Everyday Office Jargon · Vice President level

"Dip a toe in the water"

"Dip a toe in the water" means to try something cautiously on a small scale before committing to it fully.

Say this instead: try it cautiously

How "Dip a toe in the water" shows up at work

Said by executives who want to explore something without being accountable for it yet. The phrasing signals interest while carefully preserving the option to walk away if it goes badly.

Buzzword

We thought we'd just dip a toe in the water with a small pilot this quarter.

Plain English

We thought we'd run a small pilot this quarter before committing further.

Corporate Rank: Vice President · Category: Everyday Office Jargon

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