| Background |
About 15 years ago I was sitting in a office belonging
to a Boeing Manufacturing Superintendent. As a young Industrial Engineer
providing support to the "Super" I was intensely interested in the phone
conversation he was having with his boss concerning a tricky shop dilemma.
I had provided an analysis and recommendation for improvement. He passionatly
plead our case that everything was under control and would turn out fine.
At the conclusion of his phone presentation he said "Boss, I'm telling
ya, we're really going to come out smelling like a bandit on this one."
After he hung up, I asked him, "Vern, have you ever smelled a bandit?" He had mixed the metaphor -"We will come out smelling like a rose." with "We will make out like a bandit!" creating a splendid mixed metaphor that probably didn't really convey the thought he meant to convey! And thusly my life was changed. I could no longer listen to an exchange here at Boeing without keeping my ear tuned for the elusive "Boeing Mixed Metaphor". Here is some of my collection. Not all of them were overheard at Boeing. See if you can guess which ones were! I hope you enjoy the following: |
| Getting the Job Done |
"We are really going to come out smelling like a
bandit on this one."
"Let's put that on the back barnburner." "We have been banging our heads up against a dead horse!" "Let's plant a seed and start the wheels in motion." (The new hire) ..."He is still a little green behind the ears." "I think we have bridged that hurdle." "Right now I'm just talking from the hip" "Clearly, we have opened up Pandora's box of worms.""This isn't rocket surgery." "Don't get caught in the cookie jar with your pants down." |
| Personal Problems |
"He snores like a log."
"That really grinds my goat." "OK, that's just spilt milk under the bridge." "Boy, the boss was madder than a wet hornet." "We have lost a lot of sleepless nights over this." "I think he has really backstabbed himself in the foot this time." "They pulled the rug out from over our eyes!" "You know he is burning both candles at the end." "You've buttered your bread, now lie in it." "It was so cold last night I had to throw another blanket on the
fire." |
| Committment |
"The ball of wax is in your court"
"You've got to stick your neck out on a limb!" "You guys have got to pick up the ball and roll with it!" "I am internally grateful." "It was as easy as falling off a piece of cake." |
| If you
have one to add, email me: rodmael@hotmail.com |