“It's not up to me; I'm way too far down on the totem pole.”

At work, a member of another department suggests a change. You think it's a good suggestion, but you can't agree to it because you don't have the power to make that change. One of your bosses will need to agree to it. You say:

It's not up to me; I'm way too far down on the totem pole.

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“Unfortunately, the people who seem to get ahead are the ones who know how to kiss ass the best.”

You're upset because you work hard at your job but don't get much money or respect. The people who get promoted at your company are all very friendly to the boss. You're complaining to a friend:

Unfortunately, the people who seem to get ahead are the ones who know how to kiss ass the best.

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“It doesn't hurt to ask.”

You're talking with your husband about his job. You think that he should ask his boss for a raise. He doesn't think his boss will give him a raise, so he's hesitant. To persuade him, you say:

It doesn't hurt to ask.

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“She was yelling at us and barking out orders.”

Earlier today, the Vice President of your division at work seemed to be really angry about something. Now you're telling a coworker about it. You say:

She was yelling at us and barking out orders.

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“Valerie's really on a rampage today, huh?”

The Vice President of your division at work seems to be really angry about something. She's barking out orders, slamming doors, and yelling at employees. You're talking quietly with another employee who's seen this behavior. You say:

Valerie's really on a rampage today, huh?

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“Seriously?”

You have been working on a project for a few months at work, and it's almost finished. Your coworker just told you that a high-level director in the company wants to change part of the project, which means that you will have to re-do several weeks of work. You're annoyed and you can't believe this is happening. You say:

Seriously?

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“I finally had to just cut him off.”

Your boss likes to talk a lot. You wanted to leave work earlier today but he started to tell you a long story. It was so long that you couldn't listen to all of it, so you interrupted him. Now you're at home and telling your girlfriend about this. You say:

I finally had to just cut him off.

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“He went on for like twenty minutes about how his neighbor is putting in a swimming pool.”

Your boss likes to talk a lot. Today you wanted to leave and go home, but your boss came to chat with you about things that weren't related to work. Now you're telling your girlfriend about this. You say:

He went on for like twenty minutes about how his neighbor is putting in a swimming pool.

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“He could at least say "hi" or something.”

You're having after-work drinks with coworkers and complaining about the director of your department. You've complained that he doesn't acknowledge that you're there when you see him outside of the office. Now you're continuing to talk about it, and how you think he should act. You say:

He could at least say "hi" or something.

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“I have to put together a presentation for Upper Management.”

You have to give a presentation to several executives at your company. You need some help with creating a nice-looking presentation. You are asking a coworker who's good with design to help you. You start by explaining the situation:

I have to put together a presentation for Upper Management.

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