By Civil Service World

07 Jul 2017

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


By spending a derisory amount of money, we will somehow magically persuade an industry to put in 10 times as much. This never happens


On the back burner

You just came up with a ridiculously complex policy idea but nobody has the heart to dismiss it outright. So it’s going on the back burner


We will take forward

Give the impression of making progress without committing to any measurable goals


Thinking out of the box

What ministers want you to do right up until the point you propose spending any actual money


Blind copy

None of the official recipients know that you have a copy of this note, therefore you cannot possibly contribute.  But do bear in mind I’ll blame you when it all goes wrong

 

To submit your own examples of Whitehallese, email editorial@civilserviceworld.com. Visit civilservant.org.uk 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)
Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 17)
Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 18)

Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 19)
Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 20)​
Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 21)​
Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Sir Martin Donnelly special edition)
Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (snap election special edition)
Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 22)​
Terminological inexactitudes: handy translations of Whitehall jargon (Vol. 23)

Read the most recent articles written by Civil Service World - Latest civil service & public affairs moves – October 14

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