Page 159 - Perfect Phrases ESL Everyday Business

The American Business Culture in a Nutshell

FYI
P’s and Q’s
Q and A
SOP
TBD

A, B, C Piles

Many time-management books and courses recommend dividing
those papers on your desk into A, B, and C piles. The A pile contains
urgent items that require immediate action. The B pile contains
important items that need attention, but not immediately. The C
pile contains low-priority items. Often if you ignore that C pile long
enough it becomes trash. Many experts say that the C pile should just
go directly into the trash; however, some low-priority items still must
be done, if there is time.

ASAP

This is a confusing direction. It means “as soon as possible.” Usually,
the person making the request means now, or even “yesterday.” The
person receiving the request usually focuses on the word possible,
which could mean anything from “I’ll do it when I finish this task”
to “I’ll do it when I get around to it.” If you really want something
quickly, your best option is to say, specifically, by when it’s needed.

A to Z
This phrase describes the full range, or, to use a few other idioms:
soup to nuts or the whole ball of wax. For example, if you are trying
to resolve a problem, you may say you want “every possible solution
from A to Z.”

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