Office vocabulary: names of office items, idioms & phrases

Today’s topic is office vocabulary. Every job has common phrases and expressions that are beneficial to know. Working in an office, regardless of the language you speak, necessitates specialized vocabulary.

 Many of us work in offices, schools, and cubicles where such items are frequently encountered. Understanding how to discuss office equipment (along with other office vocabulary, phrases, and idioms) is an important part of business English and can be useful when working in an office environment. 

So why not learn the names of these things and broaden your English vocabulary?

Office Vocabulary: Common Office Items to Know

Here is a list of common office items:

• Whiteboard
• Pencil cup
• Marker 
• Scissors 
• Hole punch
• Stapler 
• Desk calculator 
• Agenda = an appointment diary 
• Tape measure 
• Paper-clip
• Post-it notes 
• Cutter 
• Pencil sharpener 
• Duct tape 
• Dossier
• Printer 
• Coffee machine 
• Office drawer 
• Filing cabinet
• Fax machine
• Cell phone

4 Office-related Idioms and Phrases:

1. Roll up your sleeves – an expression that many know. It means “to prepare to do hard work.”

Example: It’s not easy work to do, so you have to roll up your sleeves.

2. To keep the nose to the grindstone – this long expression means “to work hard; to concentrate on the task at hand.”

Example: My husband keeps his nose to the grindstone when he works.

3. Learn the hard way – this idiom means “to learn from one’s mistakes.”

Example: I used to learn the hard way.

4. To pull your socks up – this means “to work hard; to put forth a lot of effort.”

Example: That wasn’t a difficult task, so we didn’t pull our socks up to accomplish it.

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Contact Liffey College today to learn more about our English language courses in Dublin. 

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