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10 Idioms for Describing People

10 min
B1

Describing colleagues without being boring

French speakers describe people with adjectives: il est compétent, elle est sympathique, il est difficile. English uses idioms to add colour and nuance. These are the ones you'll hear — and can use — at work.

Positive

"She's a go-getter." — Elle est fonceur / très ambitieuse.
Someone who pursues goals aggressively and gets things done. Always positive.
"He's a people person." — Il est sociable / à l'aise avec les gens.
Someone who's naturally good with people. Great for HR, sales, management roles.
"She's sharp." — Elle est vive / futée.
Quick-thinking, intelligent, perceptive. "Sharp" is a strong compliment in business.
"He's a safe pair of hands." — On peut compter sur lui / C'est quelqu'un de fiable.
Reliable, won't mess things up. You trust them with important tasks. Very British.
"She goes above and beyond." — Elle en fait toujours plus que ce qu'on lui demande.
Does more than expected. The highest compliment in performance reviews.

Negative (but professional)

"He's a bit of a loose cannon." — Il est imprévisible / incontrôlable.
Unpredictable, says or does risky things. Dangerous in client-facing roles.
"She's a bit set in her ways." — Elle est un peu rigide / résistante au changement.
Resistant to change. Polite way to say "stubborn." The "a bit" softens it.
"He's out of his depth." — Il est dépassé / Ce n'est pas son niveau.
In a role or situation too difficult for them. Not cruel — factual.
"She cuts corners." — Elle bâcle le travail.
Takes shortcuts, sacrifices quality. A serious professional criticism.
"He's all talk." — Il est tout en paroles / Il ne fait que parler.
Promises a lot, delivers nothing. Devastating in a work context.

Using them safely

Positive idioms: use freely about anyone, including to their face. Negative idioms: use only with close colleagues, never in writing, and add "a bit" to soften: "He's a bit of a loose cannon" is gossip. "He's a loose cannon" is a formal complaint.

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