B1TV Show
The Office
2005–2013 · NBC
12 key words from The Office — learn them before you watch for a much richer experience.
Word
Meaning
Example
promotionn
a move to a higher position at work
Jim is hoping for a promotion to manager.
deadpanadj
expressing humour with no emotion or facial expression
Jim's deadpan stare at the camera is iconic.
performance reviewn
a formal evaluation of an employee's work
Michael dreads doing performance reviews.
redundancyn
losing your job because the role is no longer needed
The staff fear being made redundant.
cringev/n
to feel embarrassed by something
Michael's speeches make everyone in the office cringe.
colleaguen
a person you work with
Jim and Dwight are reluctant colleagues.
corporateadj
relating to a large company or organisation
Corporate wants to shut down the Scranton branch.
underminev
to secretly weaken someone's authority
Dwight is always trying to undermine Jim.
resignationn
the act of officially quitting your job
Dwight writes his resignation letter in a dramatic moment.
incentiven
something that encourages you to do something
Michael creates strange incentives for the sales team.
moralen
the confidence and happiness of a group
Michael thinks his parties improve office morale.
micromanagev
to control every small detail of someone's work
Michael doesn't micromanage — he just has no idea what he's doing.
12 words · B1 · TV Show
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Study tip
The mockumentary style means characters speak directly to the camera. Great for listening to natural, spontaneous English.
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