Essential English Phrases and Vocabulary for Work and Time Management
Time Expressions
On Time: At a time, keep to a schedule, on time, prompt, rush hour
Last Minute: At short notice (última hora)
Due: Be due (llegar/tener que entregarse)
Free Time: Downtime (tiempo libre, descanso)
Last Long: Drag on (eternizarse)
Step by Step: In stages (paso a paso)
Postpone: Put off (aplazar, posponer)
Punctually: (O’clock) sharp (en punto), (get/be) sidetracked (distraerse)
Planning: Timing (planificar)
Adrenaline: Adrenaline rush (subidón de adrenalina)
Other Time Idioms: Break the habit, just right, run late, take into account, despair (perder la esperanza), drive someone mad (sacar de las casillas a alguien), fed up (harto), slip out (meter la pata), willpower (fuerza de voluntad), for the time being (de momento), have the time of one’s life (pasárselo mejor que nunca), in the nick of time (justo a tiempo), take one’s time (tomarse su tiempo), time and time again (una y otra vez), time is up (se ha acabado el tiempo), time on one’s hand (todo el tiempo del mundo)
Phrasal Verbs
Cause: Bring about (provocar)
Cancel: Call off (suspender)
Catch Up: Catch up (with) (ponerse al día, alcanzar a), come up (surgir)
Lag Behind: Fall behind (retrasarse), fit in (hacer hueco)
Return: Get back (volver, registrar), go by (pasar), go off (sonar)
Succeed: Pull off (lograr)
Stand Up: Stand up (dejar plantado), wait up (esperar despierto)
Work and Employment
General Terms
Boom (auge), degree, field, in high demand, multitasking, on the job
Freelancer: Freelancer (autónomo), self-employed
Employ: Hire (contratar)
Internship: Internship (periodo de prácticas)
Soft Skills: Interpersonal skills (habilidades interpersonales)
Overtime: Over time (horas extra), position range (variedad)
Satisfying: Rewarding (gratificante)
Promotion: Room for advancement (posibilidad de ascenso)
Work Schedule: Shift (turno), staff
Innovate: Think outside the box (pensar diferente)
Specific Vocabulary
Stand: Booth (estand)
Boring: Dull (aburrido)
Participate: Engage in (participar en)
Resign: Quit (renunciar), recruit (contratar)
Vet: Screen (investigar antecedentes)
Observer: Witness (testigo)
Decision Making: Decision-making (toma de decisiones)
Beginner: Entry-level (nivel básico)
Excellent: First-rate (1ª categoría)
Simple: Straightforward (sencillo)
Reliable: Trustworthy (fiable)
Common: Widespread (extendido)
Phrasal Verbs with Prepositions
Aspire: Aim for (aspirar a), cater to (atender), charge for (cobrar por)
Other Verbs: Congratulate to, cope with, discourage from (disuadir a alguien de), object to (oponerse a), praise for (alabar), present with (entregar a), react to, remind of, result in, specialise in, substitute for (sustituir a)