Business Jargon
Sometimes known as corporate speak, slang, terms, phrases, and acronyms, are used by professionals in the business world. Browse Investopedia’s expert-written library to learn more.
Introduction to Business Jargon
-
Gardening leave is a transition period for employees who give or are given notice of termination, keeping them on the payroll but away from the workplace. Under the leave, employees are prohibited from working for the competition or themselves. A protectionist measure, the garden leave prevents the employee from sabotaging the work environment and from taking proprietary information to a competitor. The garden leave is primarily used in the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, but was also introduced in Massachusetts in mid-2018.
Learn More Gardening Leave -
The term "modus operandi" is a Latin term that describes an individual or group's habitual way of operating, which represents a discernible pattern. A modus operandi (commonly abbreviated as "M.O.") is mainly used to discuss criminal behavior and is often used by professionals to prevent future crimes. Modi operandi may change over time, particularly by adapting to experiences as well as changing values. Studying patterns, not just those of criminals, can aid individuals who study and pay attention to them, such as investors.
Learn More Modus Operandi -
OBOR is a project that focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among multiple countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. OBOR's scope has expanded over the years to include new territories and development initiatives. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan support OBOR thanks to the massive investments by China in local transmission projects in these nations.
Learn More One Belt One Road (OBOR) -
A one-stop shop is a business or office that offers multiple services or products to customers. The business strategy behind the one-stop shop is to provide convenience and efficiency to clients, gaining loyalty as well as revenue. For the consumer, using a one-stop shop can be efficient and provide insight into one's affairs, but it can also limit options and be more expensive.
Learn More One-Stop Shop -
Groupthink is a phenomenon in which individuals overlook potential problems in the pursuit of consensus thinking. Any dissenters in the group who may attempt to introduce a rational argument are pressured to come around to the consensus and may even be censored. The Challenger shuttle disaster, the Bay of Pigs, Watergate, and the escalation of the Vietnam War are all considered possible consequences of groupthink.
Learn More Groupthink
Key Terms
- Rust Belt
The Rust Belt refers to the geographic region from New York through the Midwest that was once dominated by manufacturing. The Rust Belt is synonymous with regions facing industrial decline and abandoned factories rusted from exposure to the elements. The Rust Belt was home to thousands of blue-collar jobs in coal plants, steel and automotive production, and the weapons industry. The states considered to be part of the Rust Belt are Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The demographics and economic situation of the Rust Belt make it an important area for U.S. presidential elections.
- Rule of Thumb
A rule of thumb is an informal piece of practical advice providing simplified rules that apply in most situations. There are many rules of thumb in finance that give guidance on how much to save, how much to pay for a house, where to invest, and so on. Rules of thumb are not scientific and do not take into account the individual circumstances and needs of a person, so they may not be applicable to your particular situation.
- Bulge Bracket
A bulge bracket is the major company (or companies) involved in an underwriting syndicate for a new issue of securities. The bulge bracket is usually the first name (or group of names) on the print advertisement of the new issue and may also be the manager of the underwriter syndicate. The term can also refer to the top investment banks in the industry, such as JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs.
- Squeeze
The term squeeze can be used to describe several situations that involve some sort of market pressure. In finance, the term is used to describe situations wherein short-sellers purchase stock to cover losses or when investors sell long positions to take capital gains off the table. Profit squeezes, credit squeezes, and short squeezes are all examples of when market pressure accelerates or intensifies a financial situation. Squeeze situations are often accompanied by feedback loops that can make a bad situation worse. Recently, the GameStop short squeeze in January 2021 caused short sellers to lose $5.05 billion.
- Middleman
A middleman is a broker, go-between, or intermediary to a process or transaction. An intermediary will earn a fee or commission in return for services rendered in matching buyers and sellers. Many industries and business sectors utilize middlemen, from trade and commerce to wholesalers to stockbrokers.
- Golden Parachute
Golden parachutes are lucrative severance packages inked into the contracts of top executives that compensate them when they are terminated. In addition to large bonuses and stock compensation, golden parachutes may include ongoing insurance and pension benefits. The practice is controversial as poorly performing or short-lived CEOs and other top executives can get paid large sums for little or poorly perceived work.
![Tipflation](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/oondJA6vsuHn0BkuJE9wPwt6zuo=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tipflation-8180832-final-5a13344fef7746c79e482229bf9c1b09.png)
![Doctors and nurses walking and discussing](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/NxZ2T05t4I8I2vawb3KisaoQ8E0=/5100x3400/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TriageDefinition-af0ddd85ad3a43b8b23169bc8b4ab32c.jpg)
![Garden Leave: When an employee leaves a job but remains on the payroll and is not permitted to work elsewhere.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/dXlnZRneRuVxQ9LGqX_ps_UA6ds=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gardening-leave.asp-Final-7471c814f0484fb78b14cd1689c235bb.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/A0C6eIAtUvI00WcAy1IQ43OktZw=/680x440/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/investing9-5bfc2b6846e0fb00517bd9e4.jpg)
![Modus Operandi: An individual or group's habitual way of operating.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/jgkiNR-BW9flOpEF1J4xGalIlUM=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Modus-operandi_final-b99068f6f5a34b128c35834e004d8dbd.png)
![Groupthink: Opting to conform with the consensus view rather than engage in critical thinking.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/q45SkPuE37boJeJstvx1_Llwp5E=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/groupthink.asp-FINAL-1-59d84410719a4c46b0c0fd9a374f50b4.png)
![One-Stop Shop: A firm that offers a multitude of products or services to its customers.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/BEWVA1Ywbwp8ewwDN0nMAjPpAAY=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Onestopshop_final-b9a2c33c76dc4a778e386b136bb46178.png)
![Rust Belt: The geographic region from New York through the Midwest that was once dominated by manufacturing.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/FcVeN1vrKyDuQPx62pRQJtv0s9E=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/rust-belt.asp-final-753cc0676f494701a59a5babb8d5f4ed.png)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/98L6os_dGUdWGh1UcX5nXkA40Jo=/205x136/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/investing13-5bfc2b8f46e0fb0026016f4d.jpg)
![JP Morgan](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/J1paXyNqcl5Uf8WTt001iYmZJ7c=/3000x2000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-jpmorgan-5fce7167a5564f3a9b9adc5f2242b91f.jpg)
![Closeup rear view of a person coding on multiple computers](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/XL-Ye55ZSdkNRIV0G364g9UwsIQ=/5700x3800/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1496864857-a089e93a9e994eb6b8c50275b8bc7650.jpg)
![Businessmen and speech bubble shaped as puzzle piece](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/jJAkL5iTgqMd2DvB9AXoGa1evYU=/1924x1558/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-97615281-beee095bf89d4974a529560052ca243c.jpg)
![Young woman looking worried going through financials](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/j7SR3UbPuk-cURW6kp1Ixraow9o=/8256x5504/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1366367255-73287d517faa4e0ab353238b85c8f869.jpg)
![A duo floating on a golden parachute](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/KVuauV_rqeyyguL0Nu_ld27uqcQ=/2207x3300/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-172721949-1b15d25923c14899970ebb972259da78.jpg)
![Businessman giving a presentation in an office](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/1_xpIo_2PV4w7Njkhyb1lnT8raU=/2121x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1180182836-273d998f28bc4b8f9979130ead4a3e19.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/N3K9ODstOeVG7lRC_p5EAK2k4sY=/205x136/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/investing11-5bfc2b90c9e77c00519aa65f.jpg)
![Family of five smiling in front of a house](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/Hyunj2em5wHhKA_meSF1-cdLE9c=/2121x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-79383940-8ba187d141af42d881bbc8f0afeffa67.jpg)
![The BCG Matrix](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/m6SkcEtBhvBGfpgUR_jvAmbosTw=/1732x1732/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1138644649-55b5854805eb44649063271113413de8.jpg)
![A businessman explaining colleague while sitting at desk.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/2RZd-hor472glSS-zZ7Bfs7gulA=/2121x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1124741514-7d1cdcff1a1945e9ac5b40d9cde6b529.jpg)
![checking for rain](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/-aJmY7GZMoP8V5D_1GnEiQxuxsE=/2122x1415/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-160639782-56a9e2fe3df78cf772ab3a56.jpg)
![Account, Accounting Concept](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/mkIN26ZkFZJep_yf9lHnXhXKvZQ=/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1194842257-ae68c99b3db24d6cb6290aef60f9db74.jpg)
![The interior of an empty coffee bar with all equipment and furnishings in place ready for rental as a turnkey business.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/rBX_fEYyntOGHCJ8maJgFAh32Jo=/6720x3780/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TurnkeyBusinessDefinitionHowItOperatesWithExamplesGettyImages-1435140397-9518334ceea4456096336a4614c1d79e.jpg)
![Early Proof Coins from the United States Mint.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/LnEY82O4824sFwCZSqXe-MmUzB8=/3000x2000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Early-Proof-US-Coins-5913b9605f9b586470cbf313.jpg)
![Coins stacked on a wooden table with a hand walking on it.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/YI0TlBI7qyQLmDh5xb0s0O3bdsQ=/2309x1299/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1125673029-80c86473a874468d8f9f48141f22892f.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/udVj4OSrkyeGahWFcqYOEwoctsk=/380x254/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/stk128219rke-5bfc2b8a46e0fb005144db8f.jpg)
![Man surrounded by piles of files in office](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/7s4Jj-xjx9WD5eydB-9plPt9iXs=/2121x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-548703545-efd932c485da483c8a34a731a27f5c31.jpg)
![Looking Through Board Room Door at Business Strategy Meeting](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/ndHWwQogCZ3RGi3nc4K_P05Kk7I=/1500x1001/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1084171090-c0ff35b4ebff40f88ab5682d79396614.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/ptKsh0XVQvyOTqizIfRgwR0tEsk=/680x440/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/125183558-5bfc2b8c46e0fb00517be02c.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/GdDUYXMSvxzEMPSua9MTEL08AjI=/205x136/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/investing20-5bfc2b8f46e0fb00517be081.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/ptKsh0XVQvyOTqizIfRgwR0tEsk=/680x440/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/125183558-5bfc2b8c46e0fb00517be02c.jpg)
![A sales graph background with origami airplane moving up.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/EsjYvYbo0ogyz1oBJpYiL99Lmjk=/2175x1379/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1168572519-f659ed9a48214b269fe15eb3efec52e7.jpg)
![Abstract flow data ramp](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/__6FKLpmoOaMwcpWjL7-bh60PNA=/2121x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1312574816-8a1198871e1f40479c25f7c5bb443389.jpg)
![Scientist in Lab Examining Food Samples](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/R_eIvZkgyBgEw0t9hU3fWLepF2s=/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-909591062-ed2798edb72640169467042878b67d82.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/pWDivWRtw6tavVJK3kLa68idzH0=/380x254/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/high-school-students-5bfc2b8b46e0fb0083c07b7d.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/98L6os_dGUdWGh1UcX5nXkA40Jo=/205x136/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/investing13-5bfc2b8f46e0fb0026016f4d.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/udVj4OSrkyeGahWFcqYOEwoctsk=/380x254/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/stk128219rke-5bfc2b8a46e0fb005144db8f.jpg)
![A worker sitting at a desk in a call center with a headset on warm calling a potential client.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/OiXam0q3D1rZY5esfNAKcOTuE-0=/5515x3677/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/WarmCalling-81d44a6bd0a346909493efc9fff3176a.jpg)
![Mother rubber duck leading several rubber ducklings](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/ISxy2DFTOmu2lBlJJuYINpcRijI=/4856x3597/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/mother-rubber-duck-leading-several-rubber-ducklings-108359383-3c7aa3606c9347239cf3c31f2f2ec8e3.jpg)
![An engineer, an architect, and an earthmoving equipment operator look at a set of site plans while standing in the center of a construction site.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/xk3MJral9oky_qCDeb770geHPxI=/3580x5370/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ShovelReadyWhatItMeansHowItWorksHistoryGettyImages-86492807-6982befadb1c456fbe8307d4048e82a2.jpg)
![People at the counter of a creative popup store and in the shop.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/Fj9c8cvADLLq1n0f_8gO-Ebr2Ms=/2122x1412/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1077796704-ead0c7d6fba44073bd1ec351e4cccc1b.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/98L6os_dGUdWGh1UcX5nXkA40Jo=/205x136/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/investing13-5bfc2b8f46e0fb0026016f4d.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/pWDivWRtw6tavVJK3kLa68idzH0=/380x254/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/high-school-students-5bfc2b8b46e0fb0083c07b7d.jpg)
![Dry Hole](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/_L8n7mdxSnckZEjXgF9DKrhid2Q=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/dry-hole.asp-Final-f0ebb31fcf6943c3b14bc46825ac30c7.jpg)
![Rent-an-Employee](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/EpS8fCO0Q_sI5w-HlaBoO6Kvx4k=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/rent-an-employee.asp-final-58758b6dbe9241b9b8dac09e3e8f5767.png)
![Boneyard](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/dc1gYcZcSiubt2Fs6h6I2G4zI5k=/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Boneyard_Final-9943e527bbbb4524b9602cad6d2d1597.png)
![Carrot Equity](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/gx2uaBy1V6L0kC47MlDLABJDqow=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/carrotequity.asp-final-16a8c3335c6340fcacd2ad8ee06932be.png)
![Buzzword Bingo](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/fDZ4RFuxbQzk8afvqPuf108zgcQ=/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/buzzword-bingo.asp-final-8dd7af5f928241e9933c26d2647e0225.png)
![Weak Sister: An undependable or weak link that threatens to undermine an entire system.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/wnUcTvRpCQs8uYRPiBqytRM1BWY=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/terms_w_weaksister_FINAL-4957fc4d271345df8fa8f413447c7666.jpg)
![Big Uglies](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/M1a0vSYVPpeY3-UmTw2PGUKtyc4=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/biguglies.asp-final-26e450ff738d42858cba42821b242062.png)