Learn the ropes
Learn how a job or system works.
Get your foot in the door
Get a small opportunity that could lead to a better one.
Pull your weight
Do your part of the work well.
Call it a day
Stop working for now or finish work for the day.
On the same page
Agree and understand things in the same way as others.
On the ball
Be alert, organized, and quick to react.
Think outside the box
Be creative or come up with new ideas.
Keep someone posted
Keep someone informed about progress or changes.
Back to the drawing board
Start over after something didn’t work.
Burn the midnight oil
Work late into the night.
Get the sack / Be sacked
Be fired from your job.
Hang by a thread
Be in a very dangerous or uncertain situation.
In hot water
Be in serious trouble.
Cut corners
Do something quickly or cheaply, ignoring quality.
Under pressure
Feel stressed because of deadlines or responsibilities.
Carry the can
Take the blame or responsibility for something that went wrong.
Go the extra mile
Make more effort than is expected.
Call the shots
Be the person who makes the decisions.
Hit the ground running
Start something energetically and effectively.
By the book
Follow the rules exactly.
Climb the corporate ladder
Progress and get promoted in your career.
A tall order
A difficult or demanding task.
In the loop
Be informed and involved in what’s happening.
Touch base
Contact someone briefly to update or check in.
The ball is in your court
It’s your turn or responsibility to make a decision.