idioms
Idioms & Natural Expressions
Fixed expressions and idiomatic language to sound more natural and precise.
30 minC1c1idiomsremote-work-the-future-of-officesremote workhybrid officedigital nomadism
Lesson objectives
- Use idiomatic language connected to remote work & the future of offices more naturally.
- Distinguish neutral, formal and contemporary expressions.
- Recognise when an expression improves fluency without sounding forced.
Idioms & expressions — Remote Work & the Future of Offices
To work in silos · neutral
neutralMeaning:To work in isolation from other parts of an organisation, often failing to share information.
Significado:Trabajar de forma aislada o en compartimentos estancos.
Example:With everyone working from different time zones, we must ensure we don't end up working in silos.
To bridge the gap · formal
formalMeaning:To reduce the difference or distance between two things or groups.
Significado:Cerrar la brecha / Acortar la distancia.
Example:The new hybrid policy aims to bridge the gap between remote flexibility and in-person collaboration.
To be at the forefront of · formal
formalMeaning:To be in a leading position in a particular field or development.
Significado:Estar a la vanguardia de.
Example:Our company is at the forefront of integrating AI into remote workflow management.
To touch base · neutral
neutralMeaning:To briefly contact someone to update them or check progress.
Significado:Ponerse en contacto brevemente / Hacer un seguimiento rápido.
Example:Let's touch base via a quick video call tomorrow morning to finalise the project scope.
To hit the ground running · neutral
neutralMeaning:To start a new job or project with great energy and immediate success.
Significado:Empezar con muchísima fuerza / Empezar a tope.
Example:We need a freelancer who can hit the ground running without needing weeks of remote onboarding.
To pull one's weight · neutral
neutralMeaning:To do one's fair share of the work in a group.
Significado:Hacer la parte que a uno le corresponde / Cumplir con su responsabilidad.
Example:In a distributed team, it is vital that every member pulls their weight to maintain productivity.
Digital nomadism · neutral
neutralMeaning:A lifestyle where people use technology to work remotely while travelling.
Significado:Nomadismo digital.
Example:The rise of digital nomadism has forced many companies to rethink their permanent office leases.
To be 'always on' · informal
formalMeaning:The state of feeling compelled to respond to work messages instantly at any time (2023-2026 context).
Significado:Estar siempre conectado / Estar en modo de disponibilidad permanente.
Example:Burnout is increasing because employees feel they need to be 'always on' due to instant messaging apps.
Quiet quitting · informal
formalMeaning:Doing only the minimum required work and nothing more, often as a response to burnout (2023-2026 context).
Significado:Renuncia silenciosa (hacer lo mínimo indispensable).
Example:Management is worried that lack of engagement in remote teams is leading to widespread quiet quitting.
Asynchronous workflow · formal
formalMeaning:A way of working where tasks are completed without everyone needing to be online at the same time (2023-2026 context).
Significado:Flujo de trabajo asíncrono.
Example:To manage a global team effectively, we have transitioned to a fully asynchronous workflow.