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Work is war sometimes. Especially when people write like they’re in the military.
But can you tell which phrases come from the boardroom and which come from the battlefield?
Take our quiz to find out.
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Didn’t get them all right?
Don’t worry. Even Winston Churchill wasn’t up on army jargon (nor did he care for it). In one of his letters from America, Alistair Cooke recalls a meeting at General Eisenhower’s headquarters in London.
An American colonel said: “How many ICPs have been counted?”
“What,” asked Winston Churchill, “are ICPs?”
“Impaired combatant personnel, sir.”
“Never let me hear that detestable phrase again. If you’re talking about British troops, you will refer to them as wounded soldiers.”
If plain English is good enough for Winston, it’s good enough for us.
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Question 1 of 8
1. Question
1. “Helicopter view.”
Correct
Business blah
This means ‘overview’ or ‘a broad view’. Both of which are shorter. So why not use them?
Image credit Alberto Micalizzi on Flickr
Incorrect
Business blah
This means ‘overview’ or ‘a broad view’. Both of which are shorter. So why not use them?
Image credit Alberto Micalizzi on Flickr
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Question 2 of 8
2. Question
- “Run it up the flagpole.”
Correct
Business blah
This phrase came from the military, but these days it’s a corporate cliché.
Image credit Michael G Smith on Flickr
Incorrect
Business blah
This phrase came from the military, but these days it’s a corporate cliché.
Image credit Michael G Smith on Flickr
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Question 3 of 8
3. Question
3. “15 minutes prior to 15 minutes prior.”
Correct
Army jargon
Military people are taught to arrive early to everything. If only people would turn up to business meetings so promptly.
Image credit Jonathon Strange on Flickr
Incorrect
Army jargon
Military people are taught to arrive early to everything. If only people would turn up to business meetings so promptly.
Image credit Jonathon Strange on Flickr
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Question 4 of 8
4. Question
4. “Capture your colleagues.”
Correct
Business blah
Although it sounds like an army training exercise, this actually means ‘make sure you tell your colleagues about this’ in business. At least, that’s what we think it means.
Image credit jkstalent.com
Incorrect
Business blah
Although it sounds like an army training exercise, this actually means ‘make sure you tell your colleagues about this’ in business. At least, that’s what we think it means.
Image credit jkstalent.com
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Question 5 of 8
5. Question
5. “Let’s sunset this.”
Correct
Business blah
Not a reference to the helicopter scene in Apocalypse Now, this is a polite way of saying ‘that idea is so bad let’s never mention it again’. Presumably to avoid a war of words in meetings.
Image credit Thush on Flickr
Incorrect
Business blah
Not a reference to the helicopter scene in Apocalypse Now, this is a polite way of saying ‘that idea is so bad let’s never mention it again’. Presumably to avoid a war of words in meetings.
Image credit Thush on Flickr
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Question 6 of 8
6. Question
6. “This is bone.”
Correct
Army jargon
An Army term for something pointless. Why is something pointless described as ‘bone’? That’s classified (translation: we don’t know).
Image credit Karf Oohlu on Flickr
Incorrect
Army jargon
An Army term for something pointless. Why is something pointless described as ‘bone’? That’s classified (translation: we don’t know).
Image credit Karf Oohlu on Flickr
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Question 7 of 8
7. Question
7. “No impact, no idea.”
Correct
Army jargon
Used when a sniper’s shot is so far off target that you don’t see an impact. Could also be applied to the output of ‘idea showers’ in business.
Image credit dontpanictoru on Flickr
Incorrect
Army jargon
Used when a sniper’s shot is so far off target that you don’t see an impact. Could also be applied to the output of ‘idea showers’ in business.
Image credit dontpanictoru on Flickr
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Question 8 of 8
8. Question
8. “Capsizing.”
Correct
Army jargon. No, wait.. business speak. No ARMY jargon! Oh, we don’t know anymore…
Yes, you can literally capsize your assault boat / canoe / raft made out of oil drums in the army. But we’ve also heard this word used in business as an extreme version of “rightsizing” (i.e. laying people off). In this sense, “capsizing” means laying people off to the point where, well, no one works there anymore. Which, like the people, kind of makes the word redundant.
Image credit Tim Norris on Flickr
Incorrect
Army jargon. No, wait.. business speak. No ARMY jargon! Oh, we don’t know anymore…
Yes, you can literally capsize your assault boat / canoe / raft made out of oil drums in the army. But we’ve also heard this word used in business as an extreme version of “rightsizing” (i.e. laying people off). In this sense, “capsizing” means laying people off to the point where, well, no one works there anymore. Which, like the people, kind of makes the word redundant.
Image credit Tim Norris on Flickr
