17 Passive Aggressive Email Phrases, Translated

Are you guilty of sending passive aggressive emails to your colleagues? I think we all are a little bit! Find out more in this blog post.

Sometimes you're going to feel stressed at work.

Whether that's for personal reasons, or work-related reasons, it's inevitable.

And due to that, sometimes we "lash out" using a little something called passive aggression.

This way, we still seem professional, but can get a point across.

I'm sure we're all guilty of using these phrases at some time in our careers, but here's what they really mean (or at least come across as):

1. “Per my last email”

Translation: We’ve already discussed this, read your emails properly.

2. “Going forward, I would prefer that you…”

Translation: You messed up. Don’t do it again.

3. “Reattached for your convenience”

Translation: I’m not going to redo work for you. Stop being lazy.

4. “As no doubt you are aware…”

Translation: You know this already, and denying that will now make you look stupid.

5. “Please advise”

Translation: Are you going to get back to me?

6. “Do let me know if I misunderstood…”

Translation: Excuse me, but I’m pretty sure I understood.

7. “Correct me if I’m wrong…”

Translation: I’m not wrong. You said what you said, stop backtracking.

8. “Apologies for my delayed response…”

Translation: I’m snowed under with important stuff, this is not one of those things.

9. “Any updates on this?”

Translation: Can you hurry up?

10. “Thanks in advance”

Translation: You don’t have a choice.

11. “Just checking in…”

Translation: Politer way of saying: “Any updates on this?” (see number 9)

12. “I know you’ve probably had ten of these emails so I’ll get straight to the point…”

Translation: I’m sending the same email to thousands of people, your reply would be appreciated.

13. “Let me clarify/Apologies for being unclear”

Translation: I’m not sorry. A five year old could understand this.

14. “:)”

Translation: You’ve really p*#!?d me off.

15. “Not sure this was meant for me…”

Translation: This isn’t my job – don’t ask me to do it.

16. “Friendly reminder”

Translation: It’s not friendly. You’ve had more than enough time - where’s what I asked for?

17. “Can you think of a way we can avoid this in the future?”

Translation: Your mistake was stupid.

Summary

Feeling a little guilty? Don't! It's fine, we've all done it. And sometimes, it's kind of necessary, isn't it?

Got any examples of your own? We'd love to hear them. Comment in the section below or reach out to us on Twitter (we don't bite!).

If you enjoy bouts of passive aggression, you'll probably love this post we wrote a while ago: 21 Hilariously Sarcastic Office Notes

And feel free to subscribe to this blog – so you can receive a weekly update on our Friday Funnies.

You wouldn't want to miss out, would you?

Coburg Banks IT Recruitment
We help outstanding IT professionals get brilliant jobs in top companies.

Continue reading

View all
Category one
Category two
Category three
Category four
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

The Dangerous Myth of the Rockstar Developer

The "rockstar developer"myth hinders collaboration and team growth. Learn why focusing on balanced, cohesive teams leads to long-term IT success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You Might Be Ignoring the Root Cause of Tech Turnover

Struggling with high IT turnover? Discover hidden reasons developers leave and learn actionable strategies to build a stable, loyal tech team.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Are You Hiring 'Techies' or Problem Solvers?

Are you hiring mere techies or true IT problem solvers? Discover why solving real-world issues is key to driving innovation and success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Freelancers Keep Beating Your In-House Team

Discover why freelancers often outshine in-house teams in productivity and flexibility. Learn how to close the performance gap and unlock your team's potential.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You're Drowning in CVs But Still Can't Find the Right Dev

Receiving too many irrelevant developer CVs can slow your hiring process. Learn why quality, not quantity, is key to finding the right talent.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Your Hiring Process Keeps Breaking Down After First Interview

Tech hiring dropouts can cost you valuable talent and time. Learn how to identify and fix common process leaks to keep top candidates engaged.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Job Titles Matter More Than You Think

The impact of job titles in IT hiring is huge—get it wrong, and you risk losing top talent. Learn how the right title can boost visibility, attract perfect-fit candidates, and enhance your recruitment success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How to Align Your Tech Hiring with Team Needs

Aligning tech hires with your team’s needs ensures stronger collaboration and success. Discover how mismatches can hinder progress and how to avoid them.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

When to Use Technical Tests and When Not To

Learn when to use IT technical testing in recruitment to identify top tech talent. Avoid common pitfalls and enhance your hiring strategy with effective testing practices.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why We Don't Believe in One-Size-Fits-All Shortlists

Generic shortlists risk mismatched hires and missed opportunities in IT. Discover how tailored recruitment ensures the perfect fit for your team.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How We Reduce Candidate Dropouts in the Hiring Process

Are your IT candidates vanishing mid-process, leaving you puzzled? Discover key strategies to prevent candidate dropout and keep your top prospects engaged.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How We Help Tech Companies Avoid Expensive Hiring Mistakes

Hiring mistakes in tech cost your company time and money. Learn how to avoid these pitfalls and secure the best talent.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You'll Never Get 'Spray and Pray' CVs From Us

Tired of drowning in irrelevant CVs? Learn how to eliminate spam in recruitment and focus only on top-tier candidates.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How We Keep You Updated Without Bombarding You

Struggling with tech hiring updates? Discover a communication strategy that keeps you informed without overwhelming you. Learn how tailored updates and proactive alerts can streamline your recruitment process and reduce stress.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How Coburg Banks Makes Your Life Easier When Hiring Developers

Struggling with developer hiring? Discover how to streamline the process and boost your team's productivity while accessing top tech talent.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You'll Never Get 'Spray and Pray' CVs From Us

Tired of drowning in irrelevant CVs? Learn how to eliminate spam in recruitment and focus only on top-tier candidates.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How We Keep You Updated Without Bombarding You

Struggling with tech hiring updates? Discover a communication strategy that keeps you informed without overwhelming you. Learn how tailored updates and proactive alerts can streamline your recruitment process and reduce stress.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How Coburg Banks Makes Your Life Easier When Hiring Developers

Struggling with developer hiring? Discover how to streamline the process and boost your team's productivity while accessing top tech talent.