Engineering Lexicon
Engineering Lexicon
2
MadMango (Mechanical)
(OP)
I think we can all agree that we have probably used at least one of these phrases in our careers, but others tend to read into what we say. I hope these translations are helpful (They are perfectly acceptable phrases in my book).
Engineer: A number of different approaches are being tried.
Translation: We are still grasping at straws.
Engineer: We’re working on a fresh approach to the problem.
Translation: We just hired three kids fresh out of college.
Engineer: We’ve maintained close project coordination.
Translation: We know whom to blame.
Engineer: It’s a major technological breakthrough.
Translation: Well, it works okay, but it looks very hi-tech.
Engineer: Customer satisfaction is assured upon delivery.
Translation: We are so far behind schedule, the customer will be happy to just get it.
Engineer: Preliminary operational test were inconclusive.
Translation: The damn thing blew up when applied power to it.
Engineer: The test results were extremely gratifying.
Translation: We surprised ourselves, the thing actually worked.
Engineer: The entire concept will have to be abandoned.
Translation: The only person who understood the thing quit.
Engineer: That action item is in process.
Translation: It’s so wrapped up in red tape it’s hopeless.
Engineer: Please review and initial.
Translation: Thanks for sharing the responsibility of any mistakes.
Engineer: Please, give us the benefits of your thoughts.
Translation: We’ll hear you out, but won’t implement anything you suggest if it interferes with something we have already done.
Engineer: Give us your interpretation.
Translation: I can’t wait to hear you make a fool of yourself.
Engineer: Can I see you in my office for a moment?
Translation: I want to brag about the 84 I shot during the weekend.
Engineer: This is a new design, it’s cutting edge.
Translation: The thing isn’t interchangeable with any of out previous designs.
Engineer: This thing is robust.
Translation: It thing is too heavy to lift alone.
Engineer: It’s very lightweight.
Translation: You can move it, as long as you don’t mind getting a hernia.
Engineer: After years of development we’re ready.
Translation: After too many years, we finally got one to work.
Engineer: It’s very low maintenance.
Translation: It’s impossible to fix.
Engineer: A number of different approaches are being tried.
Translation: We are still grasping at straws.
Engineer: We’re working on a fresh approach to the problem.
Translation: We just hired three kids fresh out of college.
Engineer: We’ve maintained close project coordination.
Translation: We know whom to blame.
Engineer: It’s a major technological breakthrough.
Translation: Well, it works okay, but it looks very hi-tech.
Engineer: Customer satisfaction is assured upon delivery.
Translation: We are so far behind schedule, the customer will be happy to just get it.
Engineer: Preliminary operational test were inconclusive.
Translation: The damn thing blew up when applied power to it.
Engineer: The test results were extremely gratifying.
Translation: We surprised ourselves, the thing actually worked.
Engineer: The entire concept will have to be abandoned.
Translation: The only person who understood the thing quit.
Engineer: That action item is in process.
Translation: It’s so wrapped up in red tape it’s hopeless.
Engineer: Please review and initial.
Translation: Thanks for sharing the responsibility of any mistakes.
Engineer: Please, give us the benefits of your thoughts.
Translation: We’ll hear you out, but won’t implement anything you suggest if it interferes with something we have already done.
Engineer: Give us your interpretation.
Translation: I can’t wait to hear you make a fool of yourself.
Engineer: Can I see you in my office for a moment?
Translation: I want to brag about the 84 I shot during the weekend.
Engineer: This is a new design, it’s cutting edge.
Translation: The thing isn’t interchangeable with any of out previous designs.
Engineer: This thing is robust.
Translation: It thing is too heavy to lift alone.
Engineer: It’s very lightweight.
Translation: You can move it, as long as you don’t mind getting a hernia.
Engineer: After years of development we’re ready.
Translation: After too many years, we finally got one to work.
Engineer: It’s very low maintenance.
Translation: It’s impossible to fix.
Ray Reynolds
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
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RE: Engineering Lexicon
(who cares if it doesn't work, that's what service engineers are for, let's just try and get some of our investment back before we all retire)
RE: Engineering Lexicon
A superb and entertaining post.
(I intended to add a smiley, but it wouldn't work.)
Buy a dictionary, keep it nearby and USE it. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English is recommended, and Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.