English Idioms for "Job Responsibilities & Tasks"

Master English idioms regarding job responsibilities and tasks, like "iron in the fire" and "on the clock".

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to cover for somebody [phrase]

to fulfill a person's responsibilities while they are sick or on a leave

Ex: I need you to cover for me next week while I 'm on vacation .

iron in the fire [phrase]

a project, activity, plan, business, etc. that an individual is involved in

Ex: She 's trying to keep too many irons in the fire , and it 's starting to take a toll on her work and personal life .

to put somebody to work [phrase]

to assign a task or job to a person

Ex: The coach put the players to work, running drills and practicing plays in preparation for the big game.

to wear many (different) hats [phrase]

to have different roles, positions, or jobs at the same time

Ex: The entrepreneur wears several different hats in the early stages of their business , including product development , marketing , and fundraising .

to have big shoes to fill [phrase]

to have to put in a lot of effort into one's work to be on the same level as one's predecessor

Ex: The new teacher has big shoes to fill , taking over from a beloved educator who was known for their passion and dedication to their students .

to play hooky [phrase]

to not attend work, school, or other obligations without giving an explanation or getting permission

Ex: She felt guilty about playing hooky from her job , but she needed a mental health day to recharge .

on the clock [phrase]

during the hours that one is required to be working

Ex: She clocked in at 9:00 AM and won't be off the clock until 5:00 PM.

to step into one's shoes [phrase]

to be given someone's task, role, job, etc., particularly after they have left

Ex: The intern will step into the shoes of her supervisor while she's on maternity leave.

to (pick up) the baton [phrase]

to continue or complete a task or project that someone else began or left unfinished

Ex: She is picking up the baton and carrying on with the fundraising campaign.

to hand over the baton to somebody [phrase]

to transfer responsibility or a task from one person to another

Ex: She is handing over the baton to the new manager next week.

to have something on one's hands [phrase]

to need to deal with something as a part of one's responsibilities or obligations

Ex: If we do n't solve this problem , we will have a big mess on our hands .

to hold the fort [phrase]

to assume full control or responsibility of something until the actual person in charge returns, particularly in business

Ex: If we leave the store , who will hold the fort ?

to fill one's shoes [phrase]

to take on a person's position, role, or responsibility after they are gone

Ex: She is trying to fill the boss's shoes while he is on vacation.

to step into the breach [phrase]

to take action or assume responsibility in a difficult or challenging situation, often when others are unable or unwilling to do so

Ex: If the boss does n't show up , I will have to step into the breach and run the meeting .

work to rule [noun]

a labor strategy where employees intentionally perform their job duties strictly according to the rules and procedures, without going beyond what is explicitly required, as a means of protest or showing dissatisfaction with work conditions

Ex: The work-to-rule campaign lasted for two weeks, resulting in a significant slowdown in productivity.

to work to rule [phrase]

(of workers) to refrain from doing any extra work

Ex: The employees are working to rule until their demands are met .

Work & Money
The Business World	Office Life & Work	Job Responsibilities & Tasks	Job Opportunities
Collaboration & Teamwork	Busy & Active	Earning Money	Wealth & Luxury
Poverty & Financial Issues	Price & Money	Paying & Purchasing	Spending or Saving Money