top 25 engineer's terms and expressions

what we say. vs (what we mean)

1. A number of different approaches are being tried. (We are still guessing at this point.)

2. Close project coordination. (We sat down and had coffee together.)

3. An extensive report is being prepared on a fresh approach. (We just hired the punk kids out of school)

4. Major technological breakthrough! (It work OK, but looks very high tech!)

5. Customer satisfaction is being assured. (We are so far behind schedule, that the customer will take anything.)

6. Preliminary operational tests were inconclusive. (The darn thing blew up when we flipped the switch.)

7. Test results were extremely gratifying! (Unbelievable, it actually worked!)

8. The entire concept will have to be abandoned. (The only guy who understood the thing quit.)

9. It is in process. (It is so wrapped up in red tape that the situation is completely hopeless.)

10. We will look into it. (Forget it! We have enough problems already.)

11. Please note and initial. (Let's spread the responsibility for this.)

12. 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 have done or what we are going to do.)

13. Give us your interpretation. (We can't wait to hear your bull.)

14. See me or let's discuss. (Come to my office, I've screwed up again.)

15. All new. (Parts are not interchangeable with previous design.)

16. Rugged. (Don't plan to lift it without major equipment.)

17. Robust. (Rugged, but more so.)

18. Light weight. (Slightly lighter that rugged.)

19. Years of development. (One finally worked.)

20. Energy saving. (Achieved when the power is switched off.)

21. No maintenance. (Impossible to fix.)

22. Low maintenance. (Nearly impossible to fix.)

23. Fax me the data. (I'm too lazy to write it down.)

24. We are following the standard! (That the way we have always done it!)

25. I didn't get youe e-mail. (I haven't checked my e-mail for days.)

contributed by an nonymous military engineer

 

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