It’s the business of business jargon. Say you’re in line at the drugstore. Does it bother you if the cashier says, “Next guest”? In department stores and coffeeshops, does the term “guest” suggest real hospitality—or just an annoying edict from...
econolypse n.—Gloss: The current economic crisis. Note: “Economy” + “apocalypse.” «The question now is whether the company can manage itself successfully past what the wags now commonly refer to as the “econolypse.”» —“IBM on 2009: Yes we can” by...
wearaway n.— «There has been a constant battle over freezing some older workers pension benefits since IBM ran afoul of its senior workers in 1999. That fight may be over as the U.S. Treasury has now issued a ruling that determined that no foul is...
throw n.— «The keyboard of the System 200 is not so bad that you can’t get used to it; it just doesn’t have that positive, long-throw touch of the IBM boards.» —“Dell offers a good value for the dollar” by Jack Warner Atlanta Journal...
winshield time n.— «Salespeople call it “face time.” In Missouri, they rue “windshield time”—the hours spent driving to get to customers.» —“Tough Choices: Cutting Output, IBM Tells Some Workers: Move, Retire or Quit” by Dennis Kneale in...
Wisconsin chrome n.— «He won’t be able to use the blue air baffle, but maybe he can cobble one up out of pasteboard and Wisconsin Chrome (duct tape).» —“Re: Don’t go dissin’ my 90s!” by Tony Ingenoso Usenet: comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware Mar. 30, 2000...