

Popularized by boxing scribes in the early twentieth century, “losing a step” is associated with a high-level employee’s deteriorating skill set in the corporate world. In football and business, the difference between raising a championship banner and being considered a failure is often the smallest margin. 2Īttributed to legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi and then immortalized by Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday, a game of inches justifies why the littlest detail matters. It implies that it was such a success that you have time to make a slow, satisfying victory lap around the bases. The phrase “knocked it out of the park” refers to more than just the home run. Two of the greatest feelings in the world are walking out of a meeting room after nailing a presentation and trotting around the bases after hitting a home run.

Explaining twenty-five of the most frequently used phrases will help you stay one step ahead of the competition. Nobody knows the exact answer, but there’s no arguing that sports culture and its terminology are prevalent in offices across the country. When did sports clichés become such a widespread form of communication in corporate America? You have to keep your eye on the ball, step up to the plate, and be ready to perform when your number is called. Winners and losers emerge from everyday interactions. Monday through Friday, we pour blood, sweat, and tears into our jobs.
