenteeism has kept her in this role for over 6 months now.”
What it really means:
“Resenteeism” describes an employee who is unhappy with their job, but is forced to keep working for various reasons, including financial insecurity. Employees going through these circumstances physically show up to their work but are otherwise disengaged, frustrated, and unmotivated. As an employee feels that their opportunities to find a better role are limited, their resentment toward their current employment increases.
#5: Coffee badging
Example sentence:
“I only ever see Tom when he’s coffee badging. He pops in the office, grabs a coffee, chats for an hour or so, and goes back home to work remotely.”
What it really means:
“Coffee badging” has developed as a response to return-to-office mandates, which are meant to limit employees’ freedom to work from home. Employees will show up to work and stay in the office long enough to drink a cup of coffee, and then leave to resume working from home in a quiet act of protest.
#6: Anti-perk
Example sentence:
“When I first applied to this job, the ad highlighted vacation days. I later found out that it was unpaid time off. What an anti-perk!”
What it really means:
This term is pretty straightforward, as it refers to something that should be a perk or benefit to employees. Unfortunately, instead of benefiting employees, an anti-perk negatively impacts their paycheck, morale, or overall experience. For example, an organization citing the financing of ping-pong tables and snacks or drinks in the office as a reason for not giving out promotions is one situation where the consequences of anti-perks are on full display.
#7: Quiet firing
Example Sentence:
“Do you think my employer is quiet firing me? They’ve slashed my benefits recently and even reduced my PTO days.”
What it really means:
“Quiet firing” forces an employee to resign, usually in response to a poor or hostile work environment. This typically occurs in organizations that have failed to establish psychological safety and prioritize employee experience.
#8: Job hugging
Example sentence:
“I read online that job hugging is on the rise because the market is in shambles right now.”
What it really means:
“Job hugging” describes employees who stay in jobs they’re unhappy with. This points out that in times of market instability and uncertainty, people have a tendency to prioritize long-term security over personal fulfillment.
Connect with clarity using Pumble
Business jargon sometimes becomes part of a shared language in the workplace. It refers to processes all teammates encounter, and thus prevents miscommunication and creates a sense of belonging.
However, overusing jargon has the opposite effect. Instead of your team staying well-connected, it becomes a source of irritation, and these are the results:
- Employees choose buzzwords whenever they want to impress someone in a position of power.
- New hires feel alienated by a corporate language they don’t fully understand.
- Workers who may have a different native language could struggle to decode the intended meaning of office jargon.
This seems like a recipe for mass miscommunication — not clarity. So, what’s the trick to building a work environment where clarity guides business communication and collaboration?
It all starts with the workplace communication tool you use. For example, Pumble by CAKE.com greatly simplifies this process by offering a suite of features that encourage users to prioritize productive and intentional conversations, without beating around the bush.
When you centralize your internal communication in Pumble, you can:
- Use threads to organize discussions: Forget about circling back or touching base. Click on a message to view all related responses and find important decisions, replies, and context.
- Share files and documents: Using overly complicated phrasing is a waste of time when deadlines are approaching. Attach a document and start collaborating immediately — no additional explanations required!
- Preserve all discussions, thanks to the unlimited message history: What happens in Pumble, stays in Pumble. The platform transforms all interactions into a searchable knowledge base, with any message at the tips of your fingers, just a few keywords away. This transparency and availability is in stark contrast to business jargon. It’s easy to use everyday language in Pumble to keep the search process quick and efficient, whereas when you use corporate speak, finding what you need becomes a tiring guessing game.
Keep it simple and communicate with clarity.
