Business English Blog

Learning the Ropes

A client shared this story, which highlights the importance of clear communication at work.

In a recent technical meeting, Alex and Jonathan – a software architect and his manager – discussed the current state of their project. The news from Alex was not good: It was evident the solution pursued for the past three weeks was simply not going to work. Taking stock, Jonathan suggested it might be time to throw in the towel and start again from square one. Alex sat for a few moments in silence.  Although he was educated in a top university, it was in a non-English-speaking setting.  Throw in the towel?  Square one?  What did Jonathan mean? His use of idiomatic expressions was confusing.

In everyday conversation, idioms are a dime a dozen.  They are easy to find.  Unfortunately, they can be hard to decipher, especially if English is your second language.  That’s no surprise.  An idiom, by definition, is “an expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of the individual words.”  Confusion is to be expected!

Mystery of Idioms

The mystery of idioms often traces back to their origins – relating to walks of life such as sports, nature and occupations.  When you jump the gun, you are starting an activity prematurely, similar to a sprinter in a running race who leaps forward before the start gun fires.  To break the ice is to open a channel of communication in the same way an icebreaker ship opens a channel of water for other boats to follow.  Saying you are learning the ropes means you are learning how to do your job, like a sailor who needs to learn knots and other rope manoeuvres for his trade.

Intriguing as they may be, are idioms safe to use in the workplace, where cultural and linguistic diversity are the norm?  I say yes!   While idioms may seem too informal and sometimes create confusion, they add warmth and humour to our workplace conversations and strengthen relationships.  Use idioms with your colleagues, but do so with awareness.

Listeners’ Reactions

If, as a Canadian-born communicator, you are familiar with most English idioms, be aware that others aren’t.   In workplace meetings, training sessions and social conversations, idioms may go over the head of many of your listeners. A high percentage may have difficulty decoding the idioms’ meaning.  Monitor your listeners’ reactions to make sure they are tracking with you and following your meaning.

Here’s a suggestion:  Use idioms when you wish, but follow with a plain language translation. For example, after stating “We’re back at square one”, simply add “Let’s start again from the beginning.” In this win-win situation, both sides benefit.  You enjoy using an idiom and your listeners enjoy learning one.

Learning New Idioms

If English is your second language, look for opportunities to master new idioms.  When you hear a puzzling phrase, make a note of it and check a dictionary or online resource. In your search engine, simply typing the phrase will usually lead you to the idiom’s meaning.   Your friends and colleagues can also help you understand idioms.  Asking about an idiom’s meaning will often launch a worthwhile conversation.

A final thought: Whether English is your first or second language, spend time researching the origin of interesting idioms.   This fascinating pursuit will lead to you to unexpected discoveries and insights.  Reflecting on idioms’ deeper meaning and history fosters a richer appreciation of language and culture – and makes us all better communicators.

Have a look:  This article has also been published on the IWCC website!