Carpenter, electrician, nurse, architect — what do people do? Real jobs, real photos.
🚧This page is still under construction — we're adding new professions and photos every day. Check back in a few days to see it complete!
To talk about jobs in English we say "I am a carpenter" or "She is a nurse". Use a/an before the job: "He is an architect" (vowel sound → an).
Jobs by Category
Real photos of people at work, grouped by field.
Blue Collar
Carpenter
/ˈkɑːr.pən.tər/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds and repairs things made of wood.
Bricklayer
/ˈbrɪkˌleɪ.ər/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds walls using bricks.
Mason
/ˈmeɪ.sən/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds with stone or brick.
Plumber
/ˈplʌm.ər/
Definition
A tradesperson who installs and repairs water pipes.
Electrician
/ɪˌlekˈtrɪʃ.ən/
Definition
A tradesperson who installs and repairs electrical systems.
Roofer
/ˈruː.fər/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds and repairs roofs.
Welder
/ˈwel.dər/
Definition
A tradesperson who joins metal pieces using heat.
Blacksmith
/ˈblæk.smɪθ/
Definition
A craftsperson who shapes metal by hand, using heat.
Painter
/ˈpeɪn.tər/
Definition
A tradesperson who paints walls, houses, and buildings.
Plasterer
/ˈplæs.tər.ər/
Definition
A tradesperson who covers walls with plaster.
Tiler
/ˈtaɪ.lər/
Definition
A tradesperson who installs tiles on floors and walls.
Glazier
/ˈɡleɪ.ʒər/
Definition
A tradesperson who fits and repairs glass windows.
Locksmith
/ˈlɒkˌsmɪθ/
Definition
A tradesperson who makes and repairs locks and keys.
Machinist
/məˈʃiː.nɪst/
Definition
A tradesperson who operates machines to shape metal parts.
Mechanic
/məˈkæn.ɪk/
Definition
A tradesperson who repairs and maintains vehicle engines.
Tailor
/ˈteɪ.lər/
Definition
A craftsperson who makes and alters clothes.
Shoemaker
/ˈʃuˌmeɪ.kər/
Definition
A tradesperson who makes or repairs shoes.
Potter
/ˈpɑ.tər/
Definition
A craftsperson who makes pots and dishes out of clay.
Glassblower
/ˈglæsˌbloʊ.ər/
Definition
A craftsperson who shapes melted glass by blowing air into it.
Weaver
/ˈwi.vər/
Definition
A craftsperson who makes fabric by weaving threads together.
Furniture Maker
/ˈfɜr.nɪ.tʃərˌmeɪ.kər/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds furniture such as tables and chairs.
Woodcarver
/ˈwʊdˌkɑr.vər/
Definition
A craftsperson who carves designs and shapes into wood.
Engraver
/ɪnˈgreɪ.vər/
Definition
A craftsperson who cuts designs into metal, wood, or glass.
Upholsterer
/ʌpˈhoʊl.stər.ər/
Definition
A tradesperson who covers furniture with fabric or leather padding.
Bookbinder
/ˈbʊkˌbaɪn.dər/
Definition
A craftsperson who binds pages together to make books.
Leatherworker
/ˈlɛð.ərˌwɜr.kər/
Definition
A craftsperson who makes goods out of leather.
Saddler
/ˈsæd.lər/
Definition
A craftsperson who makes saddles and other leather horse gear.
Watchmaker
/ˈwɑtʃˌmeɪ.kər/
Definition
A craftsperson who builds and repairs watches.
Jeweler
/ˈdʒu.əl.ər/
Definition
A craftsperson who makes and sells jewelry.
Metalworker
/ˈmet.əlˌwɜːr.kər/
Definition
A tradesperson who shapes and repairs metal objects.
Construction Worker
/kənˈstrʌkʃən ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds and repairs buildings and structures.
Factory Worker
/ˈfæktəri ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A worker who makes products in a factory.
Assembly Worker
/əˈsɛmbli ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A worker who puts together parts to make products.
Machine Operator
/məˈʃiːn ˌɑːpəreɪtər/
Definition
A worker who operates machines in a factory or workshop.
Forklift Operator
/ˈfɔrk.lɪft ˈɑp.əˌreɪ.tər/
Definition
A worker who drives a forklift to move heavy goods.
Crane Operator
/kreɪn ˌɑːpəreɪtər/
Definition
A worker who operates a crane to lift heavy objects.
Miner
/ˈmaɪnər/
Definition
A worker who digs coal, metals, or minerals from the ground.
Logger
/ˈlɔːɡər/
Definition
A worker who cuts down trees for wood.
Dockworker
/ˈdɑkˌwɜr.kər/
Definition
A worker who loads and unloads ships at a dock.
Warehouse Worker
/ˈwer.haʊs ˈwɜr.kər/
Definition
A worker who stores and moves goods in a warehouse.
Handyman
/ˈhændimæn/
Definition
A person who does small repairs and jobs around a house.
Road Worker
/ˈroʊd ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A worker who builds and repairs roads.
Paving Worker
/ˈpeɪvɪŋ ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A worker who lays stone or asphalt to make surfaces.
Demolition Worker
/ˌdɛməˈlɪʃən ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A worker who tears down buildings and structures.
Scaffolder
/ˈskæf.əl.dər/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds scaffolding for construction work.
Maintenance Worker
/ˈmeɪntənəns ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A worker who repairs and maintains buildings or equipment.
Technician
/tɛkˈnɪʃən/
Definition
A skilled worker who repairs or maintains equipment.
Fumigator
/ˈfjuːmɪɡeɪtər/
Definition
A worker who uses gas or chemicals to kill pests.
Pest Controller
/pɛst kənˈtroʊlər/
Definition
A worker who removes insects and other pests from buildings.
Window Cleaner
/ˈwɪndoʊ ˌkliːnər/
Definition
A worker who cleans the windows of buildings.
Baker
/ˈbeɪ.kər/
Definition
A person who bakes bread, cakes, and pastries.
Butcher
/ˈbʊtʃ.ər/
Definition
A tradesperson who prepares and sells meat.
Fisherman
/ˈfɪʃ.ər.mən/
Definition
A person who catches fish for a living.
Farm Worker
/fɑrm ˈwɜr.kər/
Definition
A person who works on a farm doing manual labor.
Gardener
/ˈɡɑːr.dən.ər/
Definition
A worker who grows and tends plants and gardens.
Florist
/ˈflɔːrɪst/
Definition
A person who arranges and sells flowers.
Groundskeeper
/ˈɡraʊndz.kiː.pər/
Definition
A worker who maintains parks or sports grounds.
Garbage Collector
/ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ kəˌlɛktər/
Definition
A worker who collects and removes household trash.
Cleaner
/ˈkliːnər/
Definition
A worker who cleans buildings or homes.
Janitor
/ˈdʒænɪtər/
Definition
A worker who cleans and maintains a building.
Truck Driver
/trʌk ˈdraɪ.vər/
Definition
A driver who transports goods in a large truck.
Delivery Driver
/dɪˈlɪv.ər.i ˈdraɪ.vər/
Definition
A driver who delivers goods to customers.
Courier
/ˈkʊr.i.ər/
Definition
A person who delivers messages or packages.
Taxi Driver
/ˈtæk.si ˈdraɪ.vər/
Definition
A driver who transports passengers for a fare.
Bus Driver
/bʌs ˈdraɪ.vər/
Definition
A driver who transports passengers in a bus.
Train Operator
/treɪn ˈɑːpəreɪtər/
Definition
A worker who drives and controls a train.
Tram Driver
/træm ˈdraɪvər/
Definition
A worker who drives a tram on city streets.
Tow Truck Driver
/toʊ trʌk ˈdraɪvər/
Definition
A driver who tows broken-down or illegally parked vehicles.
Street Vendor
/striːt ˈvɛndər/
Definition
A person who sells goods or food on the street.
Shopkeeper
/ˈʃɑpˌki.pər/
Definition
A person who owns and runs a small store.
Tattoo Artist
/tæˈtuː ˈɑːrtɪst/
Definition
An artist who draws permanent designs on people's skin.
Piercer
/ˈpɪərsər/
Definition
A person who makes holes in skin for jewelry.
Advertising Sign Spinner
/ˈædvərtaɪzɪŋ saɪn ˈspɪnər/
Definition
A worker who spins signs to advertise a business.
Embalmer
/ɪmˈbɑːmər/
Definition
A person who preserves dead bodies for funerals.
Cemetery Caretaker
/ˈsɛməˌtɛri ˈkɛrˌteɪkər/
Definition
A worker who maintains and looks after a cemetery.
Pipefitter
/ˈpaɪpˌfɪt.ər/
Definition
A tradesperson who installs and connects pipe systems.
Millwright
/ˈmɪlˌraɪt/
Definition
A tradesperson who installs and maintains factory machinery.
Boilermaker
/ˈbɔɪ.lərˌmeɪ.kər/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds and repairs large metal tanks.
Farrier
/ˈfær.i.ər/
Definition
A tradesperson who fits and cares for horseshoes.
Stonemason
/ˈstoʊnˌmeɪ.sən/
Definition
A tradesperson who builds and carves with stone.
Insulator
/ˈɪn.səˌleɪ.tər/
Definition
A tradesperson who installs insulation in buildings.
Drywaller
/ˈdraɪˌwɔl.ər/
Definition
A tradesperson who installs and finishes drywall.
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White Collar
Accountant
/əˈkaʊn.tənt/
Definition
A professional who manages financial records.
Bookkeeper
/ˈbʊkˌki.pər/
Definition
A professional who records a company's financial transactions.
Auditor
/ˈɔ.dɪ.tər/
Definition
A professional who checks financial records for accuracy.
Banker
/ˈbæŋ.kər/
Definition
A professional who manages accounts and services at a bank.
Economist
/ɪˈkɑ.nə.mɪst/
Definition
A professional who studies how money and resources move in society.
Lawyer
/ˈlɔɪ.ər/
Definition
A professional who gives legal advice and represents clients.
Architect
/ˈɑːr.kɪ.tekt/
Definition
A professional who designs buildings.
Engineer
/ˌen.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
A professional who designs, builds, or repairs machines and structures.
Consultant
/kənˈsʌl.tənt/
Definition
A professional who gives expert advice to organizations.
Manager
/ˈmæn.ɪ.dʒər/
Definition
A professional who oversees a team or department.
Administrator
/ədˈmɪn.ɪ.streɪ.tər/
Definition
A person who manages the daily work of an office.
Secretary
/ˈsɛk.rəˌtɛr.i/
Definition
An employee who handles correspondence and office tasks.
Executive
/ɪgˈzɛk.jə.tɪv/
Definition
A senior professional who makes important business decisions.
Analyst
/ˈænəlɪst/
Definition
A professional who studies data to give advice or reports.
Entrepreneur
/ˌɑn.trə.prəˈnɜr/
Definition
A person who starts and runs their own business.
Broker
/ˈbroʊ.kər/
Definition
A professional who buys and sells assets for clients.
Trader
/ˈtreɪ.dər/
Definition
A professional who buys and sells stocks or other assets.
Financial Advisor
/faɪˈnæn.ʃəl ədˈvaɪ.zər/
Definition
A professional who helps clients plan their finances.
Real Estate Agent
/ˈriːəl ɪˈsteɪt ˌeɪdʒənt/
Definition
An agent who helps people buy, sell, or rent property.
Recruiter
/rɪˈkru.tər/
Definition
A professional who finds and hires new employees.
Business Owner
/ˈbɪz.nɪs ˈoʊ.nər/
Definition
A person who owns and runs a company.
Insurance Agent
/ɪnˈʃʊr.əns ˈeɪ.dʒənt/
Definition
A professional who sells insurance policies to clients.
Office Worker
/ˈɔːfɪs ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A person who works at a desk in an office.
Researcher
/rɪˈsɜːrtʃər/
Definition
A professional who studies a subject to discover new facts.
Statistician
/ˌstæt.ɪˈstɪʃ.ən/
Definition
A specialist who collects and analyzes numerical data.
Actuary
/ˈæk.tʃuˌɛr.i/
Definition
A professional who calculates risk using statistics.
Tax Advisor
/ˈtæks ədˈvaɪ.zər/
Definition
A professional who advises clients on tax matters.
Auctioneer
/ˌɔːkʃəˈnɪr/
Definition
A person who runs an auction and sells items to bidders.
Interpreter
/ɪnˈtɜːrprɪtər/
Definition
A professional who translates spoken language from one language to another in real time.
Stockbroker
/ˈstɒkˌbroʊ.kər/
Definition
A professional who buys and sells stocks for clients.
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Pink Collar
Receptionist
/rɪˈsɛp.ʃə.nɪst/
Definition
An employee who greets visitors and answers calls at an office.
Hairdresser
/ˈher.dres.ər/
Definition
A professional who cuts and styles hair.
Hairstylist
/ˈher.staɪ.lɪst/
Definition
A professional who styles and designs hair.
Beautician
/bjuːˈtɪʃ.ən/
Definition
A professional who gives beauty treatments.
Waiter
/ˈweɪ.tər/
Definition
A man who serves food and drinks in a restaurant.
Caregiver
/ˈkɛrˌɡɪvər/
Definition
A person who cares for a sick, elderly, or disabled person.
Social Worker
/ˈsoʊ.ʃəl ˈwɜr.kər/
Definition
A professional who helps people cope with social and personal problems.
Childcare Worker
/ˈtʃaɪldˌkɛr ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A worker who takes care of young children.
Cashier
/kæˈʃɪr/
Definition
A worker who handles payments in a store.
Maid
/meɪd/
Definition
A worker who cleans rooms in a home or hotel.
Housekeeper
/ˈhaʊs.kiː.pər/
Definition
A worker who cleans and tidies rooms.
Retail Assistant
/ˈri.teɪl əˈsɪs.tənt/
Definition
An employee who helps customers in a store.
Customer Advisor
/ˈkʌs.tə.mər ədˈvaɪ.zər/
Definition
A worker who gives customers advice and support.
Call Center Agent
/kɔːl ˈsen.tər ˈeɪ.dʒənt/
Definition
An agent who answers customer calls for a company.
Dental Assistant
/ˈdɛn.təl əˈsɪs.tənt/
Definition
A healthcare worker who helps a dentist during treatment.
Nursing Assistant
/ˈnɜːrsɪŋ əˈsɪstənt/
Definition
A healthcare worker who helps nurses care for patients.
Tutor
/ˈtuː.tər/
Definition
A private teacher who helps one student or a small group.
Librarian
/laɪˈbrer.i.ən/
Definition
A professional who manages a library and helps people find books.
Nanny
/ˈnæni/
Definition
A person who is paid to take care of children in their home.
Babysitter
/ˈbeɪbiˌsɪtər/
Definition
A person who takes care of children for a short time.
Personal Assistant
/ˈpɜr.sən.əl əˈsɪs.tənt/
Definition
An employee who manages a person's schedule and errands.
Personal Trainer
/ˈpɜːr.sən.əl ˈtreɪ.nər/
Definition
A trainer who helps people exercise and get fit.
Sales Clerk
/ˈseɪlzˌklɜːrk/
Definition
A worker who helps customers and sells goods in a store.
Concierge
/ˌkɒn.siˈerʒ/
Definition
A hotel worker who helps guests with requests and information.
Butler
/ˈbʌtlər/
Definition
A male servant who manages a household's staff.
Valet
/væˈleɪ/
Definition
A worker who parks cars for guests.
Doorman
/ˈdɔrˌmæn/
Definition
A person who greets visitors and guards a building's entrance.
Porter
/ˈpɔːr.tər/
Definition
A worker who carries luggage or goods for travelers.
Dog Walker
/dɒɡ ˈwɔː.kər/
Definition
A person who walks dogs for their owners.
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Healthcare
General Practitioner
/ˌdʒɛnərəl prækˈtɪʃənər/
Definition
A doctor who treats common illnesses for patients of all ages.
Doctor
/ˈdɑk.tər/
Definition
A medical professional who diagnoses and treats illness.
Surgeon
/ˈsɜr.dʒən/
Definition
A doctor who performs operations to treat injuries or illness.
Dentist
/ˈdɛn.tɪst/
Definition
A doctor who treats problems with teeth and gums.
Pharmacist
/ˈfɑr.mə.sɪst/
Definition
A professional who prepares and dispenses medicines.
Nurse
/nɜːrs/
Definition
A healthcare professional who cares for sick or injured people.
Paramedic
/ˌpær.əˈmɛd.ɪk/
Definition
A healthcare professional who gives emergency medical care.
Psychologist
/saɪˈkɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A professional who studies and treats the human mind and behavior.
Physiotherapist
/ˌfɪz.i.oʊˈθɛr.ə.pɪst/
Definition
A healthcare professional who treats injuries with physical exercises.
Veterinarian
/ˌvet.ər.əˈner.i.ən/
Definition
A doctor who treats sick or injured animals.
Midwife
/ˈmɪd.waɪf/
Definition
A healthcare professional who helps deliver babies.
Cardiologist
/ˌkɑr.diˈɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who treats diseases of the heart.
Dermatologist
/ˌdɜr.məˈtɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who treats conditions of the skin.
Pediatrician
/ˌpi.di.əˈtrɪ.ʃən/
Definition
A doctor who treats infants, children, and teenagers.
Neurologist
/nʊˈrɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who treats disorders of the nervous system.
Oncologist
/ɑŋˈkɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who diagnoses and treats cancer.
Psychiatrist
/saɪˈkaɪ.ə.trɪst/
Definition
A doctor who diagnoses and treats mental illness.
Ophthalmologist
/ˌɑf.θælˈmɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who treats diseases and disorders of the eyes.
Radiologist
/ˌreɪ.diˈɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who uses medical images to diagnose illness.
Anesthesiologist
/ˌæn.əsˌθi.ziˈɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who manages pain and consciousness during surgery.
Pathologist
/pəˈθɑ.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who studies the causes and effects of disease.
Radiographer
/ˌreɪ.diˈɑ.grə.fər/
Definition
A healthcare professional who takes medical images like X-rays.
Sonographer
/səˈnɑ.grə.fər/
Definition
A healthcare professional who performs ultrasound scans.
Occupational Therapist
/ˌɑk.jəˈpeɪ.ʃən.əl ˈθɛr.ə.pɪst/
Definition
A therapist who helps people perform daily life activities.
Speech Therapist
/ˈspitʃ ˈθɛr.ə.pɪst/
Definition
A therapist who helps people with speech and language problems.
Therapist
/ˈθɛr.ə.pɪst/
Definition
A professional who helps people recover from illness or distress.
Nursing Assistant
/ˈnɜr.sɪŋ əˈsɪs.tənt/
Definition
A healthcare worker who helps nurses care for patients.
Forensic Pathologist
/fəˈrɛnzɪk pəˈθɑːlədʒɪst/
Definition
A doctor who examines dead bodies to find the cause of death.
Morgue Technician
/mɔːrɡ tɛkˈnɪʃən/
Definition
A worker who prepares and stores bodies in a morgue.
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The Forces
Soldier
/ˈsoʊl.dʒər/
Definition
A person who serves in an army.
Police Officer
/pəˈlis ˈɔ.fɪ.sər/
Definition
An officer who enforces the law and protects people.
Deputy
/ˈdep.jə.ti/
Definition
A law enforcement officer who works for and assists a sheriff, especially at the county level (US).
Firefighter
/ˈfaɪərˌfaɪ.tər/
Definition
A person trained to put out fires and rescue people.
Marine
/məˈrin/
Definition
A soldier trained to fight on land and at sea.
Military Officer
/ˈmɪləˌtɛri ˈɔːfɪsər/
Definition
A person who leads soldiers in the armed forces.
Military Pilot
/ˈmɪləˌtɛri ˈpaɪlət/
Definition
A pilot who flies aircraft for the armed forces.
Naval Pilot
/ˈneɪvəl ˈpaɪlət/
Definition
A pilot who flies aircraft for the navy.
Tanker
/ˈtæŋkər/
Definition
A soldier who drives or operates a military tank.
Sniper
/ˈsnaɪ.pər/
Definition
A soldier trained to shoot targets accurately from far away.
Paratrooper
/ˈpær.əˌtru.pər/
Definition
A soldier trained to jump from aircraft by parachute.
Mercenary
/ˈmɜːrsəˌnɛri/
Definition
A soldier who fights for pay rather than a country.
Military Diver
/ˈmɪləˌtɛri ˈdaɪvər/
Definition
A soldier trained to dive underwater for military missions.
Military Medic
/ˈmɪləˌtɛri ˈmɛdɪk/
Definition
A soldier who gives medical care to injured troops.
Military Engineer
/ˈmɪləˌtɛri ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
A soldier who builds and repairs structures for the military.
Detective
/dɪˈtek.tɪv/
Definition
An investigator who solves crimes.
Traffic Police Officer
/ˈtræfɪk pəˈliːs ˈɔːfɪsər/
Definition
A police officer who directs and controls traffic.
Motorcycle Police Officer
/ˈmoʊtərˌsaɪkəl pəˈliːs ˈɔːfɪsər/
Definition
A police officer who patrols on a motorcycle.
SWAT Officer
/swɑːt ˈɔːfɪsər/
Definition
A police officer trained for dangerous, high-risk operations.
Bodyguard
/ˈbɑ.diˌgɑrd/
Definition
A person hired to protect someone from danger.
Security Guard
/sɪˈkjʊr.ɪ.ti gɑrd/
Definition
A person who protects a building or property from danger.
Private Investigator
/ˈpraɪ.vət ɪnˈves.tɪˌgeɪ.tər/
Definition
A person hired privately to investigate matters or people.
Prison Officer
/ˈprɪzən ˈɔːfɪsər/
Definition
An officer who guards and supervises prisoners.
Border Guard
/ˈbɔːrdər ɡɑːrd/
Definition
An officer who controls who enters and leaves a country.
Coast Guard
/ˈkoʊstˌɡɑːrd/
Definition
An officer who patrols the coast to help ships and enforce laws.
Lifeguard
/ˈlaɪfˌgɑrd/
Definition
A trained person who watches swimmers and prevents drowning.
Rescuer
/ˈrɛskjuːər/
Definition
A person who saves people from danger.
Search And Rescue Worker
/sɜːrtʃ ənd ˈrɛskjuː ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A worker who finds and saves people in emergencies.
Emergency Dispatcher
/ɪˈmɜr.dʒən.si dɪˈspætʃ.ər/
Definition
A person who sends help to callers during an emergency.
Sheriff
/ˈʃer.ɪf/
Definition
An elected officer who enforces the law in a county.
Customs Officer
/ˈkʌstəmz ˈɔːfɪsər/
Definition
An officer who checks goods and travelers entering a country.
Park Ranger
/pɑːrk ˈreɪn.dʒər/
Definition
An officer who protects and manages a park.
Game Warden
/ɡeɪm ˈwɔːrdən/
Definition
An officer who protects wildlife and enforces hunting laws.
Wildlife Officer
/ˈwaɪld.laɪf ˈɒf.ɪ.sər/
Definition
An officer who protects wild animals and their habitats.
Forest Firefighter
/ˈfɔːrɪst ˈfaɪərˌfaɪtər/
Definition
A firefighter who puts out fires in forests and wild land.
Bounty Hunter
/ˈbaʊnti ˈhʌntər/
Definition
A person who is paid to capture criminals or fugitives.
Intelligence Officer
/ɪnˈtel.ɪ.dʒəns ˈɔ.fɪ.sər/
Definition
An officer who gathers and analyzes secret information.
Special Forces Operator
/ˈspɛʃəl ˈfɔːrsɪz ˈɑːpəreɪtər/
Definition
A soldier trained for dangerous and secret military missions.
Combat Engineer
/ˈkɑːmbæt ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
A soldier who builds or destroys structures during combat.
Poacher
/ˈpoʊtʃər/
Definition
A person who illegally hunts or catches wild animals.
Trapper
/ˈtræpər/
Definition
A person who catches wild animals for fur or food.
Night Watchman
/naɪt ˈwɑːtʃmən/
Definition
A guard who watches over a place at night.
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Arts
Artist
/ˈɑːr.tɪst/
Definition
A person who creates paintings, drawings, or other artworks.
Sculptor
/ˈskʌlp.tər/
Definition
An artist who creates three-dimensional works of art.
Illustrator
/ˈɪl.ə.streɪ.tər/
Definition
An artist who creates drawings for books, magazines, or ads.
Photographer
/fəˈtɑː.ɡrə.fər/
Definition
An artist who takes pictures using a camera.
Graphic Designer
/ˈɡræf.ɪk dɪˈzaɪ.nər/
Definition
A designer who creates visual images for print or digital media.
Fashion Designer
/ˈfæʃ.ən dɪˈzaɪ.nər/
Definition
A designer who creates clothing and accessories.
Interior Designer
/ɪnˈtɪr.i.ər dɪˈzaɪ.nər/
Definition
A designer who plans and decorates the inside of buildings.
Industrial Designer
/ɪnˈdʌs.tri.əl dɪˈzaɪ.nər/
Definition
A designer who creates the shape and function of manufactured products.
Cartoonist
/kɑːrˈtuːnɪst/
Definition
An artist who draws cartoons or comic strips.
Actor / Actress
/ˈæk.tər/ /ˈæk.trəs/
Definition
A performer who plays characters in films or plays.
Dancer
/ˈdæn.sər/
Definition
A performer who moves to music in a skilled and expressive way.
Director
/dəˈrɛk.tər/
Definition
A senior professional who oversees a company or department.
Filmmaker
/ˈfɪlm.meɪ.kər/
Definition
A person who makes films or movies.
Cinematographer
/ˌsɪn.ə.məˈtɑː.ɡrə.fər/
Definition
A professional who controls the camera and lighting for a film.
Film Editor
/ˈfɪlm ˈed.ɪ.tər/
Definition
A professional who cuts and arranges footage to make a film.
Animator
/ˈæn.ə.meɪ.tər/
Definition
An artist who creates moving images for films or games.
VFX Artist
/ˌviː.efˈeks ˈɑːr.tɪst/
Definition
An artist who creates special visual effects for films.
Costume Designer
/ˈkɑːs.tuːm dɪˈzaɪ.nər/
Definition
A designer who creates clothing for actors and performers.
Set Designer
/ˈset dɪˈzaɪ.nər/
Definition
A designer who creates the scenery for plays, films, or shows.
Makeup Artist
/ˈmeɪk.ʌp ˈɑːr.tɪst/
Definition
An artist who applies makeup to performers for a role.
Art Director
/ˈɑːrt dəˈrek.tər/
Definition
A professional who oversees the visual style of a project.
Comedian
/kəˈmiː.di.ən/
Definition
A performer who tells jokes and makes people laugh.
Magician
/məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/
Definition
A performer who entertains people with tricks and illusions.
Acrobat
/ˈæk.rə.bæt/
Definition
A performer who does difficult gymnastic movements and tricks.
Juggler
/ˈdʒʌɡ.lər/
Definition
A performer who keeps several objects moving in the air at once.
Puppeteer
/ˌpʌp.əˈtɪr/
Definition
A performer who controls puppets during a show.
Stunt Performer
/stʌnt pərˈfɔːrmər/
Definition
A performer who does dangerous physical acts in films or shows.
Circus Performer
/ˈsɜːrkəs pərˈfɔːrmər/
Definition
A performer who entertains audiences with circus acts.
Voice Actor
/vɔɪs ˈæktər/
Definition
An actor who provides voices for animated characters or games.
Writer
/ˈraɪ.tər/
Definition
A person who writes books, articles, or other texts.
Author
/ˈɔː.θər/
Definition
A person who writes a book or other original work.
Novelist
/ˈnɑː.vəl.ɪst/
Definition
A writer who writes long fictional stories called novels.
Poet
/ˈpoʊ.ət/
Definition
A writer who creates poems.
Playwright
/ˈpleɪ.raɪt/
Definition
A writer who writes scripts for plays.
Screenwriter
/ˈskriːn.raɪ.tər/
Definition
A writer who writes scripts for movies or TV shows.
Copywriter
/ˈkɑ.piˌraɪ.tər/
Definition
A writer who creates text for advertisements.
Editor
/ˈed.ɪ.tər/
Definition
A person who reviews and improves written content before publishing.
Journalist
/ˈdʒɜːr.nə.lɪst/
Definition
A person who writes or reports the news.
Presenter
/prɪˈzen.tər/
Definition
A person who hosts a TV or radio program.
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Music
Singer
/ˈsɪŋ.ər/
Definition
A performer who sings music for an audience.
Musician
/mjuˈzɪʃ.ən/
Definition
A person who performs or creates music.
Composer
/kəmˈpoʊ.zər/
Definition
A person who writes original pieces of music.
Songwriter
/ˈsɔːŋ.raɪ.tər/
Definition
A person who writes lyrics and music for songs.
Guitarist
/ɡɪˈtɑːr.ɪst/
Definition
A musician who plays the guitar.
Pianist
/piˈæn.ɪst/
Definition
A musician who plays the piano.
Violinist
/ˌvaɪ.əˈlɪn.ɪst/
Definition
A musician who plays the violin.
Drummer
/ˈdrʌm.ər/
Definition
A musician who plays the drums.
Bassist
/ˈbeɪ.sɪst/
Definition
A musician who plays the bass guitar.
Conductor
/kənˈdʌk.tər/
Definition
A musician who directs an orchestra or choir during a performance.
Music Producer
/ˈmjuː.zɪk prəˈduː.sər/
Definition
A professional who oversees the recording of a song or album.
DJ
/ˌdiːˈdʒeɪ/
Definition
A person who plays and mixes recorded music for an audience.
Sound Engineer
/ˈsaʊnd ˌen.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
A technician who manages sound quality during recording or events.
Music Teacher
/ˈmjuː.zɪk ˈtiː.tʃər/
Definition
A teacher who instructs students in music.
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Science & Technology
Scientist
/ˈsaɪ.ən.tɪst/
Definition
A person who studies the natural world through experiments and research.
Biologist
/baɪˈɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies living things and their life processes.
Chemist
/ˈkem.ɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies substances and how they react together.
Physicist
/ˈfɪz.ɪ.sɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies matter, energy, and the laws of nature.
Geologist
/dʒiˈɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies rocks and the structure of the Earth.
Astronomer
/əˈstrɒn.ə.mər/
Definition
A scientist who studies stars, planets, and space.
Meteorologist
/ˌmiː.ti.əˈrɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies weather and climate patterns.
Oceanographer
/ˌoʊ.ʃəˈnɑː.ɡrə.fər/
Definition
A scientist who studies the ocean and its ecosystems.
Botanist
/ˈbɑː.tən.ɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies plants and how they grow.
Zoologist
/zoʊˈɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies animals and their behavior.
Ecologist
/iˈkɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies how living things interact with their environment.
Microbiologist
/ˌmaɪ.kroʊ.baɪˈɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies tiny organisms like bacteria and viruses.
Geneticist
/dʒəˈnet.ɪ.sɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies genes and heredity in living things.
Neuroscientist
/ˌnʊr.oʊˈsaɪ.ən.tɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies the brain and nervous system.
Paleontologist
/ˌpeɪ.li.ɑːnˈtɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies fossils of ancient plants and animals.
Archaeologist
/ˌɑːrkiˈɑːlədʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies ancient people through their remains.
Anthropologist
/ˌænθrəˈpɑːlədʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies human societies and cultures.
Seismologist
/saɪzˈmɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies earthquakes and their effects.
Volcanologist
/ˌvɑːl.kəˈnɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies volcanoes and their eruptions.
Hydrologist
/haɪˈdrɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies water and how it moves on Earth.
Programmer
/ˈproʊ.ɡræm.ər/
Definition
A professional who writes code to create computer programs.
Software Developer
/ˈsɔːft.wer dɪˈvel.ə.pər/
Definition
A professional who designs and builds software applications.
Data Scientist
/ˈdeɪ.tə ˈsaɪ.ən.tɪst/
Definition
A specialist who analyzes data to find useful patterns.
Web Developer
/ˈweb dɪˈvel.ə.pər/
Definition
A professional who builds and maintains websites.
Alchemist
/ˈælkəmɪst/
Definition
A person who practiced an early form of chemistry.
Inventor
/ɪnˈvɛntər/
Definition
A person who creates new devices or ideas.
Electronics Engineer
/ɪˌlɛkˈtrɑːnɪks ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who designs and builds electronic devices.
Mechanical Engineer
/məˈkæn.ɪ.kəl ˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who designs and builds machines.
Electrical Engineer
/ɪˈlɛk.trɪ.kəl ˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who designs electrical systems and equipment.
Chemical Engineer
/ˈkɛm.ɪ.kəl ˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who designs processes for making chemical products.
Aerospace Engineer
/ˈɛr.oʊˌspeɪs ˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who designs aircraft and spacecraft.
Biomedical Engineer
/ˌbaɪ.oʊˈmɛd.ɪ.kəl ˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who designs equipment used in medicine.
Environmental Engineer
/ɪnˌvaɪ.rənˈmɛn.təl ˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who designs solutions to protect the environment.
Nuclear Engineer
/ˈnu.kli.ər ˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who designs equipment that uses nuclear energy.
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Education
Teacher
/ˈtiː.tʃər/
Definition
A professional who helps students learn new knowledge and skills.
Professor
/prəˈfes.ər/
Definition
A senior teacher who instructs and researches at a university.
Lecturer
/ˈlek.tʃər.ər/
Definition
A teacher who gives lectures, often at a college or university.
Instructor
/ɪnˈstrʌk.tər/
Definition
A person who teaches a skill or subject.
Principal
/ˈprɪn.sə.pəl/
Definition
The head administrator in charge of running a school.
Headteacher
/ˈhed.tiː.tʃər/
Definition
The teacher in charge of running a school.
School Counselor
/ˈskuːl ˈkaʊn.səl.ər/
Definition
A professional who supports students with personal and academic issues.
Teaching Assistant
/ˈtiː.tʃɪŋ əˈsɪs.tənt/
Definition
A person who helps a teacher in the classroom.
Sports
Athlete
/ˈæθ.liːt/
Definition
A person who competes in sports.
Footballer
/ˈfʊt.bɔː.lər/
Definition
A person who plays football professionally.
Basketball Player
/ˈbæs.kɪt.bɔːl ˈpleɪ.ər/
Definition
A person who plays basketball professionally.
Tennis Player
/ˈten.ɪs ˈpleɪ.ər/
Definition
A person who plays tennis professionally.
Golfer
/ˈɡɒl.fər/
Definition
A person who plays golf.
Boxer
/ˈbɒk.sər/
Definition
An athlete who fights using their fists in a ring.
Wrestler
/ˈres.lər/
Definition
An athlete who competes in wrestling matches.
Swimmer
/ˈswɪm.ər/
Definition
A person who swims, especially in competitions.
Cyclist
/ˈsaɪ.klɪst/
Definition
A person who rides a bicycle, especially in races.
Runner
/ˈrʌn.ər/
Definition
A person who runs, especially in races.
Gymnast
/ˈdʒɪm.næst/
Definition
An athlete who performs gymnastics.
Skier
/ˈskiː.ər/
Definition
A person who skis on snow.
Surfer
/ˈsɜːr.fər/
Definition
A person who rides waves on a surfboard.
Skateboarder
/ˈskeɪtˌbɔːrdər/
Definition
An athlete who rides and performs tricks on a skateboard.
Volleyball Player
/ˈvɒl.i.bɔːl ˈpleɪ.ər/
Definition
A person who plays volleyball professionally.
Rugby Player
/ˈrʌɡ.bi ˈpleɪ.ər/
Definition
A person who plays rugby professionally.
Fencer
/ˈfen.sər/
Definition
An athlete who competes in the sport of fencing.
Archer
/ˈɑːr.tʃər/
Definition
A person who shoots arrows with a bow.
Diver
/ˈdaɪ.vər/
Definition
A person who dives underwater or from a height.
Climber
/ˈklaɪ.mər/
Definition
A person who climbs mountains or rocks.
Coach
/ˈkoʊtʃ/
Definition
A person who trains and guides athletes or a team.
Referee
/ˌref.əˈriː/
Definition
An official who enforces the rules during a game.
Sports Agent
/spɔːrts ˈeɪ.dʒənt/
Definition
An agent who manages an athlete's career and contracts.
Sports Journalist
/spɔːrts ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪst/
Definition
A journalist who writes or reports about sports.
Sports Photographer
/spɔːrts fəˈtɒɡ.rə.fər/
Definition
A photographer who takes pictures at sports events.
Sports Commentator
/spɔːrts ˈkɑːmənˌteɪtər/
Definition
A person who describes a sports event live on air.
Sports Analyst
/spɔːrts ˈæn.əl.ɪst/
Definition
A person who studies and comments on sports performance.
Fitness Coach
/ˈfɪt.nəs koʊtʃ/
Definition
A coach who guides people to improve their fitness.
Sports Physiologist
/spɔːrts ˌfɪziˈɑːlədʒɪst/
Definition
A scientist who studies how the body performs in sports.
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Hospitality & Tourism
Chef
/ʃef/
Definition
A trained cook who prepares meals in a restaurant.
Cook
/kʊk/
Definition
A person who prepares and cooks food.
Pastry Chef
/ˈpeɪ.stri ʃef/
Definition
A chef who specializes in making desserts and pastries.
Bartender
/ˈbɑːr.ten.dər/
Definition
A person who mixes and serves drinks at a bar.
Barista
/bəˈriː.stə/
Definition
A person who makes and serves coffee.
Sommelier
/ˌsʌm.əlˈjeɪ/
Definition
A trained expert who advises on and serves wine.
Hotel Manager
/hoʊˈtel ˈmæn.ɪ.dʒər/
Definition
A manager who runs the daily operations of a hotel.
Bellhop
/ˈbel.hɒp/
Definition
A hotel worker who carries guests' luggage.
Tour Guide
/tʊr ɡaɪd/
Definition
A guide who shows visitors around a place.
Travel Agent
/ˈtræv.əl ˈeɪ.dʒənt/
Definition
An agent who plans and books trips for travelers.
Event Planner
/ɪˈvɛnt ˈplænər/
Definition
A professional who organizes and plans events.
Tour Operator
/tʊr ˈɒp.ər.eɪ.tər/
Definition
A company or person who organizes and runs tours.
Cruise Director
/kruːz dɪˈrɛktər/
Definition
A staff member who plans activities and entertainment on a cruise ship.
Reservation Agent
/ˌrez.ərˈveɪ.ʃən ˈeɪ.dʒənt/
Definition
An agent who books rooms or tickets for customers.
Tour Leader
/tʊr ˈliː.dər/
Definition
A guide who leads a group of travelers on a tour.
Travel Writer
/ˈtræv.əl ˈraɪ.tər/
Definition
A writer who writes about places and travel.
Travel Photographer
/ˈtræv.əl fəˈtɒɡ.rə.fər/
Definition
A photographer who takes pictures of places and travel.
1 / 2
Transportation
Commercial Pilot
/kəˈmɜːrʃəl ˈpaɪlət/
Definition
A pilot who flies aircraft to transport passengers or cargo.
Helicopter Pilot
/ˈhɛlɪˌkɑːptər ˈpaɪlət/
Definition
A pilot who flies helicopters.
Air Traffic Controller
/er ˈtræf.ɪk kənˈtroʊ.lər/
Definition
A person who directs aircraft to keep them safe.
Aircraft Mechanic
/ˈerˌkræft məˈkæn.ɪk/
Definition
A technician who repairs and maintains aircraft.
Flight Dispatcher
/flaɪt dɪˈspætʃ.ər/
Definition
A person who plans and authorizes flights before takeoff.
Flight Attendant
/flaɪt əˈten.dənt/
Definition
A crew member who looks after passengers on a flight.
Sailor
/ˈseɪ.lər/
Definition
A person who works or serves on a ship.
Ship Captain
/ʃɪp ˈkæptən/
Definition
The officer in charge of a ship and its crew.
Chauffeur
/ʃoʊˈfɜr/
Definition
A person hired to drive someone else's car.
Deckhand
/ˈdekˌhænd/
Definition
A sailor who performs general work on a ship's deck.
Ship Engineer
/ʃɪp ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪr/
Definition
An engineer who maintains a ship's engines and machinery.
Baggage Handler
/ˈbæg.ɪdʒ ˈhænd.lər/
Definition
A worker who loads and unloads passenger luggage.
1 / 2
Agriculture & Nature
Farmer
/ˈfɑr.mər/
Definition
A person who grows crops or raises animals for a living.
Rancher
/ˈræn.tʃər/
Definition
A person who owns or manages a large farm for raising livestock.
Shepherd
/ˈʃep.ərd/
Definition
A person who takes care of a flock of sheep.
Beekeeper
/ˈbiˌki.pər/
Definition
A person who raises bees, especially for honey.
Forester
/ˈfɔːr.ɪ.stər/
Definition
A professional who manages and protects forests.
Horticulturist
/ˌhɔr.tɪˈkʌl.tʃər.ɪst/
Definition
A specialist who grows and studies fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Arborist
/ˈɑːr.bər.ɪst/
Definition
A specialist who cares for trees and shrubs.
Conservationist
/ˌkɒn.sərˈveɪ.ʃən.ɪst/
Definition
A person who works to protect nature and wildlife.
Naturalist
/ˈnætʃ.ər.əl.ɪst/
Definition
A person who studies plants, animals, and nature.
Wildlife Photographer
/ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf fəˈtɑːɡrəfər/
Definition
A photographer who takes pictures of wild animals.
Horse Breeder
/hɔːrs ˈbriːdər/
Definition
A person who raises and breeds horses.
Zookeeper
/ˈzuːˌkiː.pər/
Definition
A worker who cares for animals in a zoo.
Animal Trainer
/ˈæn.ɪ.məl ˈtreɪ.nər/
Definition
A person who trains animals to perform tasks.
Pet Groomer
/pet ˈɡruː.mər/
Definition
A worker who washes and grooms pets.
Animal Keeper
/ˈæn.ɪ.məl ˈkiː.pər/
Definition
A worker who feeds and cares for animals.
Animal Behaviorist
/ˈæn.ɪ.məl bɪˈheɪ.vjər.ɪst/
Definition
A specialist who studies why animals act the way they do.
Hunter
/ˈhʌntər/
Definition
A person who hunts wild animals for food or sport.
Wilderness Guide
/ˈwɪldərnəs ɡaɪd/
Definition
A guide who leads people safely through wild, natural areas.
Survivalist
/sərˈvaɪvəlɪst/
Definition
A person skilled at surviving in the wild with few supplies.
Lighthouse Keeper
/ˈlaɪtˌhaʊs ˈkiːpər/
Definition
A person who maintains and operates a lighthouse.
1 / 3
Law & Justice
Judge
/dʒʌdʒ/
Definition
An official who decides cases in a court of law.
Prosecutor
/ˈprɑs.ɪˌkju.tər/
Definition
A lawyer who argues a case against a defendant in court.
Barrister
/ˈbær.ɪ.stər/
Definition
A lawyer who represents clients in court, mainly in the UK.
Solicitor
/səˈlɪs.ɪ.tər/
Definition
A lawyer who advises clients and prepares legal documents.
Paralegal
/ˌpær.əˈli.gəl/
Definition
A trained assistant who helps lawyers prepare cases.
Mediator
/ˈmi.diˌeɪ.tər/
Definition
A professional who helps two sides resolve a disagreement.
Arbitrator
/ˈɑr.bɪˌtreɪ.tər/
Definition
A person who settles disputes between two sides.
Bailiff
/ˈbeɪ.lɪf/
Definition
An officer who keeps order in a courtroom.
Court Reporter
/kɔrt rɪˈpɔr.tər/
Definition
A person who writes down everything said during a trial.
Public Service
Politician
/ˌpɑl.əˈtɪʃ.ən/
Definition
A person who works in government and makes political decisions.
Mayor
/ˈmeɪ.ər/
Definition
An elected official who leads the government of a city or town.
Governor
/ˈgʌv.ər.nər/
Definition
An official who leads the government of a state or region.
Senator
/ˈsen.ə.tər/
Definition
An elected official who serves in a senate.
Minister
/ˈmɪn.ɪ.stər/
Definition
A senior government official in charge of a department.
Ambassador
/æmˈbæs.ə.dər/
Definition
A diplomat who represents their country in a foreign nation.
Diplomat
/ˈdɪp.lə.mæt/
Definition
An official who represents their country in relations with others.
Civil Servant
/ˈsɪv.əl ˈsɜr.vənt/
Definition
A person who works for the government in a public role.
Government Official
/ˈɡʌvərnmənt əˈfɪʃəl/
Definition
A person who works for the government.
Commissioner
/kəˈmɪʃ.ə.nər/
Definition
An official in charge of a government department or agency.
Priest
/priːst/
Definition
A religious leader who performs ceremonies in a church.
Pastor
/ˈpæstər/
Definition
A religious leader who leads a Christian church.
Rabbi
/ˈræbaɪ/
Definition
A religious leader and teacher in the Jewish faith.
Imam
/ɪˈmɑːm/
Definition
A religious leader who leads prayers in a mosque.
Monk
/mʌŋk/
Definition
A religious man who lives a simple life in a monastery.
Nun
/nʌn/
Definition
A religious woman who lives a simple life in a convent.
Missionary
/ˈmɪʃəˌnɛri/
Definition
A religious person sent to teach and spread their faith abroad.
Community Worker
/kəˈmju.nɪ.ti ˈwɜr.kər/
Definition
A professional who helps improve conditions in a local community.
Charity Worker
/ˈtʃærəti ˌwɜːrkər/
Definition
A person who works for an organization that helps people in need.
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Other Professions
Funeral Director
/ˈfjuːnərəl dɪˈrɛktər/
Definition
A professional who arranges and manages funerals.
Undertaker
/ˈʌndərˌteɪkər/
Definition
A person whose job is to prepare and arrange funerals.
Gravedigger
/ˈɡreɪvˌdɪɡər/
Definition
A person who digs graves for burials.
Property Manager
/ˈprɑːpərti ˈmænɪdʒər/
Definition
A person who manages and maintains rental properties.
Interpreter
/ɪnˈtɜːr.prɪ.tər/
Definition
A person who translates spoken language for others.
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Definition
A professional who organizes and preserves historical records.
Curator
/kjʊˈreɪtər/
Definition
A professional who manages collections in a museum or gallery.
Museum Guide
/mjuˈziːəm ɡaɪd/
Definition
A guide who leads tours and explains exhibits in a museum.
Restorer
/rɪˈstɔːrər/
Definition
A professional who repairs and restores damaged art or objects.
Content Creator
/ˈkɑːn.tent kriˈeɪ.tər/
Definition
A person who makes videos, posts, or other media for an audience.
Prostitute
/ˈprɑːstɪˌtuːt/
Definition
A person who is paid for sexual content or services, in person or online.
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a or an before jobs? Use a before consonant sounds: a carpenter, a nurse, a plumber. Use an before vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u): an architect, an electrician, an astronomer.
Vocabulary Charts
Key words and expressions for talking about jobs and work.
General Work & Jobs Vocabulary
Everyday terms about hiring, pay, and workplace life.
Hiring & Recruitment
Term
Definition
Example
vacancy
An open position that a company wants to fill.
"The company posted a vacancy for a marketing assistant last week."
application
A formal request for a job, usually written.
"She submitted her application before the deadline on Friday."
cover letter
A short letter that introduces you and supports your resume.
"He attached a cover letter explaining why he wanted the role."
resume
A document listing your education, skills, and work experience.
"Make sure your resume highlights your most recent achievements."
candidate
A person who is applying or being considered for a job.
"Three candidates were invited back for a second interview."
interview
A formal meeting where an employer asks a candidate questions.
"Her interview went well and she got a callback the next day."
background check
A review of someone's history before they are hired.
"The company runs a background check on every new employee."
screening
The process of checking candidates before deciding who to interview.
"The recruiter does an initial screening call with every applicant."
reference
A person who can describe your character and work to an employer.
"He listed his former manager as a reference on his application."
portfolio
A collection of work samples used to show your skills.
"The designer brought a portfolio of her best projects to the interview."
Term
Definition
Example
networking
Building professional relationships that can help your career.
"She found her new job through networking at an industry conference."
recruiter
Someone whose job is to find people to fill positions.
"A recruiter contacted him on LinkedIn about an open role."
headhunter
A recruiter who actively finds people for senior or specialized jobs.
"The headhunter approached the CFO about a position at a rival firm."
shortlist
A small list of the best candidates chosen for further review.
"Only five applicants made it onto the shortlist for interviews."
hire
To employ someone, or give them a job.
"The company plans to hire ten new engineers this year."
on probation
In a trial period at the start of a new job.
"New employees are on probation for the first three months."
onboarding
The process of introducing and training a new employee.
"Onboarding included a week of training and meeting the team."
orientation
An introductory session that helps new employees settle in.
"All new hires attend orientation on their first day."
show the ropes
To teach someone how to do a job or task.
"A senior colleague showed her the ropes during her first week."
know the ropes
To understand how to do a job well through experience.
"After a year in the role, he really knows the ropes now."
Term
Definition
Example
internship
A short-term position, often for students, to gain work experience.
"She completed a summer internship at a marketing agency."
apprenticeship
A period of paid training in a trade or skill.
"He learned carpentry through a four-year apprenticeship."
golden hello
A payment offered to attract someone to accept a new job.
"The firm offered a golden hello to convince her to join."
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Employment Types & Arrangements
Term
Definition
Example
full-time
Working the standard number of hours per week, usually around forty.
"She works full-time at the hospital, five days a week."
part-time
Working fewer hours than a standard full-time schedule.
"He works part-time while finishing his degree."
permanent
Describing a job that has no fixed end date.
"After six months, her contract became permanent."
temporary
Describing a job that lasts only for a limited period.
"He took a temporary position over the holiday season."
freelance
Working independently for different clients rather than one employer.
"She does freelance writing for several magazines."
contractor
A person hired to do specific work, usually not a permanent employee.
"The company hired a contractor to redesign its website."
self-employed
Working for yourself instead of for an employer.
"Being self-employed means she manages her own taxes and schedule."
entrepreneur
A person who starts and runs their own business.
"The entrepreneur launched her first company at twenty-five."
gig economy
A job market based on short-term or freelance work instead of permanent jobs.
"Many drivers and delivery workers are part of the gig economy."
shift
A scheduled period of work, especially in jobs with rotating hours.
"He works the night shift at the factory."
Term
Definition
Example
double shift
Working two consecutive work shifts without a break in between, doubling the normal hours.
"He worked a double shift to cover for a sick coworker."
rotating shifts
A work schedule where employees alternate between different shifts, such as morning, evening, and night, over time.
"Nurses at the hospital work rotating shifts, changing every two weeks."
nine-to-five
A standard daytime office job with regular working hours.
"She left her nine-to-five to travel and freelance instead."
remote
Working from a location outside a company's office, often at home.
"Many employees now work remote full-time."
hybrid
Working partly at the office and partly from another location.
"The company offers a hybrid schedule with two office days a week."
on-site
Working physically at the workplace rather than remotely.
"Technicians need to be on-site to repair the machines."
brick-and-mortar
A physical business location or workplace, as opposed to an online-only business.
"The company closed its brick-and-mortar stores to focus on online sales."
work from home
To do your job from your house instead of an office.
"He works from home every Friday."
telecommute
To work from home using phone and internet instead of commuting.
"The policy lets employees telecommute up to three days a week."
commute
The regular trip between home and work.
"Her commute takes almost an hour each way by train."
Term
Definition
Example
moonlighting
Working a second job, often secretly, in addition to your main one.
"He was moonlighting as a rideshare driver on weekends."
side hustle
A small job or business you do alongside your main job.
"Her side hustle selling candles now earns extra income each month."
in between jobs
Currently unemployed after leaving one job and before starting another.
"He's in between jobs right now, but has interviews lined up."
unemployed
Without a job even though you are able to work.
"She has been unemployed since the factory closed down."
indentured servitude
A work arrangement where a person is legally bound to work for a set period, often to pay off a debt.
"Some early colonists arrived under contracts of indentured servitude."
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freelance vs. self-employed? Every freelancer is self-employed, but not every self-employed person is a freelancer. Self-employed is the broad status of working for yourself — it covers freelancers, but also shop owners, tradespeople, and anyone running their own business, even with staff. Freelance specifically means selling your own services to different clients, usually project by project, without employees.
Pay & Compensation
Term
Definition
Example
salary
A fixed regular payment for a job, usually paid monthly or yearly.
"Her salary increased after she was promoted to manager."
wage
Payment for work, usually calculated by the hour.
"The factory pays an hourly wage to its workers."
minimum wage
The lowest amount an employer is legally allowed to pay per hour.
"The government raised the minimum wage this year."
living wage
Pay that is enough to cover a worker's basic cost of living.
"Campaigners are pushing companies to pay a living wage."
compensation
The total pay and benefits an employee receives.
"The job offer included a competitive compensation package."
benefits
Extra advantages from an employer besides salary, like health insurance.
"The company offers strong benefits, including dental and vision coverage."
perks
Small extra advantages that come with a job.
"Free lunch and gym membership are nice perks of the job."
bonus
An extra payment given in addition to regular pay.
"Employees received a year-end bonus for meeting their targets."
commission
Extra pay based on how much an employee sells.
"Salespeople earn a commission on every deal they close."
overtime
Extra hours worked beyond the normal schedule, usually paid at a higher rate.
"She worked overtime to finish the project on time."
Term
Definition
Example
payroll
The system a company uses to calculate and pay employees.
"The payroll department processes salaries on the last day of the month."
timesheet
A record of the hours an employee has worked.
"He fills out his timesheet every Friday afternoon."
clock in
To officially record the time you start work.
"Employees clock in at the front desk each morning."
clock out
To officially record the time you finish work.
"Don't forget to clock out before you leave."
pay stub
A document showing details of an employee's pay and deductions. Also called a payslip, earnings statement, or wage statement.
"Her pay stub showed the tax taken out of her wages."
paycheck
The money an employee receives for their work, usually paid regularly.
"She deposits her paycheck every other Friday."
direct deposit
Payment made straight into an employee's bank account.
"The company pays salaries by direct deposit every two weeks."
gross pay
The total amount an employee earns before taxes and deductions.
"His gross pay is higher than what actually reaches his bank account."
net pay
The amount an employee takes home after taxes and deductions.
"Her net pay was lower than expected because of tax withholding."
tax bracket
A range of income that is taxed at a particular rate.
"A raise pushed him into a higher tax bracket."
Term
Definition
Example
withholding
Money an employer takes from pay in advance for taxes.
"The company adjusted her withholding after she changed her tax status."
Christmas bonus
Extra pay given to employees around Christmas, often as a tradition or reward.
"The company gave every employee a Christmas bonus this year."
13th-month salary (thirteenth pay)
An extra month's salary paid once a year, required by law in some countries.
"Workers in the Philippines receive a mandatory 13th-month salary every December."
year-end bonus
A bonus paid to employees at the end of the calendar year, often based on performance.
"Sales staff received a generous year-end bonus after a strong quarter."
windfall
An unexpected gain or profit, especially a large sum of money received without having worked for it.
"Oil companies saw a windfall in profits during the fuel shortage, without producing any more oil than before."
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Workplace Life & Culture
Term
Definition
Example
colleague
A person you work with, especially in a professional setting.
"She had lunch with a colleague from the finance team."
coworker
A person who works with you at the same company.
"He asked a coworker to cover his shift."
peer
A person of similar status or rank as you, especially in age, experience, or position.
"Her peers respected her for always meeting deadlines."
manager
A person who is responsible for a team or department.
"Her manager approved the new project budget."
supervisor
A person who oversees and directs the work of others.
"The supervisor checked everyone's progress before the deadline."
subordinate
An employee who reports to someone of higher rank.
"The manager gave clear instructions to each subordinate."
executive
A senior manager with major decision-making responsibility.
"The executives met to discuss the company's strategy."
CEO
The highest-ranking executive in a company, responsible for major decisions.
"The CEO announced the company's new strategy at the meeting."
board of directors
A group of people elected to oversee and guide a company's management.
"The board of directors approved the merger after months of discussion."
investor
A person or organization that puts money into a business hoping to gain a financial return.
"The startup secured funding from several investors."
Term
Definition
Example
associate
A junior professional, often in law or finance, working toward a more senior position.
"She joined the firm as an associate straight out of law school."
partner
A senior member of a firm, such as a law or accounting firm, who shares in its ownership and profits.
"After years of hard work, he was finally made partner at the firm."
corporate
Relating to a large company or business organization.
"The corporate office is located in the city center."
human resources
The department that manages hiring, pay, and employee issues.
"She contacted human resources about her benefits questions."
blue-collar
Relating to jobs that involve manual or physical labor.
"His father worked a blue-collar job at the shipyard."
white-collar
Relating to office or professional jobs rather than manual labor.
"She moved from a factory job to a white-collar office role."
breadwinner
The person who earns most of a household's income.
"After the divorce, she became the family's main breadwinner."
cubicle
A small, partly enclosed work space in an office.
"He spends most of his day at his cubicle answering emails."
hot-desking
An office system where employees don't have a fixed, permanent desk.
"The office switched to hot-desking to save space."
watercooler
A spot near a water dispenser where coworkers chat informally.
"They caught up on office news during a watercooler chat."
Term
Definition
Example
schedule
A plan showing when tasks or working hours will happen.
"Her work schedule changes every two weeks."
sick leave
Paid time off given to an employee who is ill.
"He took two days of sick leave last week."
annual leave
Paid time off from work that employees can take each year.
"She used her annual leave to visit her family abroad."
maternity leave
Time off given to a mother around the birth of her child.
"She is currently on maternity leave with her new baby."
leave of absence
An approved period of time away from work, often unpaid.
"She requested a leave of absence to care for her father."
call in sick
To phone your workplace to say you cannot come in because you are ill.
"He called in sick on Monday after catching the flu."
sabbatical
An extended break from work, often for rest or study.
"The professor took a sabbatical to write a book."
work-life balance
A healthy balance between time spent working and time spent on personal life.
"He changed jobs to get better work-life balance."
workaholic
Someone who works excessively and finds it hard to stop.
"Her father was a workaholic who rarely took vacations."
burnout
Extreme exhaustion caused by prolonged work stress.
"She left her job after experiencing severe burnout."
Term
Definition
Example
rat race
A stressful, competitive way of working just to get ahead.
"He quit his corporate job to escape the rat race."
rookie
A person who is new to a job or has little experience.
"The rookie asked a lot of questions during his first week."
workplace hazing
The practice of making new employees do embarrassing or difficult tasks as an initiation.
"The company banned workplace hazing after several complaints."
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Career Growth & Performance
Term
Definition
Example
performance review
A formal meeting where an employee's work is evaluated.
"His manager praised his teamwork during the performance review."
appraisal
A formal assessment of how well someone is doing their job.
"Her annual appraisal showed strong improvement in sales."
feedback
Comments about someone's performance meant to help them improve.
"Her manager gave positive feedback on the presentation."
promotion
A move to a higher position or rank at work.
"He received a promotion to senior analyst after two years."
raise
An increase in an employee's salary or wage.
"She asked her manager for a raise after a year of strong performance."
demotion
A move to a lower position or rank at work.
"The demotion came after several missed deadlines."
transfer
A move to a different department, team, or location within a company.
"She requested a transfer to the company's Chicago office."
mentorship
Guidance and support given by an experienced colleague.
"The mentorship program pairs new hires with senior staff."
upskilling
Learning new skills to do your current job better.
"The company offers upskilling courses in data analysis."
reskilling
Learning new skills in order to move into a different job.
"The factory offered reskilling programs after automating production."
Term
Definition
Example
engagement
How motivated and connected employees feel toward their work.
"The survey measured employee engagement across departments."
disciplinary
Relating to formal action taken when an employee breaks the rules.
"He faced a disciplinary meeting after repeated lateness."
grievance
A formal complaint made by an employee about unfair treatment.
"She filed a grievance over her unpaid overtime."
glass ceiling
An invisible barrier that stops some people from reaching top positions.
"She broke through the glass ceiling to become CEO."
mentor
An experienced person who advises and guides someone with less experience.
"Her mentor helped her navigate her first year at the company."
self-made
Having become successful through your own hard work, without help or inherited wealth.
"He's a self-made millionaire who started with nothing."
risk averse
Preferring safe, low-risk options and avoiding uncertainty or potential loss.
"She's risk averse, so she chose the stable job over the startup offer."
risk-neutral
Indifferent between a certain outcome and a risky one with the same expected value.
"As a risk-neutral investor, he judged each option purely by its expected return."
risk-seeking
Preferring risky options, even when a safer choice has a similar expected outcome.
"Risk-seeking entrepreneurs are often drawn to unproven, high-reward ideas."
undertake a challenge
To accept and begin working toward a difficult or demanding task.
"She decided to undertake a new challenge by leading the company's expansion into Europe."
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promotion vs. raise? A promotion moves you to a higher position with new responsibilities, usually along with more pay. A raise is simply an increase in your pay for the same job. You can get a raise without a promotion, and — less commonly — a promotion without an immediate raise.
Leaving a Job
Term
Definition
Example
resignation
A formal statement that you are leaving your job.
"He handed in his resignation after accepting a new offer."
quit
To leave a job voluntarily, without being forced to.
"She quit her job to start her own business."
notice period
The time an employee must keep working after resigning, before leaving.
"Her notice period is one month, as stated in her contract."
two weeks' notice
The standard period of advance notice an employee gives before resigning, common in the US.
"He gave his boss two weeks' notice before starting his new job."
garden leave
Paid time off before officially leaving a job, during which you don't work.
"He was put on garden leave before joining the competitor."
fire
To dismiss someone from their job, often for poor performance.
"The company fired him after several customer complaints."
layoff
The loss of a job because a company needs fewer workers.
"The factory announced layoffs due to falling demand."
redundancy
Losing a job because the position is no longer needed.
"Her department faced redundancy when the office closed."
furlough
A temporary, often unpaid, leave from work ordered by an employer.
"Thousands of workers were placed on furlough during the shutdown."
severance
Compensation given to an employee who loses their job.
"He received a severance equal to two months' pay."
severance pay
Money paid to an employee when their job ends.
"Her severance pay helped her while she searched for a new job."
Term
Definition
Example
severance package
The full set of pay and benefits given when someone leaves a job.
"The severance package included pay, health coverage, and job search help."
golden parachute
A large payment guaranteed to a senior executive if they lose their job.
"The CEO's golden parachute was worth millions after the merger."
golden handshake
A large payment given to a senior employee when they leave a company.
"He retired early with a generous golden handshake."
pink slip
An informal term for a notice that you have been fired.
"Dozens of workers got their pink slips on the same day."
dead-end job
A job with little chance of promotion or growth.
"He felt stuck in a dead-end job with no future."
quiet quitting
Doing only the minimum required at work instead of going above and beyond.
"Feeling unappreciated, she started quiet quitting her role."
whistleblowing
Reporting an employer's illegal or unethical behavior.
"His whistleblowing exposed the company's unsafe practices."
outplacement
Support given by an employer to help laid-off workers find new jobs.
"The company offered outplacement services after the layoffs."
offboarding
The formal process of managing an employee's exit from a company.
"Offboarding included returning equipment and a final meeting with HR."
exit interview
A meeting held with a departing employee to get their feedback.
"During her exit interview, she explained why she was leaving."
Term
Definition
Example
pension
Regular payment made to someone after they retire.
"He will receive a pension once he retires at sixty-five."
retirement
The point when someone permanently stops working, usually due to age.
"She is looking forward to retirement next year."
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Legal & HR Terms
Term
Definition
Example
trade union
An organization that represents workers and negotiates with employers. Also called "the union" or "labor union."
"The trade union negotiated a pay increase for its members."
collective bargaining
Negotiation between employers and a group of employees, usually through a union.
"Collective bargaining led to better working conditions for the staff."
strike
A refusal to work, organized by employees to demand better conditions.
"The workers went on strike over unpaid wages."
non-disclosure agreement
A legal contract that prevents someone from sharing confidential information.
"She signed a non-disclosure agreement before seeing the new product."
non-compete clause
A contract term that stops an employee from working for a rival company.
"His contract included a non-compete clause lasting one year."
lawsuit
A legal case brought by one party against another in court.
"The former employee filed a lawsuit against the company for wrongful termination."
at-will employment
An arrangement where either the employer or employee can end the job at any time.
"Under at-will employment, she could be let go without a specific reason."
headcount
The total number of employees in a company or department.
"The company reduced its headcount by ten percent."
turnover
The rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced.
"High turnover made it hard to keep the team stable."
attrition
The gradual loss of employees who are not replaced.
"The department shrank through natural attrition rather than layoffs."
Term
Definition
Example
retention
A company's ability to keep its employees over time.
"The bonus program improved employee retention significantly."
golden handcuffs
Financial incentives that discourage an employee from leaving a company.
"His stock options acted as golden handcuffs, keeping him at the firm."
bench
Employees, especially consultants, who are between projects and not currently assigned work.
"Several consultants were on the bench waiting for a new project."
occupational hazard
A risk, habit, or reflex connected to a particular job — used for both physical dangers and behaviors someone develops from doing that work for a long time.
"He instinctively checked the exits as soon as he walked in — an occupational hazard from his years as a bodyguard."
hazardous work
Work that involves a risk of injury, illness, or harm.
"Miners receive extra training because of the hazardous work they do."
undeclared employment
Work that is not officially reported to the government, often to avoid taxes.
"Undeclared employment is common in some parts of the informal economy."
chain of custody
The documented, chronological record of everyone who has handled a piece of evidence, from collection to court, proving it wasn't tampered with. Used in police, legal, and forensic work.
"The evidence was thrown out because the chain of custody had been broken."
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Idioms about Work & Jobs
Common English idioms and expressions used in the workplace.
Getting Started & Ambition
Idiom
Definition
Example
learn the ropes
to learn how to do a new job or task
"It took Maria a few weeks to learn the ropes at her new office."
get the hang of it
to become able to do something after practicing it
"Once you get the hang of it, the software is easy to use."
start from scratch
to begin something again from the very beginning
"The project failed, so the team had to start from scratch."
get your foot in the door
to get a first small chance to enter a career or company
"An internship helped him get his foot in the door at the firm."
hit the ground running
to start a new job or task with energy and speed
"She hit the ground running on her first day as manager."
get down to business
to start dealing with the important work at hand
"After some small talk, the clients got down to business."
get the ball rolling
to start a process or activity
"Let's get the ball rolling on the new marketing campaign."
get the show on the road
to start something that has already been planned
"Everyone is ready, so let's get the show on the road."
get down to brass tacks
to start discussing the most important practical details
"Enough introductions, let's get down to brass tacks and talk numbers."
take the bull by the horns
to deal with a difficult situation confidently and directly
"Instead of waiting, she took the bull by the horns and fixed the problem herself."
Idiom
Definition
Example
throw your hat in the ring
to announce that you want to compete for something, like a job
"He decided to throw his hat in the ring for the manager position."
pound the pavement
to walk around looking hard for a job or business
"After being laid off, he spent weeks pounding the pavement."
knock on doors
to actively look for work or business by approaching people directly
"The salesman spent his mornings knocking on doors for new clients."
climb the corporate ladder
to move up to higher positions in a company over time
"She worked hard for years to climb the corporate ladder."
get your ducks in a row
to get organized before starting something important
"Before the meeting, make sure you get your ducks in a row."
pull out all the stops
to use every possible effort or resource to achieve something
"The team pulled out all the stops to finish the launch on time."
go the extra mile
to make a special extra effort to do something well
"Our best employees always go the extra mile for customers."
think outside the box
to think creatively, using new or unusual ideas
"The manager asked the team to think outside the box for the new ad."
wear many hats
to have several different roles or responsibilities at once
"At a small startup, everyone has to wear many hats."
make a name for yourself
to become known or respected for your skill or achievements
"She made a name for herself as a talented young architect."
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Hard Work & Effort
Idiom
Definition
Example
burn the midnight oil
to work late into the night
"She burned the midnight oil to finish the report before the deadline."
burn the candle at both ends
to work too much without enough rest, exhausting yourself
"He's been burning the candle at both ends since he took the new project."
work your fingers to the bone
to work extremely hard for a long time
"They worked their fingers to the bone to build the company from nothing."
work your socks off
to work extremely hard at something
"The interns worked their socks off during the busy season."
work like a dog
to work very hard, often for little reward
"He worked like a dog all year and still didn't get promoted."
work like a Trojan
to work with great energy and determination
"She worked like a Trojan to get the store ready for opening day."
slave away
to work very hard for a long time, often in tiring conditions
"He slaves away in the kitchen every night until closing time."
keep your nose to the grindstone
to keep working hard without stopping
"If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you'll finish on time."
put in a hard day's work
to work hard and effectively for the whole day
"The crew put in a hard day's work finishing the renovation."
sweat blood
to work extremely hard, often under great pressure
"The engineers sweated blood to launch the app before the deadline."
pick up the pace
to go faster or increase your effort — related expressions: "keep up" (stay at the same speed as others, don't fall behind) and "catch up" (reach the same level as others after falling behind)
"We need to pick up the pace if we want to finish before the deadline."
keep your head in the game
to stay focused and mentally committed to what you're doing
"There's still an hour left, so keep your head in the game."
earn your keep
to work or contribute enough to deserve the money, food, or support you receive
"He does the dishes every night to earn his keep at his parents' house."
go all the way
to fully commit to something and see it through to the end, without stopping partway
"Once he started the project, he was determined to go all the way."
go above and beyond
to do much more than what is expected or required
"She went above and beyond to make sure the client was happy."
Idiom
Definition
Example
pull an all-nighter
to stay awake all night in order to finish work
"The team pulled an all-nighter to meet the client's deadline."
pay your dues
to work hard for a long time to earn respect or success
"He paid his dues for years before becoming a partner at the firm."
earn your stripes
to prove your ability through hard work and experience
"She earned her stripes handling difficult clients early in her career."
drudgery
dull, hard, tiring work that has to be done again and again
"Filing paperwork all day is pure drudgery."
the daily grind
the boring, repetitive routine of everyday work
"After the vacation, going back to the daily grind was hard."
the rat race
the stressful, competitive routine of modern working life
"He left the corporate rat race to start his own farm."
hamster wheel
a repetitive routine of work that never seems to lead anywhere
"Some days the job feels like being stuck on a hamster wheel."
work against the clock
to work quickly to finish something before a deadline
"The whole team worked against the clock to fix the bug before launch."
all in a day's work
describing something difficult treated as a normal part of the job
"Handling three crises before lunch is all in a day's work for her."
keep one's head above water
to just barely manage to survive financially or keep up with work
"With two jobs, she's barely keeping her head above water."
tread water
to stay in the same position without making any progress
"The company has just been treading water since the merger fell through."
Idiom
Definition
Example
no pain, no gain
you must work hard or suffer difficulty to achieve something worthwhile
"She keeps reminding her team: no pain, no gain."
scut work
(informal) boring, low-level tasks that no one wants to do
"As the newest hire, she got stuck with all the scut work."
grunt work
(informal) tedious, basic tasks that require little skill
"Interns often do the grunt work like filing and data entry."
menial labor
unskilled work that requires little training and is looked down on as low-status
"He worked menial labor jobs like dishwashing before starting his own restaurant."
menial (noun)
a domestic servant or a person who performs unskilled, low-status work
"He was treated like a menial, even though he had a university degree."
1 / 3
Attitude & Behavior at Work
Idiom
Definition
Example
pull your weight
to do your fair share of the work
"Every team member needs to pull their weight on this project."
slack off
to stop working hard or to be lazy
"He started slacking off once the manager left the office."
goof off
to waste time instead of working
"The interns were goofing off instead of finishing the report."
pass the buck
to avoid responsibility by blaming someone else
"Instead of fixing the mistake, he passed the buck to his assistant."
cut corners
to do something in the easiest or cheapest way, lowering quality
"The contractor cut corners, and the building had problems within a year."
by the book
following the rules exactly, without exceptions
"The new supervisor does everything strictly by the book."
work to rule
to work following only the minimum official rules, slowing productivity
"The drivers worked to rule as a form of protest without going on strike."
rock the boat
to disturb a stable situation, causing trouble
"He didn't want to rock the boat by questioning the boss's plan."
dog-eat-dog
describing a situation where people compete ruthlessly to succeed
"It's a dog-eat-dog industry where only the strongest companies survive."
axe to grind
to have a personal reason for being angry or critical about something
"He seems to have an axe to grind with the new management."
pull it together
to get organized and back in control after a difficult moment, instead of falling apart
"I know you're going through tough times, but if you don't pull it together, you're gonna lose your job."
Idiom
Definition
Example
call the shots
to be the person who makes the important decisions
"As CEO, she calls the shots on every major deal."
run the show
to be in control of an operation or organization
"Even though he's not the manager, he really runs the show."
pull strings
to use personal influence or connections to get an advantage
"She pulled some strings to get her nephew an interview."
throw your weight around
to use your authority in a bossy, unpleasant way
"The new director likes to throw his weight around in meetings."
wear the pants
to be the one who is in charge and makes the decisions
"Everyone knows who wears the pants in that department."
too many irons in the fire
to be involved in too many projects at the same time
"She has too many irons in the fire and keeps missing deadlines."
pick up the slack
to do extra work to make up for what others haven't done
"When two employees quit, the rest had to pick up the slack."
run a tight ship
to manage an organization in a strict, well-organized way
"The new manager runs a tight ship, and productivity has improved."
move the goalposts
to unfairly change the rules or targets after they were agreed
"It's hard to succeed when management keeps moving the goalposts."
not my circus not my monkeys
used to say that a problem is not your responsibility
"The delay is another department's issue, not my circus not my monkeys."
Idiom
Definition
Example
monkey business
silly, dishonest, or suspicious behavior
"The manager warned there'd be no monkey business during the audit."
1 / 3
Communication & Meetings
Idiom
Definition
Example
touch base
to make brief contact with someone to share information
"Let's touch base tomorrow morning about the client's feedback."
run something by someone
to tell someone about an idea or plan to get their opinion or approval before doing it
"Can I run this idea by you before I send it to the client?"
keep someone in the loop
to keep someone informed about what is happening
"Please keep me in the loop on any changes to the schedule."
be in the dark about something
to not know or not be informed about something
"The staff were completely in the dark about the upcoming layoffs."
on the same page
having the same understanding or opinion as others
"Before we start, let's make sure everyone is on the same page."
circle back
to return to a topic or person later
"Let's circle back to the budget question after lunch."
take this offline
to discuss something privately later instead of in the current meeting
"That's a detailed issue, let's take this offline after the call."
table a discussion
to postpone discussing a topic until a later time
"The board decided to table the discussion until next month's meeting."
put on hold
to delay or pause something temporarily
"The hiring decision has been put on hold until next quarter."
put on ice
to postpone or stop a plan for a while
"The expansion project was put on ice due to budget cuts."
on the back burner
set aside as low priority for now
"That proposal has been on the back burner for months."
up in the air
undecided or uncertain
"Whether we'll get the funding is still up in the air."
Idiom
Definition
Example
hammer out
to reach an agreement after long discussion
"The two companies hammered out a deal after weeks of talks."
iron out
to solve a problem or difficulty through discussion
"They met to iron out the details of the contract."
behind closed doors
happening privately, away from public view
"The layoffs were decided behind closed doors last week."
word of mouth
information spread by people talking, not by advertising
"The restaurant became popular through word of mouth alone."
put in a good word
to say something positive about someone to help them
"She put in a good word for him with the hiring manager."
sing someone's praises
to praise someone enthusiastically
"His manager keeps singing his praises to upper management."
give someone a pat on the back
to praise or congratulate someone for good work
"The team gave her a pat on the back for closing the big account."
tie up loose ends
to finish the last small remaining tasks
"Before the holidays, she wanted to tie up loose ends at work."
dot the i's and cross the t's
to check every small detail carefully
"The lawyer made sure to dot the i's and cross the t's on the contract."
read the fine print
to carefully check the small, detailed conditions of an agreement
"Always read the fine print before signing an employment contract."
Idiom
Definition
Example
sign on the dotted line
to formally agree to something by signing a document
"Once you sign on the dotted line, the deal is official."
get it in writing
to make sure an agreement is documented in written form
"Always get it in writing when a client promises extra payment."
on the record
said officially, so it can be quoted or attributed to you
"The manager confirmed the layoffs on the record."
off the record
said privately or unofficially, so it should not be quoted or attributed to you
"Off the record, she admitted the project was already over budget."
1 / 3
Business Deals & Negotiation
Idiom
Definition
Example
cold call
to contact a potential customer without any prior introduction
"The new sales rep spends her mornings making cold calls."
elevator pitch
a very short summary of an idea or business, quick enough to say in an elevator
"He practiced his elevator pitch before meeting the investors."
drum up business
to attract new customers or work through active effort
"The company hosted a free workshop to drum up business."
hard sell
an aggressive, pushy way of trying to sell something
"The salesman gave us a hard sell on the extended warranty."
soft sell
a gentle, low-pressure way of trying to sell something
"She prefers a soft sell approach, letting the product speak for itself."
bait and switch
a dishonest sales tactic that offers one thing then delivers another
"Customers complained the sale was a bait and switch."
lowball
to offer an amount that is deliberately too low
"The buyer tried to lowball us on the price of the equipment."
highball
to offer or ask for an amount that is deliberately too high
"They highballed their initial asking price to leave room for negotiation."
ballpark figure
a rough, approximate number or estimate
"Can you give me a ballpark figure for the total cost?"
bottom line
the final, most important result, especially profit
"At the end of the day, the bottom line is what matters to shareholders."
Idiom
Definition
Example
corner the market
to gain control of most of the sales of a particular product
"The company managed to corner the market on eco-friendly packaging."
cook the books
to illegally change financial records to hide the truth
"The former CFO was arrested for cooking the books."
grease someone's palm
to bribe someone with money
"Rumor has it he greased a few palms to win the contract."
grease the wheels
to make a process happen more smoothly, often with a small incentive
"A little extra help can grease the wheels of a slow deal."
wheel and deal
to negotiate business deals in a clever, sometimes aggressive way
"He's known for wheeling and dealing to get the best supplier prices."
seal the deal
to complete an agreement, making it official
"A firm handshake sealed the deal between the two companies."
clinch the deal
to successfully finish a negotiation and secure an agreement
"Their final offer clinched the deal with the client."
shake on it
to confirm an agreement with a handshake
"They agreed on the terms and shook on it."
sweeten the deal
to make an offer more attractive by adding extra benefits
"The dealership sweetened the deal with free maintenance for a year."
sweeten the pot
to increase the value of an offer to make it more appealing
"They sweetened the pot by adding a signing bonus."
Idiom
Definition
Example
up the ante
to increase what is being risked or offered
"The competitor upped the ante with a lower price and faster delivery."
raise the stakes
to increase the risk or importance of a situation
"Losing this client would really raise the stakes for the whole team."
double down
to strongly commit to a decision or strategy, taking on more risk
"Instead of pulling out, the company doubled down on the new product line."
win-win situation
an outcome that benefits everyone involved
"The partnership turned out to be a win-win situation for both companies."
1 / 3
Money & Finances
Idiom
Definition
Example
bring home the bacon
to earn money to support your family
"With two kids in college, she's the one bringing home the bacon."
earn a crust
to earn just enough money to live on
"He plays music at weddings to earn a crust between acting jobs."
bread and butter
the main source of income or livelihood
"Wedding photography is the bread and butter of her business."
make ends meet
to have just enough money to pay for basic needs
"It's hard to make ends meet on a part-time salary."
live paycheck to paycheck
to spend all your income before the next payment, with no savings
"Many workers in the city live paycheck to paycheck."
keep the wolf from the door
to earn just enough money to avoid serious financial trouble
"He took a second job just to keep the wolf from the door."
make a killing
to earn a large amount of money, often quickly
"The investors made a killing when the company went public."
cash cow
a product or business that consistently generates a lot of profit
"The mobile app became the company's biggest cash cow."
meal ticket
a reliable source of income or support
"That client has become the agency's main meal ticket."
foot the bill
to pay for something, especially an expensive item
"The company footed the bill for everyone's travel expenses."
Idiom
Definition
Example
time is money
a saying meaning that time is a valuable resource, like money
"Hurry up with the report, time is money in this business."
crunch the numbers
to carefully calculate or analyze financial data
"The accountant spent all week crunching the numbers for the budget."
pinch pennies
to spend money very carefully to save as much as possible
"The startup had to pinch pennies during its first year."
tighten your belt
to spend less money and live more carefully
"The company had to tighten its belt after losing its biggest client."
loosen the purse strings
to become more willing to spend money
"After a good quarter, management finally loosened the purse strings."
deep pockets
having a lot of money available to spend
"Only a company with deep pockets could afford that lawsuit."
break the bank
to cost a great deal of money, more than you can afford
"The new office renovation nearly broke the bank."
cost an arm and a leg
to be extremely expensive
"That software license costs an arm and a leg."
cost a pretty penny
to be quite expensive
"Hiring that consultant cost a pretty penny."
pay through the nose
to pay much more than something is really worth
"We paid through the nose for last-minute flights to the conference."
Idiom
Definition
Example
bang for your buck
good value for the money spent
"This training course gives you a lot of bang for your buck."
pick up the tab
to pay the bill, especially for a group
"The boss picked up the tab for the team dinner."
chip in
to contribute a small amount of money along with others
"Everyone chipped in to buy the retiring manager a gift."
pony up
to pay money that is owed, often reluctantly
"The client finally ponied up for the overdue invoice."
cough up
to reluctantly give or pay money
"The insurance company had to cough up for the damages."
shell out
to spend money, often more than you'd like
"They shelled out a lot of money for the new equipment."
fork over
to hand over money, usually unwillingly
"He had to fork over a late fee for missing the deadline."
money pit
something that constantly requires more money than expected
"The old building turned out to be a money pit."
sunk cost
money already spent that cannot be recovered
"Don't let the sunk cost stop you from canceling a failing project."
opportunity cost
the value of what you give up by choosing one option over another
"The opportunity cost of the delay was losing two major clients."
Idiom
Definition
Example
working off the books
working for cash payments that are not officially reported or taxed
"He was working off the books at the restaurant to avoid paying taxes."
under the table
paid or done secretly, often to avoid taxes or rules
"They paid the workers under the table to avoid payroll taxes."
1 / 4
Success, Problems & Setbacks
Idiom
Definition
Example
knock it out of the park
to do something extremely well
"She knocked it out of the park with her presentation to the investors."
step up to the plate
to take responsibility and act when needed
"When the manager was sick, the assistant stepped up to the plate."
par for the course
something typical or expected, often something difficult
"Long hours are par for the course in this industry."
hold the fort
to take care of things while someone else is away
"Can you hold the fort while I'm at the conference?"
fill in for someone
to temporarily do someone else's job or duties while they are away
"She filled in for her manager while he was on vacation."
cover for someone
to do someone else's job or shift while they are absent, especially for a short time
"Can you cover for me tomorrow? I have a doctor's appointment."
put out fires
to deal with urgent problems as they happen
"Most of her day is spent putting out fires instead of planning."
pick up the pieces
to recover and reorganize after a difficult situation
"After the merger fell through, they had to pick up the pieces."
pull a rabbit out of a hat
to produce a surprising solution when it seems impossible
"The team pulled a rabbit out of a hat and finished the project on time."
sink or swim
a situation where you must succeed on your own or fail
"On his first solo project, it was sink or swim."
drop the ball
to fail to do something you were responsible for
"The supplier dropped the ball and missed the delivery deadline."
throw a curveball
to surprise someone with an unexpected problem or difficulty
"The client threw us a curveball by changing the requirements at the last minute."
Idiom
Definition
Example
get off on the wrong foot
to start a relationship or task badly
"The new hire got off on the wrong foot by arriving late."
back to the drawing board
having to start planning again after a failure
"The client rejected the design, so it's back to the drawing board."
bite off more than you can chew
to take on more work than you can handle
"He bit off more than he could chew by agreeing to three deadlines in one week."
hit a wall
to reach a point where you cannot make further progress
"The negotiations hit a wall over the pricing terms."
spin your wheels
to work hard without making any real progress
"Without clear instructions, the team was just spinning its wheels."
keep the wheels turning
to keep a process or business running smoothly
"The support staff keep the wheels turning while executives handle strategy."
boil the ocean
to attempt something impossibly large or complicated
"Let's focus on one goal instead of trying to boil the ocean."
reinvent the wheel
to waste time creating something that already exists
"There's no need to reinvent the wheel; use the existing template."
low-hanging fruit
the easiest tasks or opportunities to achieve first
"Let's start with the low-hanging fruit before tackling the harder problems."
business as usual
normal operations continuing despite a disruption
"Despite the storm, it was business as usual at the office."
Idiom
Definition
Example
off the clock
not currently working or being paid
"He answered the email even though he was off the clock."
on the clock
currently working and being paid
"Remember, you're on the clock, so stay focused."
punch the clock
to formally record your work hours, often implying routine work
"He punches the clock at 9 and leaves at 5 every day."
beat the clock
to finish something just before a deadline
"The crew worked fast to beat the clock and finish before the client arrived."
get the short end of the stick
to be treated unfairly or given the worst part of a deal
"She felt she got the short end of the stick when the bonuses were divided."
comes with the territory
used to say that something difficult is a natural, unavoidable part of a job
"Long hours come with the territory when you're a surgeon."
the nature of the beast
an unavoidable and often unpleasant characteristic of a job or situation
"Dealing with difficult customers is just the nature of the beast in retail."
perks of the job
the extra benefits or advantages that come with doing a particular job
"Free flights are one of the perks of the job for airline staff."
1 / 3
Workplace Politics & Power
Idiom
Definition
Example
cover your bases
to prepare for every possible outcome or problem
"Send a follow-up email to cover your bases in case they forget."
watch your back
to be careful because someone might try to harm you
"In office politics, you always have to watch your back."
have someone's back
to support and protect someone
"Don't worry, I have your back if the client complains."
swim with the sharks
to operate in a highly competitive, ruthless environment
"New associates quickly learn how to swim with the sharks at that firm."
shark tank
an extremely competitive and ruthless environment, especially in business
"The trading floor is a total shark tank."
old boys' club
an informal network of powerful people who favor each other
"She struggled to break into the industry's old boys' club."
glass ceiling
an invisible barrier that stops certain people from being promoted
"She finally broke through the glass ceiling to become CEO."
jump the gun
to act before the right or agreed time
"Don't jump the gun and announce the deal before it's signed."
jump through hoops
to complete many difficult steps to get approval
"Employees had to jump through hoops to get the new software approved."
red tape
excessive official rules and procedures that slow things down
"The permit was delayed by months of red tape."
out of one's jurisdiction
outside someone's official authority or area of responsibility — used literally (legal/police authority) and figuratively (not my department/area)
"That's out of my jurisdiction — you'll need to ask the HR department."
Idiom
Definition
Example
cut through the red tape
to bypass slow bureaucratic procedures
"The manager cut through the red tape to get the project approved fast."
rubber stamp
to approve something automatically without real review
"The board just rubber-stamped the CEO's decision."
greenlight
to give official approval for a project to proceed
"The studio greenlit the new product line last week."
fast track
to speed up a process, often skipping normal steps
"Her promotion was fast-tracked because of her strong results."
steal someone's thunder
to take credit or attention away from someone else
"He stole her thunder by announcing the idea before she could."
throw someone under the bus
to blame someone else to protect yourself
"When the project failed, he threw his assistant under the bus."
blow the whistle
to report wrongdoing to authorities or the public
"An employee blew the whistle on the company's illegal practices."
sweep it under the rug
to hide a problem instead of dealing with it
"Management tried to sweep the safety violations under the rug."
top banana
(informal) the most important or highest-ranking person in a group
"Everyone knew who the top banana was as soon as he walked in."
ass licker
(vulgar, informal) someone who flatters a person in power to gain favor
"The other staff resented him for being the boss's ass licker."
the low man on the totem pole
the least important or lowest-ranking person in a group
"As the newest employee, he was the low man on the totem pole."
1 / 2
Getting Fired & Quitting
Idiom
Definition
Example
shape up or ship out
to improve your behavior or performance, or else leave
"The manager warned him to shape up or ship out."
write someone up
to formally document an employee's poor behavior or performance
"The supervisor wrote him up for being late three times."
slap on the wrist
a very light punishment for a mistake
"The employee only got a slap on the wrist for the error."
take the fall
to accept blame or punishment for something, sometimes for someone else
"The intern took the fall for a mistake the manager made."
get the sack
to be fired from your job
"He got the sack after missing too many deadlines."
give someone the sack
to fire someone from their job
"The company gave the whole department the sack during the cuts."
pink slip
a notice that tells an employee they have been fired
"She received her pink slip on a Friday afternoon."
dead-end job
a job with no chance of promotion or improvement
"He quit his dead-end job to go back to school."
golden parachute
a large payment guaranteed to an executive if they lose their job
"The CEO left with a golden parachute worth millions."
golden handshake
a generous payment given to someone when they leave a company
"After thirty years, he retired with a golden handshake."
Idiom
Definition
Example
golden handcuffs
financial benefits designed to keep an employee from leaving
"The stock options acted as golden handcuffs, keeping her at the firm."
throw in the towel
to give up trying to do something
"After months of losses, the founders threw in the towel and closed the shop."
jump ship
to leave a job or organization, especially when it's in trouble
"Several employees jumped ship when rumors of bankruptcy spread."
walk the plank
to be forced out of a job or position, often unfairly
"Three managers were made to walk the plank after the takeover."
call it quits
to stop doing something, often permanently
"After twenty years, she decided to call it quits and retire."
hang up your boots
to retire from a job or career
"The veteran salesman finally hung up his boots last spring."
call it a day
to stop working for the day
"It's already 7pm, let's call it a day."
call it a night
to stop an activity and end the evening
"The team called it a night after finishing the presentation."
wrap it up
to finish or complete something
"Let's wrap it up so we can catch the last train home."
knock off
to stop working, usually at the end of the day
"The construction crew knocks off at five o'clock."
Idiom
Definition
Example
get the boot
to be fired from your job
"He got the boot after the company lost its biggest client."
1 / 3
Street & Hustle Culture
Expression
Definition
Example
hustle
(verb/noun) to work hard and resourcefully to earn money, especially through informal, risky, or illegal means
"He's always hustling, selling things on the side."
a side hustle
a second job or income source outside your main job
"She sells dirty pictures as a side hustle."
grind / the grind
hard, relentless daily work
"I've been grinding since 5am to build this business."
get the bag
(slang) to make money, especially a significant amount
"Everyone's just trying to get the bag."
get paid
(informal) to earn money
"He'll do almost anything to get paid."
no days off
working constantly, without rest, in pursuit of success
"No days off till the goal is reached."
come up
(informal) to improve your financial situation, especially after struggling
"He really came up after that deal."
run game (on someone)
(slang) to trick or manipulate someone, usually for profit
"Don't let him run game on you — he's not being honest."
put in work
(slang) to do the labor or tasks required, especially for a gang or hustle
"You have to put in work if you want respect in this crew."
on the block
(slang) selling drugs on a specific street corner
"He's been on the block since he was a teenager."
Expression
Definition
Example
trap / trap house
(slang) a place where drugs are sold or made
"They ran the whole operation out of a trap house."
the game
(slang) the street or hustling lifestyle in general
"He's been in the game a long time."
criminal outfit
an organized group of people who run illegal operations together, like a gang or crime ring
"The police finally shut down the criminal outfit after years of investigation."
front
a legitimate-looking business used to hide and disguise illegal activity happening behind it
"The laundromat was just a front for the crime family's money laundering."
flip (something)
to buy something cheap and resell it for profit
"He flips sneakers to make extra cash."
beef
(slang) a conflict or rivalry between people or groups
"There's beef between those two crews."
turf
a gang's controlled territory
"That block is their turf."
OG
(slang, "Original Gangster") a respected, experienced figure in a gang or hustle
"The younger guys still listen to the OG."
snitch
(verb/noun, informal) to secretly inform on someone, especially to the police
"Nobody trusts him since he snitched."
lookout
someone who watches for danger or police during an illegal activity
"He was the lookout while they broke in."
money over everything
(slang, abbreviated "M.O.E.") a mindset that prioritizes making money above all else
"For him, it's money over everything."
hooker
(slang, informal) a prostitute
"She used to work as a hooker before she started selling pictures online."
high-end
(adjective) expensive, exclusive, or of the highest price tier — only affordable to people with a lot of money
"She's a high-end gal, average guys can't afford her."
on duty
currently working or officially responsible for a task, especially in police, medical, or security jobs — opposite of "off duty"
"Two officers were on duty when the call came in."
call something in
to report something (an incident, information, etc.) by phone or radio to a central office or dispatcher
"He wasn't on duty, but he had to call the suspicious situation in."
draw (a weapon)
to quickly pull out a gun or weapon, ready to use it — not "draw" as in sketch, or "draw" as in a tied game
"Police officers drew their guns on the suspect on the street."
