By Civil Service World

23 Sep 2016

Civil Service World's regular guide to the very best in Whitehallese


Frontline
Everybody when you’re trying to protect the budget; nobody when you’re implementing the cuts 

Let’s bottom this out
Let’s wait and see just how bad it gets before we start trying to deal with the consequences 

Content
An expression of vague approval that can’t be used against you later  

Cross-government working
The HMG equivalent of the Cockatrice, the Basilisk and the Griffin. A fabulous beast which exists only in myth 

Delivery
A radical concept, which roughly means “doing your job” 

Brexit
Definition pending


To submit your own examples of Whitehallese, email editorial@civilserviceworld.com or tweet us @CSWNewsVisit ukcivilservant.org 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)

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