This lesson trains 25 C2 idioms on Work & Careers. Idioms signal fluency when used naturally — forcing them into every sentence hurts your score. Practise in the runner first, then revisit every expression in the glossary. Review mode after completion shows how each idiom fits its context.
put your shoulder to the wheel
Work hard at a task.
While taking part in a professional-development discussion, the speaker highlighted “put your shoulder to the wheel”, which means “Work hard at a task”.
at the top of the ladder
In the highest position in an organisation.
In a career-development workshop, participants used “at the top of the ladder” to communicate this idea: “In the highest position in an organisation”.
give and/or take
Allow for small differences or changes.
While taking part in a workplace mentoring meeting, the speaker highlighted “give and/or take”, which means “Allow for small differences or changes”.
slog your guts out
Work extremely hard.
In a career-development workshop, participants used “slog your guts out” to communicate this idea: “Work extremely hard”.
be given the sack
Be dismissed from a job.
While taking part in a career-development workshop, the speaker highlighted “be given the sack”, which means “Be dismissed from a job”.
dead and buried
Completely finished and unlikely to return.
While taking part in a job-interview preparation session, the speaker highlighted “dead and buried”, which means “Completely finished and unlikely to return”.
[donkey/grunt] work
Hard, boring work.
In a workplace mentoring meeting, participants used “[donkey/grunt] work” to communicate this idea: “Hard, boring work”.
carry the can
To accept responsibility or blame for a problem, especially one caused by others.
In a workplace-responsibility workshop, “carry the can” was explained as an expression meaning “To accept responsibility or blame for a problem, especially one caused by others.”.
black and white
Clear and simple, with no middle ground.
During a professional-development discussion, the facilitator introduced “black and white”, an expression meaning “Clear and simple, with no middle ground”.
be an old hand at [something]
Be very experienced at something.
During a workplace mentoring meeting, the facilitator introduced “be an old hand at [something]”, an expression meaning “Be very experienced at something”.
a cushy number
A very easy, comfortable job.
During a job-interview preparation session, the facilitator introduced “a cushy number”, an expression meaning “A very easy, comfortable job”.
at this moment in time
Now; a wordy business expression.
During a job-interview preparation session, the trainer referred to “at this moment in time”, a useful expression for the idea “Now; a wordy business expression”.
give [something] a miss
Choose not to take part.
In a professional-development discussion, participants used “give [something] a miss” to communicate this idea: “Choose not to take part”.
enter into the spirit of [something]
Join in enthusiastically.
During a professional-development discussion, the trainer referred to “enter into the spirit of [something]”, a useful expression for the idea “Join in enthusiastically”.
cut [both/two] ways
Have both good and bad effects.
In a career-development workshop, “cut [both/two] ways” was explained as an expression meaning “Have both good and bad effects”.
be hard put to
Find it difficult to do something.
During a workplace mentoring meeting, the trainer referred to “be hard put to”, a useful expression for the idea “Find it difficult to do something”.
a glass ceiling
An invisible barrier preventing career progress, especially for women.
In a workplace mentoring meeting, “a glass ceiling” was explained as an expression meaning “An invisible barrier preventing career progress, especially for women”.
a [man/woman] of many parts
A person with many skills and talents.
While taking part in a professional-development discussion, the speaker highlighted “a [man/woman] of many parts”, which means “A person with many skills and talents”.
be hard pressed to
Find it difficult to do something.
In a job-interview preparation session, participants used “be hard pressed to” to communicate this idea: “Find it difficult to do something”.
get your skates on
Hurry up.
In a job-interview preparation session, “get your skates on” was explained as an expression meaning “Hurry up”.
[be given/get] your marching orders
Be told to leave a job or place.
In a professional-development discussion, “[be given/get] your marching orders” was explained as an expression meaning “Be told to leave a job or place”.
have plenty of strings to your bow
Have many skills or resources.
During a career-development workshop, the trainer referred to “have plenty of strings to your bow”, a useful expression for the idea “Have many skills or resources”.
track record
A person's or organisation's past performance.
During a job-interview preparation session, the trainer referred to “track record”, a useful expression for the idea “A person's or organisation's past performance”.
nice work if you can get it
An easy or attractive job, though hard to obtain.
During a job-interview preparation session, the facilitator introduced “nice work if you can get it”, an expression meaning “An easy or attractive job, though hard to obtain”.
fair's fair
That is reasonable or justified.
During a career-development workshop, the facilitator introduced “fair's fair”, an expression meaning “That is reasonable or justified”.