Getting "a little man" in

[Dog Star]

Every now and again (eg. this morning on FB) I come across people using this awful expression in relation to getting domestic jobs or car repairs done, usually done in a sort of "it's beneath me" type of style - "oh I can't be bothered painting the wall, I just get a little man in".

I've obviously no issue with people getting tradesmen or professionals in to do a job, but I'm pretty sure that if I was, for example, a plumber and I heard some helmet I was doing work for calling me "a little man" then I'd me sticking their toothbrush up my arse before I left the premises - and possibly bumping the price up a bit too.

Anyone else think it's a bit insulting? Or have I now entered the ranks of the "professionally offended on someone elses behalf"?

[5potTurbo]

"Little?"

Well, around here they're mostly Portuguese, and they're not very tall.


I thought the saying was "getting a man in", not "little man"?

[PositronicRay]

I've never heard the expression. A bit demeaning though.

[iphonedyou]

Never heard of that - any examples of it in use? Google has nothing.

Heard of getting a man in. Which makes sense, because you are.

ETA: that's three of us, now - are you sure you haven't misheard?

[EnglishTony]

Getting a little man in sounds like code for a shag.

[coopedup]

EnglishTony said:

Getting a little man in sounds like code for a shag.

Thought the same thing (Not in a gay way)

[Vocal Minority]

I'd agree in principle.

Can't say I have ever seen anyone refer to a trade as that before though...

[condor]

I've only heard the term 'getting a man in' - which I take to be shortened from tradesman.

[g3org3y]

PositronicRay said:

I've never heard the expression.

Me neither. Certainly heard the phrase 'getting a man in' for a handyman, but never the 'little'.

My first thoughts on reading the OP title:

[Flip Martian]

I've only heard it used in an ironic jokey way, not in a genuinely demeaning fashion. Agreed though, it could come across as insulting. A lot of us rely on good tradespeople.

[stuartmmcfc]

Worst "coming out" thread ever.

[DonkeyApple]

Dog Star said:

Every now and again (eg. this morning on FB) I come across people using this awful expression in relation to getting domestic jobs or car repairs done, usually done in a sort of "it's beneath me" type of style - "oh I can't be bothered painting the wall, I just get a little man in".

I've obviously no issue with people getting tradesmen or professionals in to do a job, but I'm pretty sure that if I was, for example, a plumber and I heard some helmet I was doing work for calling me "a little man" then I'd me sticking their toothbrush up my arse before I left the premises - and possibly bumping the price up a bit too.

Anyone else think it's a bit insulting? Or have I now entered the ranks of the "professionally offended on someone elses behalf"?

It's debt monkey talk. These modern losers have to belittle others in order to elevate themselves and attempt to justify the reality that they own nothing and are worth nothing. They are just 'consumers'. Geese on their 112 day countdown.

[Eric Mc]

Vocal Minority said:

I'd agree in principle.

Can't say I have ever seen anyone refer to a trade as that before though...

Very much an older style "upper middle class" expression.

It was used a lot by the character "Margot" (played brilliantly by Penelope Keith) in "The Good Life". It is very demeaning, in my opinion.

[2ono]

I think that has come from ex-pats living in the middle east, as most of the service industry staff over there are of small stature, so the phrase 'get a little man in'.

[sc0tt]

I've heard of "Getting a man in".

But Not a little one. Will assume OP is gay.

[recordman]

Reminds me of the yarn about the lesbian who was having her grassbox inspected at the gynos. Doctor said 'this is the cleanest vagina I have ever seen' the reply was 'well, I do have a woman in twice a week'

[iphonedyou]

DonkeyApple said:

It's debt monkey talk. These modern losers have to belittle others in order to elevate themselves and attempt to justify the reality that they own nothing and are worth nothing. They are just 'consumers'. Geese on their 112 day countdown.

You've lost me completely.

[944fan]

GAMI, getting a man in has been around for ages. Never heard it with the "little" in but it does add an even more demeaning and snobbish tone to it.

Its also sexist.

[Hudson]

DonkeyApple said:

Geese on their 112 day countdown.

Ok i Google'd that and got nothing - what the fk does that mean?

[RobinOakapple]

'little man' is also a shortened version of 'little man in a boat'. It refers to part of the female anatomy.