# Terms/phrases you hear all the time, but don't \*really\* know what they mean. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294 "2005-06-07T14:28:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/61 "2005-06-08T16:46:31Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > I’m so lame–or so cool–that I never stopped using it. I use it to mean “really?”. I’m so lame, I never started.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/62 "2005-06-08T17:13:29Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > al fresco. I think it means to dine outside, but in all my years of seeing this word, I refuse to look it up on grounds that I’m stubborn and forgetful. Yep, just means “in the open air.” Usually used by us non-Italians for outdoors dining, but I suppose it could be for outdoors anything. Al fresco office work, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/63 "2005-06-09T00:09:20Z")
" Not to put too fine a point on it but…" I always assumed it meant " Not to belabor the obvious, but…" Am I close? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/64 "2005-06-09T02:44:12Z")
> [@River Hippie](#): > > " Not to put too fine a point on it but…" > > I always assumed it meant " Not to belabor the obvious, but…" > > Am I close? It’s more an apology-in-advance for being about to be a little blunter than is strictly polite. “Not to put too fine a point on it, your report was of no use” ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/65 "2005-06-09T14:20:49Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > It’s more an apology-in-advance for being about to be a little blunter than is strictly polite. > > “Not to put too fine a point on it, your report was of no use” Really? I always thought it meant “I am going to skip some not necessarily insignificant detail to make a specific point.” Your example works with my definition, though. The boss, in “not putting too fine a point on it”, refrains from going into detail on exactly _why_ the report was of no use. But ISTM that this expression gets plenty of use in positive or neutral contexts: “Not to put too fine a point on it, species are mainly distinguished by the ability of individuals to interbreed.” ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/66 "2005-06-09T16:57:29Z")
I suspect that it’s just coporate doublespeak that doesn’t really mean anything, but what is someone who says “We’ve leveraged our core equities” really trying to say? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/67 "2005-06-09T17:08:25Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > I suspect that it’s just coporate doublespeak that doesn’t really mean anything, but what is someone who says “We’ve leveraged our core equities” really trying to say? translation: We’ve made best use of our assets. Or perhaps We’ve made best use of our strengths. Core equities would probably refer to “what the firm does.” For instance, a law firm that specializes in litigation would make leverage its core assets when they litigate, but would make poor use of their core assets when they waste litigation attorney time writing wills or doing contract law. Its awkward as hell, and pretty much doublespeak, but that is what they are getting at. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/68 "2005-06-09T18:15:44Z")
Here’s one that’s always been odd to me: “Like a bat out of hell.” The meaning is obvious, and I can understand why a bat would move swiftly to get out of hell, should it find itself in such an unfortunate predicament. But where does this phrase come from? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/69 "2005-06-09T19:41:45Z")
> [@One And Only Wanderers](#): > > Synergy. > > I’m 50 % sure it’s just one of those words that people drop into a sentence to make themselves sound intelligent, but what I don’t know how to use it properly. I learned it in school years ago. But every time I hear it, I keep thinking it’s some artifical word made up by the likes of the pointy Haired boss from dilbert. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/70 "2005-06-09T19:49:39Z")
> [@auntie em](#): > > Well, if you ask me, the gift horse thing could be stated a lot more clearly, then: “Don’t check the teeth of a horse you’re getting for free” would do the trick (and only involves three extra words)! The standard wording is probably a direct translation of a rhyming German aphorism: _Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul._ [cite](http://german.about.com/library/bltier_pferd.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/71 "2005-06-09T22:03:03Z")
“Zero sum game”. I just can’t wrap my understanding around this. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/72 "2005-06-09T23:06:05Z")
> [@Archergal](#): > > “Zero sum game”. I just can’t wrap my understanding around this. It’s from game theory. Each winner of a game is given a +1 score, each loser -1. Zero sum games (or more generally activities) are those in which for every winner there must be a loser. (i.e. the scores add up to zero). Chess is a zero sum game. Solitaire is not, nor are games in which all the players can independently win or lose (Role-playing games, lotteries, for example). In business, a successful transaction is often considered one in that’s NOT zero-sum, otherwise known as the “win-win scenario.” Note to people taking tests on game theory: This post omits several important points which can cost you your grade. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/73 "2005-06-09T23:07:41Z")
Posting, however, seems to be zero-sum for me. Omit any instances of the word “in” that appear to have been randomly inserted in the previous post. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/74 "2005-06-09T23:40:53Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > It’s from game theory. Each winner of a game is given a +1 score, each loser -1. Zero sum games (or more generally activities) are those in which for every winner there must be a loser. (i.e. the scores add up to zero). Thanks! I’ve had it explained to me before, but for some reason, it just doesn’t stick in my head. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/75 "2005-06-10T00:33:50Z")
What does the term “pantywaist” mean/ My boss used it the other day (not describing me, thank you) and it sounded really icky to me. Also, what’s this “value add” thing? Why are the words in that order and not “add value”? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/76 "2005-06-10T00:43:34Z")
Two that I always forget to ask: MLM and “turn key.” ---
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/77 "2005-06-10T04:43:52Z")
I’ve only heard this once on The West Wing but this seems like the right place to ask. > [@](#): > > “I’m just as big a cotton candy ass as they are,” Bartlet tells Josh about some Congressmen who are warning him about changing language in a speech.“Yes, Sir.” “You just going to let that hang in the air?” “Of course not, sir. You’re a much bigger cotton candy ass than they are.”“Damn right.”[[#414]](http://westwing.bewarne.com/fourth/414inauguration.html) Does anyone know exactly what cotton candy ass means here? I assume they’re both being sarcastic but for some reason I feel like I’m missing something. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/78 "2005-06-10T11:14:42Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > Window Shopping / Window Licking - Though it means browsing a retailer’s wares through a store front, I wish they’d update it. ‘Window-licking’ appears to mean something else in England at least. I have heard people (usually unshamedly non-PC blokes) refer to mentally disabled people as ‘window-lickers’, apparently in reference to those partaking of a charitable day out, and supposedly dribbling up against the coach windows. This can of course be then used as a term of abuse, as ‘spastic’ used to be. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/79 "2005-06-10T11:25:32Z")
Can someone please explain all the ‘Shizzle’ ‘Nizzle’ stuff to me. I’m a stupid old foreigner and I just do not understand it. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/80 "2005-06-10T11:36:17Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > What about the British expression “What are you like?” I imagine this as a term of eye-rolling, arms-folded exasperation, usually spoken by a hot woman with a hot British accent (think of Elizabeth Hurley), but I don’t know exactly what it means. Does anyone actually say that? Yes, it’s used all the time. I guess it means “You’re more useless/inept than anything else I can think of”. > [@Asimovian](#): > > Here’s one that’s always been odd to me: “Like a bat out of hell.” The meaning is obvious, and I can understand why a bat would move swiftly to get out of hell, should it find itself in such an unfortunate predicament. > > But where does this phrase come from? From a time when the English were obsessed with witches, and believed in demons and so on. Bats were a creature considered to be connected to the devil - understandable, when you look at their choice of dark, damp living places, the way they emerge as darkness falls, and their apparently-reckless flight. So ‘bat out of hell’ isn’t a bat _leaving_ hell, but an earthly manifestation of the devil. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294.md?page=5)