Phrasing in a professional environment

[BeetrootBonanza]

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?

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.

Everyday sexism!

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.

It sounds rude and sexist and racist all at once.

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..."

Oh squishy you had already said what I said!

‘Let’s twang the speedos’

Let's push down the shoulders of the mankini

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"

Crikey. That is so inappropriate.

Ignorant and inappropriate

I also hate "more bang for your buck"

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

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

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.

(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.

Oh wow that's just grim.

No not appropriate at all.

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!

Never heard that before but it's horrible & utterly inappropriate.

holidaylady
I also hate "more bang for your buck"
May i ask why, i thought it was from US (WW2??) military- more fighting power/bombs for same budget.

X posted 🙄

OP - you've got me thinking about Finchy from The Office now....

"Let's pull down its trousers and see what we've got"

Please someone drop this one in a meeting and see what happens and report back. I don't work in an office anymore so can't try it.

I can just imagine the ewwwwws.

I was in a meeting once talking about training new staff in compliance and a senior male said "we just want them to get wet enough". O course, I was too junior and submissive to say anteing. But now - thanks poster above - I'd tear him a new one.

open the kimono

But...men wear kimono. It's really not uncommon, particularly historically.

I'm entirely puzzled. Why use a Japanese item of clothing? Is there more context - Japanese firm/major client? Some dodgy reference to geisha? In which case, barf.

But...men wear kimono. It's really not uncommon, particularly historically

It is still racist.

What about have a keek up its kilt?

My personal favourite, recounted to me by a female colleague after she emerged from a meeting where the rest of the participants were male:

‘Right, it’s time to put our cocks on the table.”

That little gem courtesy of a Partner in one of the Big Four.

A senior manager, in a staff meeting said, "we can't just lie back and let ourselves be raped". I got to explain to him afterwards why it was so inappropriate. He was bewildered as to why anyone would find it offensive.