2018's most irritating 'office jargon' phrases

Do these words make you cringe? Photo / Getty Images

If you're guilty of using a bit of jargon in the workplace, such as vowing to give a project "110 per cent" in terms of effort, then you might want to have a rethink.

New research has identified the 10 most irritating pieces of office jargon of the year, that are guaranteed to put your colleagues' teeth on edge.

Some of the most popular buzzwords and phrases are meant to encourage, but the message often gets lost in translation as many simply don't know what phrases like "square the circle" are actually supposed to mean.

Others are just frustrated at hearing the same tired old phrases over and over again.

10 most annoying office phrases

1. Give 110 per cent
To go above and beyond what is expected of you

2. Blue sky thinking
Brainstorming in an open-minded fashion

3. Low hanging fruit
Getting the easiest work out of the way first

4. Synergise:
To work together collaboratively in order to be more effective

5. Outside the box
To think imaginatively, using fresh ideas

6. Square the circle
To achieve something that is considered impossible

7. Ecosystem
A complex, interconnected network

8. Atomise
To break something (eg. a problem) down into smaller units

9. Bleeding edge
A new technology/ technique that comes with a degree of risk

10. A lot of moving parts
A lot of departments/ moving components to manage at any one time

"Give 110 percent" has now been voted the most annoying office jargon of 2018 in a poll of more than 100 IT and business professionals.

The survey, which was conducted at London's IP EXPO tradeshow by Fuze, found that over a quarter of the IT professionals questioned said it was their most frustrating phrase to hear.

"Blue sky thinking" came in next, taking 19 per cent of the vote, with "low hanging fruit" close behind at 17 per cent.

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Commenting on the survey findings, Bradlee Allen, Product Evangelist at Fuze, said: "In businesses across the UK, meaningless and often nonsensical jargon continues to be used.

"The use of clichés and buzzwords contradicts the move to replicate consumer-like experiences in the workplace and alienates both workers and customers."

He continued: "The new generation of workers value direct communications. Phrases like 'Give 110 percent' only cause confusion and create barriers between colleagues."