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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 @CSWNews. Visit 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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