From "Hard" to "Challenging": Sharing Common Business Euphemisms
Even if the meaning doesn't change, certain words will be more appropriate for a situation than others. This is especially true in business, where creating and maintaining good relationships with colleagues is crucial.
Make sure your students are prepared to soften some common unpleasant terms and concepts with these euphemisms for the workplace.
Long >> Thorough / In-depth
For things like meetings and presentations, "long" often sounds negative. A good alternative is "thorough" or "in-depth."
- Scott's meeting was certainly thorough; he covered every detail.
- The team presented a very in-depth analysis of the situation.
Be careful students don't confuse "thorough" with "through" — a common mistake!
Hard >> Challenging
This is not limited for use at work, but the more positive nuance of "challenging" makes things sound more doable and achievable.
- The exam was really challenging, but I was able to pass it with help from my tutor!
Problem >> Issue / Setback / Challenge
Problems can often appear in work environments. As a result, several words for referring to them have also appeared. To give an unfortunate situation a less negative feeling, students should try "issue," "setback" or "challenge."
- Our team is dealing with several issues on this project.
- We have to postpone our delivery date due to unforeseen setbacks.
- Challenges with our supply chain will affect our ability to deliver on time.
Fire >> Lay off / Let go
Companies usually do not like to say directly that they have fired someone. Instead, "lay off" and "let go" are much more commonly used.
- Due to financial difficulties, we unfortunately had to lay off a small portion of our workforce.
- Many employees are worried they will be let go in the coming months.
Unemployed >> Out of work / Between jobs
Someone who has lost their job has become "unemployed." But this word can include negative nuances such as laziness and a lack of effort, which may not actually be true.
A better way to express this is by saying someone is "out of work," which is more neutral.
- He's been out of work for about four months now.
An even more positive alternative is "between jobs." Here, the nuance is that even though someone has lost their previous job, they are actively moving toward the next one.
- I'm in between jobs right now, so I'm doing a lot of networking to find new opportunities.
Fire >> Downsize / Restructure
The previous terms are used when talking about individuals. However, when a company makes big changes that affect a large number of workers, different words are often used.
"Downsizing" is reducing the total number of workers, which is a nicer way of saying a significant amount of employees are being fired.
- We will be downsizing in order to compete more effectively in the current market.
"Restructuring" is used in a very similar way. It implies that major changes will happen in a company that could result in a large group of workers losing their jobs.
- The company is hiring a consultant to assist with the restructuring necessary to improve profitability.
Quit >> Resign / Step down
Of course, some workers leave a company or position because of their own choice. "Quit," however, sounds quite direct and harsh. A softer way to express this is "resign."
- After serving as a board member for 30 years, Johnson decided to resign in order to spend more time with his family.
Be sure to point out that people can also be forced to resign, which is basically the same as being fired.
- The leader was pressured to resign when the scandal became a big news story.
"Step down" has a similar meaning and is often used when someone leaves a job or position because of pressure from others.
- The public called for the politician to step down due to his controversial remarks.
Worried >> Concerned
When problems come up at work, people often don't want to say directly how serious they are, especially when making public statements.
In these situations, "worried" is often switched with "concerned," which implies that the problem is being taken seriously, but people are still calmly working on a solution.
- These unexpected developments are cause for concern.
- Management is concerned about the lack of progress on this project.
Pay >> Salary / Compensation
Money is a very sensitive topic for many people. Even though "pay" as a noun is not a negative word, in business, it is often substituted for words like "salary" or "compensation."
- It is the company's policy for employees to not discuss details of their salary with one another.
- What kind of compensation can I expect if I accept this position with your organization?
Sometimes this term is extended to "compensation package."
- We are prepared to offer you a very generous compensation package.
Wrap-up
Euphemisms like those introduced in this article are present everywhere in English communication, but they are especially common in professional environments. Help students become familiar with them by pointing out whenever a harsh term can be swapped for a softer one when discussing business.
Finally, for an overview of more general euphemisms, check out the following article: Introducing Euphemisms: Saying Negative Things in a Positive Way
