The Ridiculous Business Jargon Dictionary > C-words > Chop in the water

Chop in the water [exp.]

A group of businessmen row a boat in choppy water.

Disruptions or minor obstacles in the business environment. The nautical term “chop” refers to short, irregular waves that make navigation more difficult. “There’s some chop in the water with our retention numbers, but we’re taking corrective action to steady things out.”

…there’s definitely a bit more chop in the water at the moment, it feels like there’s a measure of uncertainty that has worked its way back into conversations since three months ago.

Philippe Krakowsky, CEO, Director
Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.
Q2 2024 earnings call

…one of the benefits of the diversified business profile is it allows us—when there’s a little bit of chop in the water, we can still navigate it pretty readily.

Jerome Julier, EVP & CFO
Aecon Group Inc.
Q2 2024 earnings call

But similarly if there’s chop in the water for either COVID or macro reasons, we’ve tried to build a probability of those into the figures as well.

Larry Fey, CFO
Vivid Seats Inc.
Q2 2022 earnings call

But I think it would be dangerous to assume that there wasn’t going to be a little bit of chop in the water, and that’s what we’ve assumed.

Eddie Capel, CEO
Manhattan Associates, Inc.
Q3 2023 earnings call

Up next: Coal face