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Original poster

Phrasing in a professional environment

67 replies

BeetrootBonanza · 14/08/2018 17:59

I was in a meeting at work today, and part way through a discussion a senior man said we need to "open the kimono" to understand what's going on in one of our systems.
I'm not normally one to get offended by things, but this usage has annoyed me when another phrase could have been used instead.
Am I being over sensitive, or is this inappropriate?

OP posts:
Nacreous · 14/08/2018 22:17

Doesn’t bang for your buck refer to a bigger bomb for your money? Still distasteful but not sexist.

Just googled the meaning of tear them a new one. Had not realised the origins of that! Shock

NothingOnTellyAgain · 14/08/2018 22:15

Oh wow that's just grim.

No not appropriate at all.

Stickerladiesoftheworldunite · 14/08/2018 22:11

(NC from Carter in homage to my favourite sticker poster).

Yuk!

DH said he was in a meeting when somebody said: "I'm going to have to tear them a new one..." wtf?

The same charmer also refers to "the girls" when speaking of women in the office.

AssassinatedBeauty · 14/08/2018 22:02

It's certainly an unpleasant phrase, I've not heard it before. All these little things can contribute to a sexist environment, especially if you feel unable to discuss them.

ChattyLion · 14/08/2018 21:57

Btw I’d also be popping along to HR to see if they wanted a chat with him

LanguageAsAFlower · 14/08/2018 21:56

I hate "the nitty gritty"
Not sure if it's an urban myth but someone I respect told me it is etymologically pretty hideous.

holidaylady · 14/08/2018 21:53

Ignorant and inappropriate

I also hate "more bang for your buck"

Noqont · 14/08/2018 21:51

Crikey. That is so inappropriate.

LassWiADelicateAir · 14/08/2018 21:51

It makes him sound like an idiot.

I bet half the people there were thinking "eh, what's he on about?" And the other half were thinking "oh, lord that was vaguely original the first time I heard it but it's so passé now"

ReluctantCamper · 14/08/2018 21:49

Let's push down the shoulders of the mankini

ChattyLion · 14/08/2018 21:47

‘Let’s twang the speedos’

LanguageAsAFlower · 14/08/2018 21:45

Oh squishy you had already said what I said!

LanguageAsAFlower · 14/08/2018 21:43

I think it's hideous. However as a fun game, maybe start using male equivalent phrases:

"Let's unzip the flies of this,"

"Let's pull down the boxers."

"Let's peek behind the codpiece..."

Italiangreyhound · 14/08/2018 19:14

It sounds rude and sexist and racist all at once.

SquishySquirmy · 14/08/2018 19:11

I agree with you that it was inapropriate, but I think its funny too (in a laughing at the man who said it rather than at you, iyswim).

I keep thinking of equivalently dirty management jargon that doesn't exist, eg:
"Let's pull down its trousers and see what we've got"

I find management bullshit both infuriating and hilarious.

thebewilderness · 14/08/2018 18:38

Everyday sexism!

seafret · 14/08/2018 18:33

I say wierd and inappropriate. Investigate is more than sufficient surely?!

He thinks it sounds cool or some shit and read it or heard it somewhere probably, but if he said "lift up its skirt" then that would clearly be wrong, but it is essentially the same thing.

Phrases like this creep in quite casually sometimes I think, and of course women get the whole 'don't be so uptight' or manhating for challenging it so men then expand what is acceptable.

It is shit.

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