Annoying phrases at work
Yesterday (15 Dec) Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie asked BBC Radio 6 listeners which phrases annoyed them the most.
A lot of answers were those we hear (and sometimes use) in the office, in meetings and in work emails. Bizspeak is a surefire way to turn readers off!
Listeners got in touch with examples like:
- From the get-go
- I hear what you’re saying
- To reach out

Glassdoor survey
Earlier this year Glassdoor recruitment website published results of its own survey on office jargon. To touch base came out on top, followed by blue-sky thinking, being on a journey, game changer and no brainer.
Glassdoor’s Mark DiToro explains people use words like these to seem affiliated in the culture of a company and feel included. On the other hand, it’s often just easier to use one of these short phrases instead of the five or six straightforward words it might take to explain an idea.
Let’s have a vote!
So what’s your most hated business cliché? Options are Glassdoor’s top five plus three from the Radcliffe and Maconie Show and I’ll add one of mine, skill set (which narrowly beat genuinely, on trend, go-to, and going forward).
Voting is now closed. We have a four-way tie! Feel free to add more suggestions in the comments.
What's your most hated office cliché?
- Touch base (14%, 2 Votes)
- On a journey (14%, 2 Votes)
- Game changer (14%, 2 Votes)
- No brainer (14%, 2 Votes)
- Blue-sky thinking (7%, 1 Votes)
- From the get-go (7%, 1 Votes)
- I hear what you're saying (7%, 1 Votes)
- To reach out (7%, 1 Votes)
- Skill set (7%, 1 Votes)
- Other - say what it is in the comments (7%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 9

The one I dislike is
Drill down
Followed by
Workstream and pathway
The last two are nearly as bad as… “the funnel”!