R
RACE THE CLOCK (TO). Work feverishly to complete something before a deadline.
“While he races the clock and fears eroding support, [Bush] is expected to ask as many as five House Democrats to join his administration. The lame-duck session of Congress will test whether his bipartisanship is real.” (Wall Street Journal, < xml="true" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" prefix="st1" namespace="">
RACKET. Noise; special business deal that is very profitable and may or may not be legal.
“He will be assisted at trial by James DeVita, a former federal prosecutor who helped win a tax-fraud conviction of hotelier Leona Helmsley, and Austin Campriello. a former chief of rackets in the
RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATION ACT (RICO). A federal law designed to address problems of organized crime in the
RACK-JOBBER. Distributor who monitors and stocks store shelves.
RACK UP (TO). Gain large amounts.
“The reward redemption terms aren't as generous as one normally gets from credit cards. You'd need to rack up 4,000 points for a $10 gift certificate, or 20,000 for a $50 gift certificate.” (Wall Street Journal, Oct. 17, 2004, p. 4)
RADAR SCREEN (APPEAR ON). New information that creates excitement or comment among members of that industry or market.
RAGS TO RICHES. Poor to wealthy.
RAG TRADE. Clothing industry.
RAIDER. Outside investor trying to take over a company.
“Reagan's ‘decade of greed,’ after all, was dominated by corporate raiders and junk-bond financed start-ups that upset the status quo in industry after industry.” (Wall Street Journal,
RAIN CHECK. A postponement. When an unscheduled conflict arises many Americans will apologize saying, “I’ll have to take a rain check.” Businesses also offer rain checks to customers when they have run out of something. The rain check promises to allow the customer to purchase the product at the price advertised.
RAINMAKER. Person who uses his or her influence to benefit a client. The term originally referred to Native American shamans who would attempt to make it rain. rain maker.
“His probation officer asks: ‘What are you doing with your life?’ Mr. Berstein used to be a prominent
RAISE MONEY (TO). Find investors.
RAKE IN/OFF (TO). Bring in large amounts, usually money.
“Tired of playing defense, some industry officials say law firms such as Skadden, Arps rake in big fees for offering favorable legal opinions to justify shelters.” (Wall Street Journal,
RANDOM WALK THEORY. Stock market theory that past share movements are of no use in predicting future changes.
R-AND-R. Rest and recreation (military).
RASPBERRY (THE). Disapproval, usually associated with a flatulent sound.
“By contrast 34% in laid-back
RATCHET. Incentive system where management increases its equity in a company if the firm does well.
RATEBUSTER. Worker who produces more than other workers doing the same task.
RATE CARD. Standard advertising prices for media. In the 1990s, increased competition has forced most media in the
RATING. The television or radio audience, expressed as a percentage of the total population; evaluation of credit risk. The major rating services in the
RAT RACE. Today’s high-pressure business environment.
“Some time in the 1960s Edmund apparently decided to escape the
RATTLE THE CAGES. To make things happen.
REACH. The number of different people who see or hear a commercial.
READ MY LIPS. A promise. President George Bush pledged, “Read my lips, no new taxes,” but he then agreed to a compromise budget plan that raised taxes.
REAGANOMICS. The economic programs of the Reagan administration (1980–88). Reaganomics emphasized lower marginal tax rates, increased defense spending, and placed constraints on social programs. Originally the Reagan program also included promises to balance the budget, but Reaganomics resulted in higher
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT). A company that manages a portfolio of real estate properties. REITs are usually publicly held trusts which, under special investment laws, must distribute 95% of its NET income annually to investors.
“Colonial Properties Trust agreed to acquire Cornerstone Realty Income Trust Inc. for stock valued at about $610 million, the latest deal among apartment real-estate investment trusts.” (Wall Street Journal, Oct. 26, 2004, p. 1)
REALITY CHECK. Comparison of perceptions with available evidence. Suggesting that someone needs a reality check is an unflattering comment that they have a distorted perspective of what is happening.
REALLY! That is amazing!
REAL INTEREST RATE. Nominal interest rate minus the inflation rate. Real interest rates measure the return investors receive after allowing for inflation.
REAL WAGES. Wages adjusted for inflation.
REAL TIME. Live, in the present. Computer-based communications occur in real time.
RECORD PACE. Fastest rate.
RED CARPET/RED CARPET TREATMENT. Plush, fancy; fit for royalty.
“Standard & Poor's soon may roll out the red carpet for real estate investment trusts, after years of excluding them from its indexes.” (Pensions & Investments, Aug. 6, 2001, p. 3)
RED CHIPS. Shares of top-quality Asian companies.
“In early May China-based property developer Top Glory International Holdings became another buyout target, signaling that the takeover frenzy is spreading to the so-called red-chip sector, which includes Chinese companies with
RED-EYE (THE). Overnight flight.
RED FLAG. Warning sign.
"We haven't seen the red flags or the patterns that would give us a heightened level of concern in other areas, but that doesn't mean it isn't there." (Wall Street Journal,
RED HERRING. An act of deception; an advance copy of a prospectus for the issue of new securities.
“That is a red herring, says Ken Broad, a portfolio manager at Transamerica Investment Management, a
RED-LINING. Illegal practice wherein lenders do not make loans in certain geographic areas red-lined on a map.
REDNECK. Low-class person (derogatory).
“The Democrats lost their affinity with the Scots-Irish during the Civil Rights era, when -- because it was the dominant culture in the South -- its ‘redneck’ idiosyncrasies provided an easy target during their shift toward minorities as the foundation of their national electoral strategy.” (Wall Street Journal,
RED TAPE. Bureaucratic delays.
“While
REDUCTION IN FORCE (
RE-ENGINEERING. Reorganizing a company. See also DOWNSIZING.
“Aside from tax measures, Ms. Arroyo asked Congress to pass legislation that would arm her with the power to ‘downsize’ the government and provide a safety net for public-sector workers who may be displaced by the ‘re-engineering’ process.” (Wall Street Journal,
REHAB. Rehabilitation. Someone who has gone to rehab has been-treated for substance abuse.
REINVENT THE WHEEL. To do something that has already been done.
RELATIONSHIP MARKETING. Firm’s attempt to develop long-term links with customers.
RENAISSANCE CONSULTING. Supposedly new ideas.
“Renaissance consulting is the new spin on what was called ‘process consulting’—a continuing cycle of testing and monitoring.” (Wall Street Journal, May 30, 1996, p. A1)
RENEGADE. Maverick, one who refuses to conform to norms.
REP. Representative.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (REPO). Financial market agreement where the seller agrees to repurchase a security at a set price and stated time in the future. Repos are used in money markets for short-term investments and cash management.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP). Government agencies and grant foundations announce RFPs to solicit projects related to the issues and objectives of the group.
RESISTANCE LEVEL. Technical stock market analyst’s term for a price level at which sellers add supply to the market making it hard for the stock to continue to rise.
RESOLUTION TRUST CORPORATION (RTC).
RETIREMENT. Repayment of a debt.
REVENUE-MANAGEMENT. 1990s use of computers to analyze past sales, predict patterns of consumer purchases, and adjust prices accordingly.
“Mr. Ford elevated the executive overseeing the revenue-management process, Lloyd Hansen, to a corporate vice presidency. Ford analysts track sales by model, color and optional features on a regional basis.” (Wall Street Journal,
REVENUE STREAM. Flow of money coming in over time.
“To make up the difference, some investors worry the firm is turning more to its trading operations -- a revenue stream they deem risky.” (Wall Street Journal,
REVERSE ENGINEERING. To take apart a product in order to study and produce a similar one.
REVERSE MORTGAGE. Mortgage allowing an owner to borrower against the equity in their home. Reverse mortgages are increasingly popular among retirees but often include significant initiation fees.
REVOLVING-DOOR SYNDROME. When government officials and regulators quit or retire and then take employment with the companies they regulated.
“Ann Eppard for months has been Exhibit A for what critics call the revolving door between government service and lobbying. She became the transportation industry’s most successful new lobbyist when her old boss, Rep. Bud Shuster, assumed the chairmanship of the committee that oversees such issues last year.” (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 9, 1996, p. A4)
REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT. An agreement providing a commitment to lend funds to a borrower as requested for a set period of time.
RICH. Expensive or over-priced.
RICH MEDIA. Media that feature video or audio formats.
RICHES TO RAGS. Wealthy to poor.
RIDE THE MARKET (TO). Making money with the general growth in the economy.
RIDE SHOTGUN (TO). Oversee; to be ready to take on problems or conflicts (nineteenth-century American West).
“The French are striking again. This time it is the security guards who ride shotgun in armored cars across the nation.” (Wall Street Journal,
RIDING HIGH. Confident; successful.
RIDING ON. At risk; invested in.
RIG (TO). Fix a machine; illegally predetermine an election; illegally manipulate a market; a truck or other piece of large machinery.
RIGHT-BRAIN PERSON. A person with creative skills.
RIGHT-HAND MAN/WOMAN. Trusted assistant; a person who works closely with the manager.
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Part of a business contract giving a company the first chance to produce or distribute a new product. In the publishing industry, a publisher frequently asks for the right of first refusal of an author’s next work.
RIGHT OFF THE BAT. From the beginning (baseball).
RIGHT SIZE. To restructure a company or operation consistent with market demand or potential. Usually, right-sizing involves down-sizing and/or outsourcing.
RIGHTS OFFERING. An offer to sell additional shares of stock to existing stock holders often at a price less than current the current market price.
RIGHT TO WORK. Rule allowing employees to work without being required to join a union. Most Southern states in the
RING A BELL (TO). Stimulate memory; recall.
“Leak, of course, is what it did, and to no one other than CBS's ‘60 Minutes.’ Funny how that rings a bell.” (Wall Street Journal,
RINGER. An expert or professional who pretends to be an amateur. A ringer might be brought in to gain an advantage over the competition.
RING UP (TO). Record a sale; to telephone.
“Major retailers, including Saks Inc.'s
RIPOFF. A swindle, scam.
RIPPLE EFFECT. The series of consequences from an initial action or decision.
RISK-FREE RETURN. The interest rate on the lowest-risk investment, usually a
RISING STAR. Someone who is being promoted quickly within the organization.
“Maybe a rising star in
RISING TIDE THAT LIFTS ALL BOATS. Something that benefits everyone. Originally used by President John F. Kennedy.
R. J. REYNOLDS (RJR). Originally a
ROADBLOCK. An issue or disagreement that hinders accomplishing a goal or change from occurring.
ROADKILL. People or companies that fail to keep up with changing market conditions. They become roadkill.
ROAD MAPS. Guides.
“In May, Mr. Fields told managers and union leaders at Land Rover's
ROAD SHOW. Seminars held by investment underwriters to attract investors to a new issue.
ROAD WARRIOR. A businessperson who travels frequently. Road warriors accumulate thousands of frequent-flyer miles and are often seen using the miles to upgrade seat assignments.
ROBBER BARONS. Powerful companies who manipulate a market; American Industrial Revolution industrialists who monopolized markets.
ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER. Book providing guidelines for managing official meetings.
ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL (TO). Take funds from one account or project for use in another.
ROCKET SCIENTIST. Any staff member with a technical background. Often used in the context of “You do not need to be a rocket scientist in order to figure out…”
ROCK THE BOAT (TO). Cause trouble.
“‘Investors don't want to see him rock the boat,’ said Michael Holton, who manages a fund for T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. that holds Citigroup shares.” (Wall Street Journal,
ROLL BACK (TO). Return prices to a previous lower level after regulatory action by government.
ROLLING STOCK. Wheeled vehicles collectively used on a railroad, including the engines, passenger coaches, freight wagons, etc.
ROLL-OUT. A full advertising campaign; the sale of corporate assets to investors; ceremony introducing a new aircraft.
ROLLOVER. The movement of money from one investment to another. Employees switching jobs will often rollover their retirement funds from one plan to another, avoiding the problem of creating taxable income.
ROLL-UP. Businesses that buy smaller companies, consolidating the industry.
“Industry consolidators, also known as, roll-ups, usually roll along in a bull market, buying up small companies for stock instead of cash.” (Wall Street Journal,
ROLODEX. Brand name for a popular business card index file.
ROOF OVERHEAD. A building or shelter; basic necessities.
ROOT CAUSE. Primary reason.
RO-RO. Roll-on/roll-off maritime shipping.
ROSY SCENARIO/ROSIE SCENARIO. Very optimistic prediction.
“
ROUND FILE. Waste basket.
ROUND
ROUND ROBIN. A discussion including all the people at the table, usually go in a circular pattern with each person speaking.
RUBBER CHECK. A check for which there are not sufficient funds, a bounced check.
RUBBER-STAMP (TO). Approve without review.
“No surprise, the so-called ‘10-day rule’ -- the Big Board allowed brokers to vote if they didn't hear from the owners 10 days before the annual meeting -- has typically functioned as a rubber stamp for management.” (Wall Street Journal, June 10, 2003, p. A10)
RUBE GOLDBERG. Less-than-professional, especially a repair job. Rube Goldberg was an early twentieth-century cartoonist whose works depicted complex machinery with improbable parts. The machines involved enormous effort that resulted in very little.
“Currently laying planks in a platform due out in a month or two, the group says it is looking to throw a wrench into traditional Polish politics, a Rube Goldberg-like machine that looks complicated but functions quite simply.” (Wall Street Journal,
RUG RANKING. Situation where a secretary or assistant’s career path is tied to the fate of the boss.
RULE OF 72. Financial formula for determining how long it will take for an investment to double in value. Dividing 72 by the interest rate will yield the number of years needed for the sum or principal to double.
RULE OF THUMB. Basis for measuring, deciding.
“General rule of thumb: Don't give a guy potpourri.” (Wall Street Journal,
RUN. In banking, a sudden surge in withdrawals. During the Depression, many banks suffered runs and went bankrupt.
RUN A TIGHT SHIP. To be very organized.
RUN BY (TO). Visit; repeat; discuss briefly with an associate or supervisor, usually as a courtesy rather than as a request for their input.
RUN INTERFERENCE FOR (TO). Assist, protect (football).
RUN IT UP THE FLAG POLE AND SEE WHO SALUTES (TO). Introduce a new product or idea and see what happens.
RUN-OF-THE-MILL. Ordinary.
RUN THE SHOW (TO). Be in charge.
RUN UP (TO). Incur.
RUN WITH IT (TO). Implement an idea.
RUST BELT. Manufacturing areas in the