US to UK business dictionary
US to UK business dictionary
We remain two countries divided by a common language – our US to UK business dictionary explains how some commonly used business phrases can differ across the pond…
| USA | UK |
|---|---|
| Reaching out | Contacting |
| Connecting | Contacting via email or LinkedIn |
| C-suite/ C-level | Executives at board level |
| Consultant | Management consultant |
| Slide deck | Presentation – e.g. PowerPoint |
| Resume | CV |
| Touch base | Make contact |
| Vacation | Holiday |
| Holiday | National or bank holiday |
| Locked | Completed and not changeable (as in “The document is locked…”) |
| Hard ball | Tough negotiations |
| Piece | Aspect of work (as in “He’s doing the legal piece…”) |
| Playbook | Handbook detailing strategy – often supplied by consultants |
| Drill down | Examine more closely |
| Hard stop | Firm cut off time |
| Travelling | Out of contact between offices |
| B-school | Business school |
| Bacon job | A role with no shortage of takers, a plum job |
| Bat a thousand | 100% record (from baseball) |
| Boiling the ocean | Attempting an the overly ambitious |
| Bucketize | Organise into categories |
| Deck | PowerPoint presentation |
| Fighting the tape | Going against market trends |
| Helicopter view | Brief overview |
| Left lane | Accelerate (e.g. a project) |
| Sales revenue | Turnover |
| Turnover | Staff retention |
| 401k plan | A personal pension scheme |
| Corporate income tax | Corporation tax |
| Form 1120 | Annual return |
| Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | HMRC |
Executive positions UK & USA
Our job titles vary in seniority very much on both sides of the Atlantic – so don’t assume the director you will meet in England is a manager – he might well own the business, and some Brits might expect VPs and Presidents only exist in the White House!
| USA | UK |
|---|---|
| Vice president | Senior manager |
| Managing director | Senior manager |
| CEO | Managing director / chief executive |
| CMO | Marketing director |
| CFO | Finance director |
| President | Chairman/Chief executive |
| Associate | Senior professional below partner |
| Principal | Partner (consulting) or part owner |