By Civil Service World

17 Apr 2015

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


Work it through

Let’s work it through in another meeting and make a decision at some unspecified point after that meeting. Or the next one. 


Buy-in

I need you to pretend to agree with this. As in “if we all buy into this downsizing, it will be a lot less painful.” But you still won’t have a job. 


Director general

Seven extra letters tell you that this director needed some encouragement to stay on. 


Comprehensive review

In contrast with a normal review, a comprehensive review will take over a year to complete before its findings are ignored. 


You may wish to consider

Do the following immediately. Or else. 


In due course

In a very long time, if I haven’t forgotten. 

 

Got your own examples of Whitehallese? Email us in confidence: editorial@civilserviceworld.com

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