Idioms about Work

1. Get your feet under the table

To become familiar and more confident in a new job.

It’s my first week at the new company. I haven’t gotten my feet under the table.

I need time to get my feet under the table.

I was so overwhelmed at first but now I can get my feet under the table.

2. Go the extra mile

To put more effort than expected into achieving something.

Julie always goes the extra mile to make her mom happy.

To win the contract, he went the extra mile to prepare the documents before the meeting.

He went the extra mile just to make her feel special at the wedding.

3. Put one’s feet up

To relax and rest, especially with your feet raised off the ground.

We’re done. Let’s put our feet up.

After a hard day at work, I like to put my feet up and read some books.

Don’t work too hard. Go home and put your feet up.

4. Be in someone's good (or bad) books

To have done something that has made someone happy (or angry).

All students want to be in the teacher’s good book.

I used to be in my teacher’s bad book because I wasn’t very well-behaved back then.

If she was pretty and sexy, she would be in Harry’s good book.

5. Give someone the sack

To fire someone from a job.

His work has been getting worse and worse. It’s time to give him the sack.

Giving someone the sack is such a hard decision for me. I always have a rational discussion with them beforehand.

Why don’t you give her the sack? She’s a terrible employee, always late for work and jealous of her co-workers.

6. Call it a day

To end your work for the day and go home.

'We worked so hard today. Let’s call it a day before 6 p.m.'

She’s such a workaholic. She can’t call it a day when there is still work that needs to be done.

‘What time do you usually call it a day?’ ‘At 5 p.m.’

7. Work like a dog

To work very hard.

To earn money, he works like a dog every day.

That’s unfair. Why do I have to work like a dog while he can watch TV?

After graduating, I worked like a dog just to get promoted.

8. All in a day's work

To refer to your normal tasks, used to show that you have no difficulties or are willing to do something because it’s part of your daily job.

'Are you tired?' 'No, it’s all in a day’s work.'

Fixing machines seem hard for women but for her, it’s all in a day’s work.

She can cook for 40 people in just 2 hours. For her, cooking is all in a day’s work.

9. Work one’s fingers to the bone

To work extremely hard, especially on manual work.

I’ve worked my fingers to the bone but my boss is still not happy.

He worked his fingers to the bone to build his own house.

Women have to work their fingers to the bone outside the house, then do all the housework when they come back home.

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