Navigating English expressions

When you think about some English expressions literally, the workplace sounds like a very strange place.

I have had to learn that words do not always mean what they say:

😶‍🌫️ "Under the weather": Why weather? Why am I under it? In Dutch, you are just ill. 

🦵"Break a leg": A terrifying thing to say to a colleague before a presentation if you do not know the context.

🍰 "Piece of cake": Why is a simple task compared to dessert?

🐤 “Kill two birds with one stone”: Disturbing image, so I started calling it differently in meetings, for example “Feed two birds with one scone”. 

The English language is of course no exception when it comes to its quirks. Some more examples that can make you stop and think:

🐘 "The elephant in the room": We are all ignoring a massive animal?

⏺️ "Touch base": This sounds like a physical sports metaphor that has somehow become a standard for a 5-minute sync.

🚌 "Throwing someone under the bus": A very violent way to describe a minor lack of accountability!

Mastering a language in a professional environment is 20% vocabulary and 80% cultural context. You have to learn the "vibe" of the expression before you can use it naturally.

Nowadays, I find myself using these phrases without even thinking. I have "leveled up" my English, but I still have to laugh when I realize how ridiculous I must sound to a literal listener.

What is the weirdest English expression you have encountered in your career?

#WorkingInEnglish #ESL #WorkplaceCulture #CommunicationSkills #LifeLongLearning