The Top 20 Engineers' Terminologies
(in Term followed by Translation format)
- A number of different approaches are being tried.
We are still pissing in the wind.
- Extensive report is being prepared on a a fresh approach to
the problem. We just hired three kids fresh out of college.
- Close project coordination. We know who to blame.
- Major Technological Breakthrough. It works OK, but
looks very hi-tech.
- Customer satisfaction is delivered assured.
We are so far behind schedule the customer is happy to get it delivered.
- Preliminary operational tests were inconclusive.
The darn thing blew up when we threw the switch.
- Test results were extremely gratifying.
We are so surprised that the stupid thing works.
- The entire concept will have to be abandoned.
The only person who understood the thing quit.
- It is in the process
It is so wrapped up in red tape that the situation is about hopeless.
- We will look into it.
Forget it! We have enough problems for now.
- Please note and initial.
Let's spread the responsibility for the screw up.
- Give us the benefit of your thinking.
We'll listen to what you have to say as long as it doesn't interfere with what we've already done.
- Give us your interpretation.
I can't wait to hear this bull!
- See me or Let's discuss.
Come into my office, I'm lonely.
- All New!
Parts not interchangeable with the previous design.
- Rugged: Too damn heavy to lift!
- Lightweight: Lighter than RUGGED.
- Years of development. One finally worked.
- Energy saving. Achieved when the power switch is off.
- Low maintenance. Impossible to fix if broken.
HTML'ized by
John Hancock, The Robotics Institute,
Carnegie Mellon University
jhancock@ri.cmu.edu
Last modified: Tue Feb 13 11:55:52 1996