At a recent business meeting, colleagues recommended the book “Getting Naked: A Business Fable about Shedding the Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty,” and I purchased it on the spot without a second thought. This book discusses the contrasts between the approaches to business and culture of large traditional consulting behemoths and the vibrant small startups that often outperform them. The book is written in prose—indeed, it’s literary prose. It reads very well; it’s quite engaging. I nearly finished it in three days.
So, while reading, I make pencil notes in the margins whenever I come across interesting idioms and idiomatic expressions. Instead of typing them out here—and yes, I’d probably never get around to finishing that—I simply downloaded an electronic version of the book from torrent sites and extracted the idioms with the help of AI. They matched almost exactly with mine, plus there were a few I already knew. Chapter titles are in caps, followed by the idioms. I have this in a Google Docs, which is more convenient to read, so if anyone wants it, just let me know and I’ll share the link. And I can send the book too (epub).
ACCELERATION
“Blow-by-blow account” – This means a detailed description of every single action or event that happened, typically used to recount events with precision.
BRASS TACKS
Brass tacks – Getting down to the basic, essential details or facts.
DISCOVERY
The cat was already out of the bag – This idiom means that a secret has been revealed. It’s used here to indicate that the narrator’s reaction to the information had already disclosed their true feelings or thoughts.
Rubbing salt in the wounds – This idiom describes actions that make someone’s difficult situation even more painful or evident. In this case, the narrator feels that the comparison between the two firms emphasizes their own firm’s shortcomings.
Dumbfounded – Although not an idiom, this term is often used idiomatically to describe a state of being so amazed or shocked that one is unable to speak.
GASOLINE ON THE FIRE
“Gasoline on a fire” – This phrase means to make a situation worse or more intense.
“Reeling” – To be thrown off balance or feel dizzy, often used figuratively to describe being shocked, confused, or disoriented by a situation.
“Mob of angry townspeople with torches and pitchforks” – This is a vivid metaphorical expression used to describe a group of people who are very angry and looking to confront someone or something, much like scenes from stories where villagers hunt down something they fear or despise.
“Holding down the fort” – To take care of a place or maintain a situation in someone’s absence.
“Lay their torches and pitchforks down” – This metaphor suggests calming down or becoming less hostile, referencing the earlier metaphor of an angry mob.
“Keeping them within reach” – While not strictly an idiom, this phrase is used figuratively here to imply that the attendees were still ready to become hostile again if necessary.
BACKLASH
“chickened out” – This means to avoid doing something because of fear or anxiety.
“want to chicken out myself” – Similar to the first, expressing a desire to avoid doing something due to fear or apprehension.
“calm and unruffled” – Describes someone who remains composed and not visibly upset by what’s happening around them.
“hammer all this out” – To discuss and come to an agreement on all details or issues.
“back down” – To withdraw a claim, demand, or commitment, often in a conflict or competition (“And even though I knew they would hate the idea, I wasn’t going to back down.”).
DEBRIEF
Milking the drama – Drawing out a situation for emotional effect or to gain sympathy, attention, or other benefits
Off to a rocky start – Beginning with difficulties or challenges, suggesting that the initial phase was not smooth or successful (“And I didn’t like the idea of having Jim Kendrick involved, not this early in a process that was already off to a predictably rocky start.”)
TELL
“To hell with it” – An expression used to show disregard or indifference towards a situation or outcome.
“Worked my way up the ladder” – A metaphor for gradually advancing in one’s job or career.
“Being a little too cute” – An expression criticizing someone’s attempt to appear endearing or clever in a way that seems insincere or overdone (“This was all just a little too cute for me, so I moved the conversation along”)
“Geezers” – A colloquial term, often used humorously, to refer to older people.
“Made him an offer he couldn’t refuse” – An idiom popularized by “The Godfather” movie, meaning to make such a good offer that the person cannot decline, or implying a threat if the offer is declined.
“Pulled the trigger on this deal” – An idiomatic expression meaning to finalize or commit to a deal or decision.
RECOVERY
a push – An idiom that means a period or instance of exerting effort or endeavoring hard in preparation or accomplishing something (“The next day was a push as I prepared for my temporary move to Half Moon Bay. “).
a wash – An idiom used to describe a situation that has neither positive nor negative consequences; it balances out (“From a transportation standpoint it would be a wash, as I lived near the San Francisco Air port and would be doing a reverse commute. “)
braced for – To prepare oneself emotionally or physically for something difficult or unpleasant that is about to happen (” But in every other way I braced for what I was sure would be a major transition.”)
riding on my ability to.. – An idiom that means depending on something for success or failure (“All of a sudden my career seems to be riding on my ability to deal with a bunch of people who look like they should be working at the Gap.””).
dove back into – An idiomatic expression that means to start or continue doing something with enthusiasm or intensity, often after a brief interruption.
REENTRY
“a far cry from” – This is an idiom meaning something is very different from something else.
“rolled around” – This could be considered idiomatic, suggesting that time has passed and a particular moment has arrived (“By the time our nine-thirty meeting rolled around, I was glad for something real to do.”)
“fire away” – An idiom meaning “start or proceed with expressing your thoughts or questions.”
“deep pockets” – An idiom referring to substantial financial resources.
“take a flyer on us” – This is an idiomatic expression meaning to take a chance or gamble on something uncertain.
ADVICE
“throw me under the bus” – This idiom means to sacrifice someone or betray them, especially to avoid trouble for oneself. It suggests leaving someone else to take the blame or suffer the consequences.
“flamed out” – To fail in a dramatic or notable way. Originally used to describe a jet engine failing by suddenly extinguishing, it’s used metaphorically here to describe a significant professional or personal failure.
EXPOSURE THERAPY
“Thrown for a loop” – Surprised, confused, or thrown off balance.
“Low-hanging fruit” – Tasks, actions, or goals that can be easily achieved without much effort.
“Rerun the numbers” – To recalculate or re-evaluate something, often financial figures or data.
“On the ground” – In reality or practical terms; often used to distinguish between theoretical or abstract ideas and their real-world implications or outcomes.
“Wrapped things up” – To finish or conclude something, especially a task or activity.
“Finding joy in suffering and trial” – An expression suggesting that positive outcomes or personal growth can emerge from difficult or challenging experiences.
“High-fiving each other” – A gesture of celebration or agreement, indicating mutual satisfaction or success.
CONSISTENCY
“Play it cool” – Behave in a calm, controlled way, especially in a difficult situation.
“Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic” – Making superficial or futile changes in a situation that is already doomed to fail.
SPEED READING
“a structure guy” – someone who prefers organization and clear frameworks.
“head was spinning” – feeling confused or overwhelmed (“Combine that with a bunch of new medical terms and more three-letter acronyms than I could possibly remember, and my head was spinning.”).
“scratching my head” – puzzled or confused.
“lost in the depth” – deeply confused or not understanding the complexity (“I figured I was the only one in the room lost in the depth of the conversations.”)
“off base” – incorrect or inappropriate (“She was surprised at first that her suggestion was so off base, but then she seemed to shrug it off almost immediately.”).
“shrug it off” – to ignore or dismiss something as unimportant.
“hot seat” – a position of intense scrutiny or pressure (“Amy was off the hot seat—not that she ever looked like she was sitting on it in the first place.”)
DANGER
“a real buzz kill” – Something or someone that dampens the mood or ruins the atmosphere (“But when you approach every issue with such …,” she searched for the right word, “negativity, it’s a real buzz kill for the team.”).
“reached a completely new level of silence” – Hyperbolically describes an intense silence that is even more profound than usual, often due to anticipation or shock.
“everything is always someone else’s problem” – Describes a tendency to blame others and avoid taking responsibility.
“tapping into the technology” – An idiom meaning to utilize or make the most of available technology (“Do you think we’re going to come anywhere close to tapping into the technology that you’ve put together if we keep wasting time and energy like this?””)
“a pain in the ass” – A vulgar idiom used to describe someone or something that is very annoying or troublesome.
“pissing you off” – A colloquial and slightly vulgar way of saying making someone angry.
DIGESTION
“a blur” – This means something is unclear or forgotten, often because it happened very fast or was not fully understood (“The rest of the session was pretty much a blur for me, as I tried to process what I had been witnessing, not only that day but during my first few weeks at Lighthouse.”)
“throw up all over the plan” – This is an idiomatic way of saying someone strongly rejected or criticized the plan.
“hanging him out to dry” – To leave someone in a vulnerable position without support (“Heck, we figured Michael would want to walk away from a client for hanging him out to dry like that.””)
“trial balloon” – A test to see how a new idea or suggestion will be received.
“taking one for the team” – To suffer or undertake a negative experience or penalty for the benefit of the group or team (““Well, the next time Michael met with the executives, they teased him about taking one for the team.”)
COUNSEL
“way out on the horizon” – Something that is a long way off in the future; not an immediate concern.
“seeing around corners” – To anticipate or predict future events or problems.
“the acquisition will tank” – The purchase will fail disastrously (“Marty is going to buy into whatever it is that I’m learning here. He’d never want to work with these people, which means the acquisition will tank, I’ll get tossed aside, my career will get thrown for a loop and …” I paused, which gave Diane the opportunity she needed.”)
“get tossed aside” – To be rejected or discarded.
“thrown for a loop” – To be surprised or confused so much that one does not know how to react.
“there’s nothing to fear but fear itself” – A famous quote implying that fear is the only thing people should be afraid of, as it can paralyze more than actual dangers.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” – Experiencing adversity ultimately makes one more resilient.
“let the chips fall” – To let things happen as they will without trying to control them.
“bring out the big guns” – To use one’s most powerful or effective resources or arguments.
“speak your mind” – To say what one really thinks.
ENDURANCE
“in the dark” – Not informed or aware of something (“to keep him in the dark about what I was really thinking.”).
“pushed him off” – Delayed or postponed dealing with someone or something.
“about as popular as” – A comparative expression used to indicate something is likely to be unfavorably received (“I decided that talking to Marty and Jim Kendrick and the other partners about culture would be about as popular as leading them in a session of hot box yoga”).
TEST RUN
low-hanging fruit – Refers to tasks, actions, or goals that can be easily achieved or obtained with minimal effort.
holed up – To seclude oneself in a particular place for a period of time (“The hospital CEO, Michelle Thomas, introduced me to the handful of executives who would be holed up in the third-floor conference room for the next nine hours. “)
sized up – To assess or evaluate someone or something (“I had already sized up the room and decided that the group probably had never made a decision like this before..”).
coming to terms with – Accepting and dealing with a difficult situation (“…but coming to terms with the idea of not building the satellite facility, and possibly not growing at all.”)
stick to – To continue doing something, or to limit oneself to a particular activity or subject.
doesn’t add up – Something that does not make sense or seems illogical (“Something just doesn’t add up here.”)
SWALLOWING MEDICINE
salvage the day – To recover or make the best of a situation that has gone wrong (“But I think we can salvage the day and still arrive at the right decision before midnight.”)
buying us dinner – An idiomatic way of acknowledging a debt or obligation, in this case, humorous reparation for a mistake (“Then you’re going to be buying us dinner, too.”)
What does your gut tell you – Asking for an intuitive or instinctive feeling about something, rather than a thought-out analysis.(“My gut tells me that if you really think your occupancy numbers are going to continue growing and that the economic development in this area is not a fluke, expansion probably makes sense.)
not a fluke – Something that is not happening by chance or accident but has a solid reason behind it.
TRIAL
“Behind enemy lines”: While not used as a traditional idiom in this context, this phrase metaphorically describes the protagonist’s venture into a challenging and unfamiliar territory within the professional setting. It’s akin to an idiomatic expression by using a typically military term to describe a business situation, suggesting a deep immersion into a potentially hostile environment to gain insight or achieve a specific objective.
“Naked and Vulnerable”: This recurring theme is not an idiom but serves as a powerful metaphor throughout the narrative. It symbolizes transparency, honesty, and the courage to be seen without pretenses in a professional context. The concept is used idiomatically to represent a set of behaviors that foster trust and authenticity.
“Throw under the bus”: This is a classic idiom that appears in the narrative, symbolizing betrayal or sacrificing someone else’s interests for one’s own gain. It’s used to describe actions within the corporate maneuvering and politics that the protagonist experiences.
“Wearing multiple hats”, “Taking the heat”, and “Rolling up sleeves”: These phrases, while not explicitly mentioned in your narrative, are examples
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 