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When talking about a new assignment at work, the scrum master always says

You should tackle ticket [ticketNumber] next.

Is tackle the right choice? Can I use attack instead?

Thank you.

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2 Answers 2

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Both of those are vernacular, metaphorical terms used in that situation. You can say attack if you want. However, beware the possibility that there's some sort of organisational culture that expects certain words to be used.

By the by, the rest of the word order isn't quite natural. A ticket number specifies the ticket specifically, so you don't need the definite article. Remove the and you have a valid sentence, but it's not natural. The natural word order would be:

You should tackle ticket [ticketnumber] next.

Or:

Next you should tackle ticket [ticketnumber].

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  • is it correct to use next between tackle and the ticket? or should it be You should tackle the ticket next or You should tackle the next ticket?
    – Andrew Tobilko
    Mar 12, 2019 at 15:26
  • I don't get the "metaphorical" aspect of using "tackle" in this context.
    – RubioRic
    Mar 12, 2019 at 15:33
  • @RubioRic: "tackle" can refer to a physical object - as in fishing tackle or block and tackle - or for a physical action. The physical action is related to sport, where you attempt to take the ball from someone (as in association football, rugby football or American football), or sometimes just to knock them to the ground (which is also what you do in rugby football and American football). The use in this context is a metaphor for the sporting use of tackle.
    – SamBC
    Mar 12, 2019 at 15:47
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    @AndrewTobilko: the ticket number changes it, though what's in the question is still not quite right. I'll edit to clarify that bit as well, even though it's not what's being asked about...
    – SamBC
    Mar 12, 2019 at 15:49
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    @AndrewTobilko: more a British alternative than a fancier one, I think. We certainly use both.
    – SamBC
    Mar 12, 2019 at 16:05
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Tackling a ticket means dealing with that ticket.

Attacking a problem/task/ticket/assignment means tackling them quickly and in an effective way.

I suppose attack is more informal (and more aggressive) than tackle.

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