Collaboration & Teamwork Idioms
Working in a team is an integral part of our working lives. To get ahead we have to cooperate with others and be a useful part of a team. Here some expressions related to teamwork and collaboration.
| Idiom | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Joining forces (v) | Working together to achieve a common goal | The marketing and sales teams joined forces to launch a successful new product. |
| Pull together (v) | Work together to achieve a common goal | The entire company pulled together to meet the tight deadline. |
| Lift each other up (v) | Support and encourage each other | The team members lifted each other up during challenging times. |
| Have each other’s back (v) | Support and protect each other | We can count on our team to have each other’s back in any situation. |
| A united front (n) | A group that is united in purpose or action | The company presented a united front during the negotiations. |
| A pillar of strength (n) | A person who provides support and encouragement | Our team leader is a pillar of strength, always motivating us to do our best. |
| A team player (n) | Someone who works well with others and contributes to the team’s success | John is a great team player who always goes the extra mile. |
| All hands on deck (exp) | Everyone is involved and working together | With the big project coming up, we need all hands on deck to get it done. |
| Many hands make light work (exp) | A task is easier to complete when many people work together | The team was able to finish the project quickly because many hands made light work. |
| All in the same boat (exp) | Facing the same challenges or situation | We’re all in the same boat when it comes to meeting our company goals. |
| A sounding board (n) | Someone who listens to and gives advice to another person | My manager is a great sounding board for new ideas. |
| Pull your own weight (v) | Do your fair share of work | Everyone on the team needs to pull their own weight to ensure the project is a success. |
| Too many cooks spoil the broth (exp) | Having too many people involved in a task can be counterproductive | We need to be careful not to have too many cooks in the kitchen when planning this event. |
| Too many chiefs and not enough Indians (exp) | Too many leaders and not enough workers | The project was delayed because there were too many chiefs and not enough Indians. |
| A storm in a teapot (n) | A fuss over a small matter | The disagreement about the office thermostat turned into a storm in a teapot. |
| Fighting like cats and dogs (exp) | Arguing or quarreling intensely | The two departments have been fighting like cats and dogs over the budget. |
| A divided house (n) | A group that is divided or has conflicting interests | The company was a divided house after the merger. |
| Every man for himself (exp) | A situation where everyone is expected to look after their own interests | During the crisis, it was every man for himself as people tried to save their jobs. |
| Keep your nose to the grindstone (exp) | Work hard and diligently | We need to keep our noses to the grindstone to meet the deadline. |
| A loose cannon | Someone who is unpredictable and difficult to control | The new employee is a loose cannon who often causes problems. |
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