"You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least 1979, when it was called "Camille's…
"If it wasn't/weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, mugs and T-shirts. "If it…
A motion to adjourn is almost always in order, with an exception being when a vote is in progress. The motion is not debatable and is not subject to amendment. "The motion to adjourn is always…
The question "How many people work here?" (meaning "how many employees are there") and the jocular answer "About half" (meaning "half of the employees work and…
"I'd rather be led to hell than managed to heaven" is a quotation of unknown authorship about the perils of over-managing employees. The quotation first appeared in Linux chat groups…
"Committees have become so important that a subcommittee has to be appointed to do the work" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least April 1964, when it was…
"Rush hour" was named because people rush out of their homes to their workplaces in the morning, or out of their workplaces to their homes in the late afternoon. Traffic is usually at its…
"He who is content with his lot probably has a lot" is a pun on "his lot" (meaning "his allotted or apportioned share") and "a lot" (meaning…
Dr. Laurence J. Peter, along with co-author Raymond Hull (1919-1985), wrote The Peter Principle (1969), stating "in a hierarchy every employee tend to rise to his level of incompetence."…
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was founded in 1908 and conducts federal criminal and intelligence investigations. The unflattering FBI nickname of "Fumbling, Bumbling Idiots"…
A business is said to be "on the map" when it becomes known to many and/or influential clients. "If you want to put yourself on the map, publish your own map" is a jocular…
A budget often comes with conditions or exceptions. "'Exceptions prove the rule' -- and wreck the family budget" was written by newspaper columnist Olin Miller in May 1963.…
"There is scarcely anything in this world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the buyers who consider price only are this man's lawful prey" is a…
"Nothing succeeds like success" and "fortune favors the fortunate" are proverbs that mean that one success (or fortune) will lead to another. The proverb was popular in 19th…
"Nothing succeeds like success" is a French proverb from the 19th century. "Nothing recedes like success" -- that is, nothing goes away faster than success -- is a jocular…
A "saleathon" or "sale-a-thon" (sale + marathon) is an event that retailers often hold featuring discounted products. "Saleathon" has been cited in print since at…
A "sellathon" or "sell-a-thon" (sell + marathon) is an event that retailers often hold featuring discounted products. "Sellathon" has been cited in print since at…
A "tag sale" is a retail sale where the sale items bear a colored tag. "Red tag sale" has been cited in print since at least 1888, "blue tag sale" since at least 1890…
A "saleabration" or "sale-a-bration" (sale + celebration) is an event that retailers often hold featuring discounted products. "SALEabration" has been cited in print…
A "sellabration" or "sell-a-bration" (sell + celebration) is an event that retailers often hold featuring discounted products. "Sell-abration" has been cited in print…