Common Confusing Business English Slang Explained Easily

Business conversations often include slang that isn’t taught in textbooks. These expressions can confuse English learners—even if they speak fluently. This guide explains common business English slang in simple language, with real examples so you can understand and use them naturally.

30 Common Business Buzzwords and Their Definitions

Why Business English Slang Can Be Confusing

• It’s informal and often used without explanation
• The words don’t mean what they seem
• Many phrases come from U.S. or U.K. workplace culture

Understanding slang helps you sound more natural and avoid confusion in meetings, emails, and office chat.

45 Examples of Business Jargon Terms and Phrases

Popular Business English Slang Terms 

1. “Ping me”

Meaning: Message me or send a quick reminder.
✅ “Ping me when you’re ready to start the call.”

2. “Loop someone in”

Meaning: Include someone in a conversation or email.
✅ “Can you loop Sarah in on this email thread?”

3. “Heads-up”

Meaning: A quick warning or update.
✅ “Just a heads-up, the client moved the meeting to Friday.”

4. “Crack the whip”

Meaning: Push people to work harder or faster.
✅ “The manager had to crack the whip to meet the deadline.”

5. “Deep dive”

Meaning: Look at something in detail.
✅ “Let’s do a deep dive into last month’s sales numbers.”

6. “Bandwidth”

Meaning: Time or capacity to handle something.
✅ “I don’t have the bandwidth to take on a new project right now.”

7. “Circle back”

Meaning: Return to a topic or check in again later.
✅ “Let’s circle back to this in tomorrow’s meeting.”

8. “In a nutshell”

Meaning: In a few words; a quick summary.
✅ “In a nutshell, the project is on track.”

9. “Hot desk”

Meaning: A shared desk used by different people at different times.
✅ “We hot desk, so no one has a fixed spot in the office.”

10. “Boil the ocean”

Meaning: Try to do too much at once; take on an impossible task.
✅ “Let’s focus on one goal—we don’t need to boil the ocean.”

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Quick Tips for Understanding Business Slang

• Don’t guess—ask: “What does ‘ping me’ mean?”
• Watch how native speakers use these words
• Use them only when appropriate for your workplace culture
• Keep a personal slang glossary to review

Words to Use When You’re Running Late

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