| What they said | What they meant |
|---|---|
| "You're directionally correct" | You're essentially wrong |
| "That was a good start" | Now start over |
| "I don't disagree" | I disagree, wrapped in a thick, obfuscating blanket of double negativity |
| "I agree with everything you just said" | Except for your most important point, and I will indicate my disagreement through what I say next |
| "Could you repeat that" | I wasn't listening |
| "Could you rephrase the question" | I've been surreptitiously checking social media for the last 20 minutes |
| "That's a fair point" | Now let me make a fairer one |
| "Let's explore the logic on that" | You're wrong, and I’ll need to see ten pages that tell me why I am wrong before I change my mind |
| "Sorry for interrupting" | I wish I had cut you off sooner |
| "That was interesting" | That was a dumb idea, and I am changing the subject |
| "This will be quick" | I have nothing to say, because I'm not prepared |
| "It would be great if you could..." | Do what I'm about to tell you or else |
I’m a management consultant and writer serving organizations both large (Fortune 500) and small (nonprofit) on a range of strategic issues
Business talk decoded
Posted on December 7, 2016
bite of the apple
Posted on November 29, 2016
a discrete chance or opportunity to achieve something, as in “we better polish our sales pitch for tomorrow Phil, I don’t think we’re going to have another bite of the apple”; more than one of these for a given individual is often worth remarking on; similar to the term at-bats,1 a bit of jargon preferred in more sports-oriented environments, and used when the referenced opportunities are somewhat more numerous
- This term may require some familiarity with the sport of baseball to fully appreciate, as the other bat-and-ball game with some global reach, cricket, generally has limited at-bats in a game for a given player, although they can be far longer in duration. ↩
goat rodeo
Posted on November 23, 2016
a folksy and somewhat ridiculous term referring to a chaotic mess, used to put a jocular sheen on what may actually be a rather serious situation; getting one under control may necessitate herding cats, a tangentially-related bit of jargon in that both compare present circumstances to the chaotic and uncontrollable behavior of multiple small and generally feisty animals
British versions of American movies
Crossing the pond
Posted on August 2, 2016
In today’s global media environment Hollywood films are distributed in many non English-speaking markets. This requires a nuanced translation of the original title to accurately convey the essence of a film. Less well-known is that fact is that American movies also need translation in order to be suitable for the British audience. Herewith, a listing of some popular American films and their titles when shown in Britain:
| Original American movie title | British version |
|---|---|
| The Fast and the Furious | The Alacritous and the Apoplectic |
| Two Weeks' Notice | A Fortnight's Notice |
| Transformers | Transfourmers |
| Air Force One | Specially-Chartered British Airways Flight |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding | My Corpulent Aegean Nuptials |
| The Empire Strikes Back | Final Fantasy |
| All the President's Men | All the Prime Minister's Blokes |
| Jurassic Park | Jurassic Gardens |
| Independence Day | Rebellion Day |
Answering singers’ questions
Taking it literally
Posted on May 17, 2016
War. What is it good for? – Edwin Starr
Dear Mr. Starr,
War is often a mechanism for settling territorial disputes, and sometimes a channel for imperial ambitions. Adherents of just war theory have also identified several instances where a war may lead to beneficial outcomes that outweigh its costs, for instance to counter the further expansion of a dictatorial power or to restore rights that have been taken from a population.
How do I live without you? – LeAnn Rimes
Dear Ms. Rimes,
Aside from the neonate, a person is fully capable of maintaining homeostasis independently of another human being. The basic processes necessary to sustain life can be carried out effectively by any healthy adult with normal biological functioning. Adequate intakes of oxygen, food, and water in a suitable environment can ensure the continuation of life. Read more…
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