open the kimono

Definition

To reveal confidential information or be transparent about internal operations—a phrase that has aged spectacularly poorly and should probably be retired.

Example Usage

The vendor wants us to open the kimono on our cost structure, which seems invasive in multiple ways.

Origin

American business slang from the 1980s, considered culturally insensitive today

Fun Fact

This phrase is rapidly disappearing from corporate vocabulary as people realize it's both offensive and creepy.

Source: Outdated business negotiation terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

market penetration

The extent to which a product or service is sold relative to the total potential market. A metric measuring how deeply you've infiltrated your target demographic, phrased in vaguely aggressive terms.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

agent

Someone who acts on behalf of another person or entity, wielding their principal's authority like a borrowed credit card. In business, this is your talent scout, real estate broker, or literary representative. The term spans everything from insurance agents to secret agents, though only one of those gets the cool gadgets.

💼 Corporate / Business

Intermediate

requisitions

The formal paperwork that stands between you and that stapler you desperately need, transforming a simple request into a bureaucratic odyssey. These official demands for supplies or resources require approximately seventeen signatures and the blessing of three managers who are perpetually "in meetings." It's procurement's way of reminding you that nothing in corporate life is ever simple.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

reach out

To contact someone, reimagined as a caring gesture rather than just sending an email. The corporate phrase that makes spam sound like emotional support.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

incentivise

The corporate art of dangling carrots to make people do things they wouldn't ordinarily do, typically through bonuses, perks, or the promise of not being fired. It's management's favorite verb when they need results but don't want to address systemic issues. Because nothing says 'we value you' like a gift card to incentivise better performance.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

cascade

The process of distributing information, decisions, or directives down through organizational hierarchy levels, typically ensuring that everyone hears the message third-hand and slightly distorted, like corporate telephone.

💼 Corporate / Business

Translate This Term

See “open the kimono” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Beginner

Spud

A particularly inneffective person, thing or action. Usually in the sporting arena but can be used for a variety of prof...