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What always amuses me is the number of sports and/or military idioms used in everyday business communications. Here's a long-winded example I've composed over the years while observing and overhearing every single one of these expressions/idioms used in a business sense; either spoken or written. I've followed this missive with a translation wherein I've replaced each idiom with it's contextual meaning.Sports bolded: Military italicized: those that bridge the gap; bolded and italicized:Team,We need to mobilize so we can establish a launch date. We've got all the bases covered, our target is locked and I think we have a good chance to capture the market before it retreats. Everyone be sure to check your playbook so we don't go off half-cocked. I wanna see your game faces. Let's hit the ground running and really go the distance. We need a grand slam here. I wanna come out swinging. No holds barred. Both barrels. Let's not drop the ball on this one. I don't want it to blow up in our faces.I've completed some reconnaissance at the flagship office and if we can rally the troops and generate a plan of attack, I think we can round the bases and obtain our objective after the kick-off next week. Right now our primary contact is M.I.A. so I'll do some provision assessment and calculate the collateral damage.We hit a land-mine last week which almost put us into a holding pattern. Jerry failed to pass the baton but once Johnson gave Percy his marching orders, he stepped up to the plate and completed the hand-off. That should score us a few points at tomorrow's rendezvous and give us some ammunition once we're in the trenches. Plus, it gives us the home-field advantage. Everyone be sure to shoot Percy; in resource allocation; an email and thank him for diffusing that time bomb before it cost us the game. He helped us dodge a bullet there; really knocked that one out of the park. It's good to have someone in our corner who'll go to the mat for us when we're under fire. It was really just a warning shot across our bow, but Percy definitely gets the MVP award.GlobalCom almost beat us to the punch. It was a full-court-press but luckily we've now fallen off their radar. Talk about being saved by the bell. What should have been a slam-dunk almost made us crash and burn. I thought we might have to throw in the towel and take it on the chin but we got in just under the wire; I mean by a nose. It was a long shot but the uphill battle paid off. GlobalCom still may have an axe to grind but hopefully they'll bury the hatchet so we don't have to cross swords anymore. It's now a waiting game. We've won the battle hands down; but not the war.If we circle the wagons and stay the course, we should make it through without any casualties. I've enlisted a few hired guns to put on the front line and help with the negotiations if necessary. We'll touch base with them later. I'd hate to jump the gun but I'll take the flak and fall on that grenade if I have to. If we can beat the play-clock on this one, it should be a home run. If not, then we'll just bite the bullet, close ranks, deep six the operation and go to plan B.Right now we're on an intercept course with victory. Success is in our wheelhouse so let's man the guns, lock and load and go full speed ahead. I'd hate to get black-flagged on the last lap. We're in the bottom of the ninth here. Just stay on target, hold the line and once we pull the cord, it'll be smooth sailing. The ball’s in our court.I’ll be here fielding calls till the final buzzer.Over and out.TRANSLATION MINUS IDIOMS:Group of whom I am in charge and/or a member,We need to get ready to move so we can establish a time to begin moving. We've got all the issues resolved, our goal is in sight and I think we have a good chance to grab the market before it goes away. Everyone be sure to be aware of your responsibilities so we don't go off ill prepared. I wanna see your confidence exuded facially. Let's waste no time and really do it all the way. We need to accomplish a lot with one deft move here. I wanna start strong. Don't hold anything back. Use everything you've got at your disposal. Let's not lose control of the situation on this one. I don't want it to become a horribly disfiguring disaster.I've completed some information gathering at the main office and if we can motivate everyone adequately and generate a way of accomplishing said task, I think we can get everything done and achieve our goal after the start of things next week. Right now our main guy is nowhere to be found so I'll do some checking to see what we have and calculate the unrelated stuff that got unintentionally screwed up in the process.We hit a surprise bad event last week which almost put us into a pattern in which we wait and do nothing. Jerry failed to provide something to the next individual in a series, but once Johnson gave Percy his instructions as to what to do, he took his turn and didn't shy away from his responsibility and completed the exchange of information. That should put us ahead of the competition at tomorrow's meeting and give us some items with which to attack once we're facing the enemy in a hostile setting. Plus, it gives us the ability to do better being in our own surroundings. Everyone be sure to send Percy; in the department that gets things; an email and thank him for removing a difficult hurdle in a timely manner before it made us lose. He helped us avoid being injured there; really did a great job. It's good to have someone with us who'll work hard for us when we're being attacked. It was really just a threat as to what might follow, but Percy definitely gets the award for being the most valuable.GlobalCom almost got there first. It was a stressful, intense situation but luckily we've now disappeared from their sight. Talk about being relieved from further punishment. What should have been a definitive positive outcome almost made us fall apart and be destroyed. I thought we might have to give up and make a sacrifice but we got in just below that which would have caused something bad to happen; I mean barely. It was a far away and difficult to acquire goal but the difficult activity paid off. GlobalCom still may have a reason to prepare for future struggle but hopefully they'll stop wishing violence so we don't have to compete with each other anymore. It's now a time in which we do nothing. We’ve accomplished a small thing without much effort, but there is much more left to accomplish.If we protect each other and keep trying, we should make it through without any deaths or losses. I've added to our payroll a few expert consultants to put at the meetings and help with the meetings if necessary. We'll meet with them later. I'd hate to start too early but I'll make the sacrifice and make another sacrifice to save others if I have to. If we can finish before the deadline on this one, it should be a good thing. If not, then we'll just deal with it, come closer together as a group, forget the old stuff and go to a new way of thinking.Right now we're on a path to get what we want. Success is in our area of expertise so let's everyone do their job, get everything ready for action and go do everything with full vigor. I'd hate to get forced to return to the area where we wait, thus impeding further forward advancement at the end. We're close to the end here. Just keep your goals in sight, maintain your positions and once we set things in motion, it'll be movement with little adversity. The opportunity is with us.I’ll be here taking calls till the end.I'm done talking. Bye bye.And now, the original, literal origin of each idiom:Team - Not so idiomatic anymore these days as most companies refer to their employees as “team members” and the word “team” has come to mean any group of people who work together to accomplish a common goal.Mobilize - Primarily a military reference meaning to get the team and all the equipment together, fueled up, loaded down and ready to move.Launch date - Mostly referencing space flight. A launch date is the date on which something is planned to be launched; be it a satellite, shuttle, Apollo mission, Mars mission or anything else that might require physically launching.Bases covered - Baseball. When all the bases are covered it means that a defensive player is close to each base and ready to act when and if he’s needed.Target is locked - When someone is about to shoot at a target with electronic targeting equipment they’ll get it locked prior to firing. This assures the bullet/missile/torpedo/bomb hits the mark at which they’re aiming.Capture - When fighting an enemy one might take prisoners for one reason or another. When taken, these prisoners are said to have been “captured”.Retreat - If one side is losing a battle they might decide to run away to avoid further casualty or other losses. This is called a “retreat”.Check your playbook - Football (primarily). Players typically have a book or booklet that lists and describes all the plays that their respective team uses or could potentially use. to check this is to remind oneself of what call refers to what play and how said play functions so that each player knows what job he has to do in order to accomplish the play successfully.Half-cocked - Some old flint-lock weapons required a two-phase cocking wherein you would pull the hammer back to prime the pan and it would rest in a notch; preventing it from striking the live round. Once loaded, the hammer would need to be reset in its initial firing position; otherwise the gun would fail to fire; hence going off “half cocked” is to enter into a field of battle with a weapon that isn’t ready to be used or not fully prepared for the given situation. Some early revolvers also required the hammer be set in a half-cock position to rotate the cylinder to either load fresh rounds or expel spent rounds. Some early lever-action rifles used a half-cock position as a safety measure when a round was in the chamber. However referenced, it basically means your weapon isn’t ready to be fired, so you’re ill-prepared for the impending struggle.Game face - Used to describe the intensity expressed on one’s face when about to enter into competition. It implies an intense, serious, focused physiognomy.Hit the ground running - The actual origin of this phrase is disputed among researchers, but the one that makes sense to me is the reference to paratroopers dropping from the sky and being so ready and capable that they hit the ground running; not bothering to roll or break their fall; which would waste time in an emergency situation. This might not be the actual history of the phrase, but I’ll let you research and form your own opinion.Go the distance - Referencing running of any sort. If a runner completes a marathon then that runner has gone the entire distance of said marathon. I imagine it could be used for a race of any length.Grand slam -Baseball. When a batter hits a home run while the bases are loaded and all runners cross home plate. This effectively scores four runs with only one hit.Come out swinging - Boxing. When a boxer jumps from his corner and instantly starts swinging, wasting no time to skirt his opponent or analyze the situation. It doesn’t imply haphazard, blind aggression, but more of a strong and immediate attack with little or no regard for defense or anticipation.No holds barred - Wrestling. In some wrestling matches there may be rules that prevent certain holds from being used. This is done primarily for the safety of the participants when certain holds might cause more damage than others. So when no holds are barred it means anything goes. All holds are at your disposal.Both barrels - Shotgun. Double-barrel shotguns load one shell in each barrel. To shoot both barrels at someone is to unload on them, give them all you’ve got, hit them hard with everything you have available.Drop the ball - Sports. In any sport where the player carries a ball, typically dropping said ball is a bad thing. If a football player drops the ball it’s a fumble and the other team might recover it. If a baseball player drops the ball it’s an error which might give the runner more time to round the bases. Dropping the ball is a reference to messing up or letting the team down when you were responsible for something.Blow up in our faces - When a soldier or member of a bomb-squad is attempting to diffuse a bomb, it would be super bad if it blew up in his/her face. That’s pretty much it.Reconnaissance - Military term meaning to gather information about an opponent, situation, location, etc.Flagship - Military term describing the main ship of a fleet. The one that carries the flag, signifying to whom the fleet belongs.Rally the troops - When one side is losing a fight they might decide to retreat. If their leader thinks that a retreat is unnecessary and that they can actual win the fight, he/she might try to “rally the troops” to bring them together and get them riled up and excited and focused on winning again; hopefully to get them back in the fight.Plan of attack - Pretty much what it says. When you plan to attack someone, it helps to have a plan of attack. Otherwise you might go off half-cocked.Round the bases - Baseball. When a runner rounds the bases he/she has completed the circuit culminating in a run. To run around all three bases and return to home plate signifies a home run, or at the very least a scored run.Obtain our objective - Again, pretty much what it says. When you desire something it is your objective. When you get that something you have obtained that objective.Kick-off - Football. At the beginning of the game, and after each score, and at the beginning of the second half; one team kicks the ball to the other to start playing. This signifies the start of play.Primary contact - The main person to whom you speak in order to get/give information.M.I.A. - Military term meaning Missing In Action. When a soldier cannot be found he/she is listed as M.I.A. This could mean that the solder has died and the body is lost, that the soldier has been captured and is being held somewhere unknown, or that the soldier just ended up elsewhere and hasn’t been found yet. Whatever the case, the soldier’s location is unknown.Provision assessment - To assess one’s provisions is to take stock of one’s supplies. To do an inventory and observe/record the amount or condition of one’s reservesCollateral damage - When violence occurs toward a specific target, often times there are unintended casualties or damages that occur to people/things close by in proximity. If I’m standing behind a guy and that guy gets shot and the bullet goes through him and kills me; I’m collateral damage since I wasn’t the intended target and was just a negative secondary result of the primary action.Land-mine - Military. Land-mines are explosives hidden just below the ground so that they remain unseen by anyone moving above them. If one gets hit and explodes; it can be disastrous. A land-mine signifies an unforeseen obstacle that can or has caused significant damage or difficulty/inconvenience.Holding pattern - When an aircraft has arrived at its intended destination but has not yet been given permission to land, it must fly in a holding pattern while waiting for said permission. This flight path takes the aircraft nowhere but around in circles while waiting to complete its goal. It doesn’t move forward or make any further progress.Pass the baton - In relay races one runner starts off holding a baton. Upon completing the first circuit this runner will then pass said baton to the next runner in the sequence. This continues until the final runner crosses the finish line holding the baton. The baton signifies the act of passing on responsibility to the next person in line. Whoever has the baton is the only one who can do anything to help win the race.Marching orders - A commanding officer gives marching orders to his/her troops instructing them to move on or depart. This signifies someone being told to leave or commanded to exit a situation.Stepped up to the plate - Baseball. When it’s a players turn to bat, that player steps up to the plate; essentially taking on the responsibility of scoring a run or at the very least avoiding an out. When this runner steps up to the plate, he/she is the one in the spotlight who is boldly and confidently donning the accountability for immediately subsequent actions.Hand-off - Football. When a player has the ball and wants to give it to a second person who is close by; closer than throwing distance; he hands the ball to this second person. This is called a hand off. It signifies the passing of something; information, responsibility, etc.; to someone else.Score us a few points - Sports in general. Most sports are scored with points; be they called points or something else like “runs”. To score a few points is to help one’s team move ahead of the opponent.Rendezvous - Military term meaning a place of meeting. It has made its way into common civilian usage meaning the same thing; a place where we plan to meet.Ammunition - When firing ballistic weapons you tend to use up bullets, missiles, torpedoes, etc. These are all form of ammunition. To have more is a good thing.In the trenches - WWI. Trench warfare was rampant in WWI. Soldiers would dig trenches across the field of battle from their opponents. They could hide down in these trenches and move back and forth along the front lines all while avoiding being shot. To be in the trenches is to be on the front line amidst the smoke and roar of gunfire and chaos.Home-field advantage - Sports. Most teams have a home field; meaning the field where they practice in the town in which they live. They are more familiar with this field so playing on it can give them a slight advantage. As well, having the home fans in the stands helps raise morale for the home team.Shoot - To fire a weapon. To send something off quickly and decisively.Resource allocation - To allocate resources is to organize and gather supplies or provisions and assign them to certain needs. If I need thirteen hard hats for my site visit tomorrow, then that resource (those thirteen hard hats) will hopefully be allocated to me for that use.Diffusing - To disarm a bomb. Literally to remove the fuse from an old cartoon like ball-bomb or a stick of dynamite. To metaphorically remove the fuse keeps the bomb from blowing up in your face.Time bomb - A bomb that is wired to a timer and set to go off at a certain time. This signifies some impending doom of which one is aware but potentially unable to diffuse.Cost us the game - When something bad happens in a game; something bad enough to cause you to lose the game; then that something cost you the game. If a person makes a horrendous mistake that allows the other team to surge ahead and win decisively; then that person cost his/her team the game.Dodge a bullet - When a bullet is coming at you, you can try to go all Neo and bend backward and hope the bullet passes by or over you without striking you. If you succeed, you have dodged a bullet.Knocked that one out of the park - Baseball. When a batter hits a ball so hard that it goes over the outfield wall and over the stands behind said wall; he/she has knocked it out of the park. Park meaning ball park. The ball likely busted some Audi windshield in the parking lot.In our corner - Boxing. Boxers each have a corner they rest in between rounds. Each of them has a support team in their corner. a coach, a trainer, a loved one. To have someone in your corner is to have someone who supports what you’re doing.Go to the mat - Wrestling. Wrestlers typically wrestle on a mat. When they “go to the mat” they are engaged in an intense brawl for superiority and dominance. This signifies someone giving it their all and not holding back in a potentially vigorous battle.Under fire - To be under fire is to be ducking behind something while bullets or other ballista are flying at you and over you. If you’re in the trenches, you’re likely under fire.Warning shot across our bow - Naval. In times of yore when naval ships ruled the seas, cannons would be mounted on each side for attack or defense. If a ship sailed into water or too close to a shoreline controlled by another government, the offending ship might be asked to leave. There were no megaphones back then and no short-wave radios or PA systems, so a warning shot would be fired to let the offender know that if they continued to push into the occupier’s territory; battle might ensue. This warning shot wasn’t meant to cause damage to the offending ship, so it was aimed close to the ship’s hull so as to get the sailors’ attention but not cause physical damage to any person or property - only a bit of fear and splashy-splashy.MVP award - In sports, whoever is the most valuable player in a given game might win a Most Valuable Player award; or MVP award.Beat us to the punch - Boxing. When one boxer throws a punch first, he/she has beaten their opponent to the punch; meaning they struck first and potentially landed the first blow.Full-court press - Basketball. A tactic wherein one team will fully cover the opposing team over the entire basketball court as opposed to only covering them near their own hoop. It signifies an intensely aggressive action putting immense pressure on one’s opponent.Fallen off their radar - Radar is used to observe things moving about from long distances away. If a blip appears on one’s radar, one becomes aware of that blip’s presence and might now be focusing on it. Once that blip disappears from the radar screen or “drops off the radar”, it is no longer observed and could potentially be forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind.Saved by the bell - Boxing. If a boxer is taking a horrible pummeling by his/her opponent and can do nothing to defend him/herself then the only hope is for the round to finish. When the round is complete, the bell rings. This bell saves the boxer from being further pummeled since once the bell rings, the referee moves in, separates the boxers and sends them to their respective corners.Slam-dunk - Basketball. When a player has the ball and jumps up to the hoop and forces the ball down through the rim and net without truly releasing or throwing the ball. This is a definitive two points since there was never a chance the ball would not go in; given the player’s proximity to the rim at the time and control over physically thrusting the ball down through the net.Crash and burn - When a test flight occurs the intent is for it to go off successfully. If something goes awry then the aircraft might fall from the sky and burst into flames; ie. crash and burn.Throw in the towel - Boxing. If a boxer is taking a horrible beating but refuses to go down or stay down or exit the match, the boxer’s owner/coach/trainer or whoever might be in his/her corner can forfeit the match by physically throwing a towel into the ring. This signifies giving up or quitting.Take it on the chin - Boxing. When a boxer takes it on the chin he/she gets hit in the face without defending. He/she can stand fast in the face of physical pain and accept what’s coming with dignity and resolve, or take the hit and fall; acknowledging the loss and accepting his/her fate while still maintaining a steadfast and unfaltering countenance.Just under the wire - Many say this stems from horse racing akin to “Down to the wire”, but this idiom means “at the last possible moment” or “with no time to spare”. So that doesn’t quite work. If a horse race is “down to the wire” then a winner can only be declared by seeing which horse crossed the wire first. That makes sense. But that doesn’t imply any sort of deadline or impending timeline. It’s not as if the horse race is timed and any horse that finishes after a set time is a loser. So I’m unsure the origin of this one, but it means “at the last possible moment with no time to spare”.By a nose - This one does come from horse racing. When two horses are so close at the finishing line that the winning horse only wins by the distance his nose is out in front of the second horse. To win by a nose is to just barely win with your competitor extremely close behind.Long shot - Any shot that is taken from a distance; be it in sports or military usage. Shots taken from a long distance are typically more difficult than those taken from close proximity to one’s target. Long shot signifies that there is little chance of making said shot.Uphill battle - When fighting an enemy it is always best to have the elevated position. It is easier to attack downward than upward. So fighting an uphill battle is more difficult than fighting a level field battle or a downhill battle.Axe to grind - When a person is bent on revenge or has a problem with someone else, they might be looking to start a fight. In olden times they would grind or sharpen their axe in preparation for said fight. Yes, everyone in olden times used an axe.Bury the hatchet - Some early Native American tribes would literally bury a hatchet as a symbol of having made peace with a neighboring tribe or a prior enemy. If they had lived in olden times they’d have buried an axe.Cross swords - In times of yore when everyone fought with swords, to “cross swords” meant to engage in battle. Yes, times of yore is different from olden times. Everyone in times of yore used a sword.Waiting game - When your opponent is in control of the ball or it is his/her move, sometimes you can do nothing but wait. If this becomes an extended amount of time then you can be said to be playing a waiting game; wherein all you can do is sit idly by and wait as others do things.Won the battle, not the war - In wars, there are battles. When one is victorious in a battle they can be said to have won the battle; but this does not mean that the war is over or has been won. They must typically win several battles in order to win the overall war. Battle is a subset of war; so winning the battle is just one step farther along toward winning the war; not an ultimate victory.Hands down - Horse racing. When a jockey is pushing his horse forward to outrun his opponents his hands are up and holding tightly to the reigns. If he is so far ahead that he can slacken his grip and drop his hands then he is said to have won “hands down”; meaning with little or no contest or competition.Circle the Wagons - In the old days of the American west, many families traveled westward by wagon-train to stake out new land or territory to farm and live on. There would be multiple wagons traveling along in line. If they were ever attacked or accosted by bad guys, be they outlaws or angry natives, they would literally put their wagons in a circle to protect the women and children inside. The wagon circle would act as a sort of shield to protect their families and goods. It has come to mean a group coming together and having each other’s backs to help defend against a common enemy.Stay the course - There is some conjecture as to this phrase’s origin. Some say it has nautical origins meaning to maintain the mainsails and rigging to keep the ship on course regardless of obstacles. Some say it has to do with a horse’s stamina and it’s ability to finish a race without stopping. Either way, it means to continue to pursue a goal, regardless of the hardships and toil involved.Casualties - Those injured in a war or other violent military action. Some might be due to collateral damage from a time bomb blowing up in their faces. Some (in days of yore) might have crossed swords and failed to be victorious. They may have entered the uphill battle half-cocked and not circled the wagons when in the trenches and under fire. Any way you slice it, a casualty is someone injured in a given situation.Enlisted - When someone joins the military they can enlist. This means they go to the recruiter and submit whatever paperwork is required to be admitted into whatever branch of the military they have chosen.Hired guns - In the old days everyone used guns. This is after the olden days or times of yore. When you wanted someone killed or needed some extra defense from a neighboring rancher who wanted to steal your livestock; you might hire some professional gunslingers to help you out. This has come to mean anyone of a particular specialty hired to assist in a given situation.On the front line - When fighting, armies face off. At least in olden days and/or days of yore they did. When armies would take to the field and start marching or running toward each other, the first line; the front line; was the most dangerous place to be. It was the first to catch arrows, spears, horse hooves, sword tips, boot spurs, bayonets, etc. So being on the front line meant you were in the fray, fighting at the forefront in the middle of where the bulk of the action is taking place.Negotiations - When two people disagree or want to resolve a dispute, they might partake in negotiations. That’s pretty much it.Touch base - Baseball. When a player rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam he/she needs to physically touch each base as he/she runs past it. This is an act of “briefly checking in” with each base as one completes the circuit. When one touches base with someone else, he/she is briefly checking in with that someone else.Jump the gun - Track and field. Many foot races these days begin with a pistol fired into the air. This is “the gun”. If a runner jumps off of his/her starting block prior to the gun being fired, that runner has jumped the gun; meaning started too soon or before the beginning was supposed to happen.Take the flak - Flak is a term for gunfire or any sort of projectile ballista that’s coming at you. When someone takes the flak they are standing out in front acting as a shield for those behind them; protecting them from said flak.Fall on a grenade - When a grenade is thrown at a group of people, they typically scatter, but if they’re confined within a tight space and can’t scatter, they’re screwed; unless someone is willing to sacrifice their own life/safety and jump or fall on the grenade; thereby creating a buffer with their body and insulating the group from the full explosion. Sort of like wrapping a big flesh bag around the grenade to dampen the intensity of it blowing up in your face.Beat the play clock - Sports. In some sports there is a clock that only allows a short time for the offensive team to complete their play. In Basketball it is a shot clock. In football it is a play clock. If you don’t complete the required process prior to the play clock running out; you are penalized. It’s good to beat the play clock.Home run - Baseball. When a hitter hits the ball and is able to make it all the way around the bases back to home plate and score a run before an out is called; that is a home run. It’s a good thing, highly praised by fans and critics.Bite the bullet - When someone is injured in a remote location and requires a painful or surgical procedure with no anesthetic, they typically will bite down on something to keep from grinding or breaking their teeth due to the pain. If a billet or leather strap is available; great. If in times of war there are more bullets than billets available; then one might bite on a bullet to assuage the agony of field surgery. This signifies doing something that is painful, inconvenient or just undesirable; yet needs to be done.Close ranks - Akin to circling the wagons, soldiers will close ranks to make their line tighter and more difficult to penetrate. This action is used to protect a leader or reinforce a defended position. It signifies a group coming together for a common purpose of defense or protection.Deep six - A nautical term meaning six fathoms deep; or a depth from which something will likely never be recovered. To “deep six” something is to get rid of it and never hear from it again.Operation - Any activity participated in by someone can be described as an operation if it’s at least planned and coordinated beforehand. Operation is like mission. Meaning a goal or something to accomplish and the events leading up to it.Plan B - Basically having a secondary plan. Plan A would be the primary plan. So Plan B just means the plan that we’ll utilize if plan A fails.Intercept course - In days of yore when ships sailed the mighty seas, if one spotted one’s enemy on the horizon and wanted to attack them, they couldn’t just sail straight at where they are now. You’d have to figure out their speed and direction and sail toward where they will be when you arrive. This course would effectively allow you to intercept them. It signifies a plan to get ahold of something in the near future.Victory - When one wins or beats one’s opponent, one has achieved victory.Wheelhouse - One of two things. A boat’s wheelhouse is in the center, containing the steering mechanism, all the controls and everything the captain needs to have at hand. So if something is in his wheelhouse it’s close within reach and easily accessed or performed. In Baseball a batter swings the bat at the ball and attempts to hit it. Each batter has a certain range of motion and area where he/she can effectively swing. The perfect level pitch right across the waistline is said to be in most batters’ “wheelhouse” since it’s a sweet spot where they can hit the ball with ease. This baseball derivative might have stemmed from the original nautical usage. I’m not sure. That sort of word history isn’t in my wheelhouse.Man the guns - To physically be in control of said guns so that they can be used for their intended purpose. If something is “manned” then someone is there in control of it. A gun man. Maybe even a hired gun man. Under fire. In the trenches. On the front line.Lock and load - This phrase was originally “load and lock”; which means to load a weapon and lock it into place to be ready for firing. John Wayne flubbed his line in “Sands of Iwo Jima” and accidentally said, “Lock and load…”; which then became a common place phrase meaning to get ready and be prepared for what’s coming.Full speed ahead - Military term meaning to go forth with the utmost urgency implying a disregard for the dangers that lie ahead. As in, “Damn the torpedoes!! Full speed ahead!!”Black flagged - Car racing. When a car has either incurred a penalty or is having mechanical problems, the black flag is used to signal said car to enter the pit. This is bad when it happens on the last lap.The last lap - Car racing. They drive around in circles called laps. The last one is where they determine the winner. That’s about it.Bottom of the ninth - Baseball. Baseball is comprised of nine innings wherein each team has a chance to bat. These innings are divided into two parts; the top and the bottom. The top comes first and the bottom follows. So the bottom of the ninth inning is the last chance a team has to come from behind and win the game.Stay on target - Military term meaning to not veer off target in reference to a trajectory being traveled by either a vehicle or a ballistic weapon of some sort.Hold the line - Military term meaning to stay in formation and not break apart; thus maintaining a solid defensive barrier to one’s opponents.Pull the cord - Referring to a parachute. Once you pull the cord you’ve released the chute and can now sail down softly to the ground.Smooth sailing - Nautical reference to traveling along the water with little difficulty due to weather, rough waters or any other troubles or obstacles that might otherwise be present.Ball’s in our court - Several sports with balls. Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, etc. In basketball the court is divided into two parts; one where each team defends and the other that said team attempts to score in. When the ball is in a team’s court, it is up to that team to remain on the offensive and score. One can only score when the ball is in their court. In tennis the player can only hit the ball and score when the ball is in their court. Similar to volleyball in the same vein. Signifying that it is now one’s own or one’s team’s responsibility and they have control of what needs to be done to win or accomplish a given task.Fielding - Any sport played on a field with a ball. When one is fielding something one is on the field and aware of the action taking place and attempting to retrieve or acquire the ball. In baseball, to “field” the ball is to run and catch it and put it back into play after a hit or an overthrow. This phrase signifies someone being available to accept incoming communication when used as “fielding calls”.Final buzzer - Sports that have time limits. Buzzers may sound throughout a game to signify the end of periods or quarters, but when the final or last buzzer sounds it signifies the end of the entire game. Everything is complete. Game over.Over and out - Radio speak signifying that one is finished talking and is now ending the communication. “Over” is said when one is finished speaking so that the person on the other end knows they can now begin talking without speaking over the first person. “Out” is said when either party wishes to terminate the discussion. So “Over and out” signals that the person has said all they are going to say and is now departing from the conversation. Which I am now doing.

I used to advance small amounts from petty cash and I told the borrower each time that it was my own money (which it was) and they were to respect that. My rule was simple. Pay me back at the time agreed and the facility would stay open. pay me back late and the facility was no longer available. i countersigned each IOU and tore them up myself when the amount was repaid, in front of witnesses.Any amounts more than 10% of weekly wage had to be applied for formally and properly motivated. This would then be loaded as a payroll deduction, possibly over a period of a few weeks or even months.Any "policy" should be more directed at managers rather than staff. The temptation to bend the rules around staff loans is very strong. Have efficient checks and balances in place. Don't allow any ambiguity and make the managers aware of their discretionary limits.I would love to ban the practice from business but the reality is that it is an important motivation tool and a cheap way to measure reliability and respect among staff. "he who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in large things" (I paraphrase)

IT industry temporary employees in Silicon Valley cost client companies 40–60 percent more than the worker keeps. Read on for the rest of the story.An employment agency’s fee for a temporary employee has two components: 1) the cost of employment taxes, insurance (worker’s comp, unemployment, and general liability as absolute minimums), and payroll processing (which usually includes advancing money to the employee, and paying tax authorities, long before the client company pays the agency’s invoice), and 2) profit.Employment taxes are divided into two halves, the employer’s and the employee’s sides. Agencies charge their clients for both. The resulting “payroll burden” is the fixed cost of payrolling a temporary employee, and the lowest I’ve seen a third-party service charge for that is 19 percent.For an agency seeking a profit of 20 percent and using such a third party as its ‘employer of record,’ the client company would be invoiced 39 percent above the employee’s gross (pre-income tax) pay rate. For a desired profit of 30 percent, the agency’s fee would be 49 percent over the employee’s gross pay rate.