# Best way to say I'm Improvising a Half Assed Fix for a problem **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597 "2010-06-26T14:16:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/61 "2010-07-01T16:12:16Z")
Ghetto? Redneck? ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/62 "2010-07-01T17:17:41Z")
Sloppy and unprofessional: jimmied, jerry rigged Made it work with what we had: old indian trick I love shims! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/63 "2010-07-01T18:17:10Z")
“I displayed adaptability”. Always loved that one. Think it comes from the _Cryptonomicon_. Of course, when even that doesn’t work, a bit of percussive maintenance is in order. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/64 "2010-07-01T18:30:34Z")
I’ve always heard jury-rigged, though I’ve certainly heard MacGyvered. I think MacGyvered implies that the fix was done using some really unconventional thinking and materials. Lately I’ve been saying “Frankensteined.” I don’t know if I heard it somewhere or just came up with it. I use it to mean that the thing was put together from bits and pieces of various similar types of things and therefore may not be seamless (ha!) but will work well enough for the time being. For example: Boss: “I just got word that we need to get a new proposal to the client tomorrow!” Me: “I could Frankenstein something together from proposals X, Y, and Z and slap a new cover letter on it.” Boss: “Great. Do it.” ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/65 "2010-07-01T19:13:16Z")
I’ve used this for bikes that are made from components of other bikes - “Frankenbikes”. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/66 "2010-07-02T00:02:54Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Lately I’ve been saying “Frankensteined.” I don’t know if I heard it somewhere or just came up with it. I use it to mean that the thing was put together from bits and pieces of various similar types of things and therefore may not be seamless (ha!) but will work well enough for the time being. For example: > Boss: “I just got word that we need to get a new proposal to the client tomorrow!” > Me: “I could Frankenstein something together from proposals X, Y, and Z and slap a new cover letter on it.” > Boss: “Great. Do it.” That’s the one I was coming to say. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/67 "2010-07-02T00:20:44Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Am I the\* only\* one who uses the term gonzo maintenance? Maybe, if you’re my exboyfriend. He used to say that, and I don’t think I’ve heard it elsewhere. I’ve used “MacGuyver something together” for a fix incorporating random objects. “Duct tape it together” is a family euphemism for any fixed object, after a grandfather who fixed everything with duct tape, bailing wire, and sheep-dip. He was an odd 'un. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/68 "2010-07-02T00:24:15Z")
If it’s really bad it’s “held together with spit and bailing wire.” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/69 "2010-07-02T00:53:20Z")
Macgyver. It just sounds cool. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/70 "2010-07-02T04:02:06Z")
I lived in St. Louis, a little bit in Georgia, and southern California for 30 years, and I had never heard “kludge” until [www.thereifixedit.com](http://www.thereifixedit.com) You say it’s “klooge”? Why? Where does this come from? ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/71 "2010-07-02T04:15:00Z")
I’ve used jury rigged, MacGuyvered, and Field Expedient. Now I like “There, I fixed it” [http://thereifixedit.com/](http://thereifixedit.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Momofzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@Momofzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Momofzz)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/72 "2016-07-13T06:22:23Z")
Wouldn’t the term be niggar rigged? I assumed it was a derivation of the word niggardly, which means to do things cheaply. Thoughts? I don’t like half assed because it implies it may not function well. How about Máçgyvered? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/73 "2016-07-13T07:39:21Z")
Zombie-rigged? ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/74 "2016-07-13T14:20:21Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Am I the\* only\* one who uses the term gonzo maintenance? Not any more. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/75 "2016-07-13T14:57:04Z")
Nice try, **Momo** , but it’s a racist-ass statement, just like “He jewed me out of 50 bucks” or the phrase “ghetto” in relation to just about anything that is tacky or in poor taste. Just don’t. Despite the zombification, an interesting topic. For something done badly or with unsuitable materials, I also used to use ghetto-rigged, but I don’t anymore. I use jury-rigged with people I don’t know, kludge with family and friends. “McGuyvering” something from me is more generally a compliment than referencing a half-ass or shoddy job. It still means the materials were unsuitable, or the methodology peculiar, but that the job is done as well as normal means would accomplish, perhaps even better. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/76 "2016-07-13T18:17:00Z")
Is this where we start arguing if **ghetto** has an inherent ethnic association? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/77 "2016-07-13T18:58:27Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > Is this where we start arguing if **ghetto** has an inherent ethnic association? You mean [Jews](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghetto). ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/78 "2016-07-13T19:01:28Z")
Naw, I mean Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/79 "2016-07-14T01:55:31Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Nice try, **Momo** , but it’s a racist-ass statement, just like “He jewed me out of 50 bucks” or the phrase “ghetto” in relation to just about anything that is tacky or in poor taste. Just don’t. Pah-leez! Neither is racist at all. ‘Jew somebody down’ is slightly impolite at worst, but ghetto is a flat-out negative term. It has no other meaning therefore it is not insulting in the least to use it that way. We had a polite term for nigger-rigged, we called it **Mickey Duck** (Mickey Mouse + Donald Duck). Maybe it was regional, because other people I knew used it all the time too. Rather than shoddily made ‘Mickey Mouse’ meant more that something was childish, simplistic, rinky-dink or unprofessional, as in, “Get me out of this Mickey Mouse outfit!”. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597/80 "2016-07-14T02:24:27Z")
“Jew somebody down” is slightly impolite? Guess you’ve never had someone throw a penny at your feet and tell you to pick it up… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-say-im-improvising-a-half-assed-fix-for-a-problem/544597.md?page=5)