Idioms used for "Office politics and relationships"

Office politics and relationships

get on the wrong side of someone = make someone dislike you: "Don't get on the wrong side of him. He's got friends in high places!"

butter someone up = be very nice to someone because you want something: "If you want a pay rise, you should butter up the boss."

the blue-eyed boy = a person who can do nothing wrong: "John is the blue-eyed boy at the moment – he's making the most of it!"

get off on the wrong foot = start off badly with someone: "You got off on the wrong foot with him – he hates discussing office politics."

be in someone's good (or bad) books = be in favour (or disfavour) with someone: "I'm not in her good books today – I messed up her report."

a mover and shaker = someone whose opinion is respected: "He's a mover and shaker in the publishing world."

pull a few strings = use your influence for something: "I had to pull a few strings to get this assignment."

take the rap for something = take the blame for something: "They made a mistake, but we had to take the rap for it."

call in a favour = ask someone to return a favour: "I need a holiday – I'm going to call in a few favours and ask the others to cover for me."

put your cards on the table = tell people what you want: "You have to put your cards on the table and tell her that you want a pay rise!"

beat around the bush = not say exactly what you want: "Tell me – don't beat around the bush!"

sit on the fence = be unable to decide about something: "When there are arguments, she just sits on the fence and says nothing."

pass the buck = pass on responsibility to someone else: "The CEO doesn't pass the buck. In fact, he often says "the buck stops here!"

take someone under your wing = look after someone: "When he was taken on, Sarah took him under her wing."

show someone the ropes = show someone how things are done: "My predecessor showed me the ropes, so I felt quite confident."

be thrown in at the deep end = not get any advice or support: "He was thrown in at the deep end with his new job. No-one helped him at all."

a them and us situation = when you (us) are opposed to "them": "The atmosphere between the two departments is terrible. There's a real them and us situation."