BY WORD OF MOUTH This means that information is transmitted through speech and orally, as opposed to written text. People who can understand the language of those speaking will be able to understand what the message is, but those who cannot need some form of translating. This type of communication can be lost by people…
BY THE BOOK, GO A person who “goes by the book” might be someone who does things in a very systematic way. Such people are always following procedures to the letter, not taking any risks or side-stepping any rules. It is important to go by the book, or to follow the rules. Without following the…
BUTTER (SOMEONE) UP A buttering up is a tactic that an individual can use to get on someone’s good side. The use of this term may be derived from the practice of applying butter to bread and other food items in order to make it more palatable. A lot of times, people will butter someone…
BURNING QUESTION A question that is often asked is about how to have a better understanding of public opinion. It can be helpful to use polls that are open-ended, where respondents are able to provide their own responses. This might help avoid unintentional biases, for example on the part of the pollster. A burning question…
BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS Burning the candle at both ends is a colloquial phrase that means to do two things in quick succession at both ends of the spectrum with no break in between. It is generally used when someone is working too hard or partying too much, which can cause burnout or…
BUM STEER, GIVE SOMEONE A A bum steer is when someone intentionally misdirects someone else to prevent them from reaching their destination. For instance, if you are driving and the person next to you has a map, they will give you directions that will not take you to your destination. The phrase originates from cattle…
BRUSH-OFF, GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE Failing to give a person a sincere conversation is called the brush-off. The term is often used when someone is not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with someone, but instead deflecting their attention so they can pursue another person. In the world of academia, when one person brushes off another…
BREAK THE ICE Breaking the ice is a form of discourse that seeks to initiate social contact. The intent behind this process is to begin a conversation by removing barriers between strangers. The participant that initiates the interaction faces many challenges, including their lack of knowledge about the other person or people in the group…
BOXED IN/BOX (SOMEONE) IN Boxing someone in is the process of restricting the movement of a person. It can be done by making their movements slow and ponderous, or by preventing their progress altogether. The process of boxing someone in can be achieved in one of two ways: slowing down and obstructing. Slowing down and…
BOTTOM LINE, THE The bottom line is a term used in business, which is a slang phrase meaning “the most important point,” the conclusion, or the final summary. It can also refer to the net income generated by a company’s revenues and expenses, or to a type of accounting summary that shows how much money…