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By Civil Service World
07 Jul 2017
Civil Service World's regular guide to the very best in Whitehallese
By spending a derisory amount of money, we will somehow magically persuade an industry to put in 10 times as much. This never happens
On the back burner
You just came up with a ridiculously complex policy idea but nobody has the heart to dismiss it outright. So it’s going on the back burner
We will take forward
Give the impression of making progress without committing to any measurable goals
Thinking out of the box
What ministers want you to do right up until the point you propose spending any actual money
Blind copy
None of the official recipients know that you have a copy of this note, therefore you cannot possibly contribute. But do bear in mind I’ll blame you when it all goes wrong
To submit your own examples of Whitehallese, email editorial@civilserviceworld.com. Visit civilservant.org.uk for more of the best civil service jargon
More in the series: Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. I) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 2) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 3) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 4) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 5) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 6) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 7) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 8) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 9) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 10) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 11) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 12) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 13) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 14) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 15) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 16) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 17) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 18) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 19) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 20) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 21) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Sir Martin Donnelly special edition) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (snap election special edition) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 22) Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 23)
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