Your favourite words that people don't know...
Discussion
I work in an office, indeed an industry, of pretty smart people. In my office of approx 140 people there are maybe 10 or 15 who don't have a degree. Half will have a Masters. There are perhaps 20 or 30 Phds.
But I used the word 'recalcitrant' in a meeting this week and was met with blank looks. I thought it was a word in fairly wide usage?
Apparently not.
Another good one (that I used in a work rant recently) is 'dilletante'. Again, a word that I though most would know. But, no.
For the record, I also like 'bookyak' and 'fa fangoule' (Italian American, I've been watching the Sopranos again so they have popped back into my vocabulary.) 'Blat' (Russian) is a goo'un too.
But I used the word 'recalcitrant' in a meeting this week and was met with blank looks. I thought it was a word in fairly wide usage?
Apparently not.
Another good one (that I used in a work rant recently) is 'dilletante'. Again, a word that I though most would know. But, no.
For the record, I also like 'bookyak' and 'fa fangoule' (Italian American, I've been watching the Sopranos again so they have popped back into my vocabulary.) 'Blat' (Russian) is a goo'un too.
TheEnd said:
Their looks might have been blank, but I'd say they were all thinking something.
When someone dropped "control theory" in a business meeting, having done a maths degree, I had to bite my tongue.
In a way, it's actually daft to drop a word that others don't know as it can divert attention away from the point you're trying to make.
Edited by ShadownINja on Saturday 10th July 19:26
Lefty 200 Drams said:
I work in an office, indeed an industry, of pretty smart people. In my office of approx 140 people there are maybe 10 or 15 who don't have a degree. Half will have a Masters. There are perhaps 20 or 30 Phds.
But I used the word 'recalcitrant' in a meeting this week and was met with blank looks. I thought it was a word in fairly wide usage?
Apparently not.
Another good one (that I used in a work rant recently) is 'dilletante'. Again, a word that I though most would know. But, no.
For the record, I also like 'bookyak' and 'fa fangoule' (Italian American, I've been watching the Sopranos again so they have popped back into my vocabulary.) 'Blat' (Russian) is a goo'un too.
A big fan of recalcitrant, especially in conjunction with turd. Such a wonderfully descriptive phrase.But I used the word 'recalcitrant' in a meeting this week and was met with blank looks. I thought it was a word in fairly wide usage?
Apparently not.
Another good one (that I used in a work rant recently) is 'dilletante'. Again, a word that I though most would know. But, no.
For the record, I also like 'bookyak' and 'fa fangoule' (Italian American, I've been watching the Sopranos again so they have popped back into my vocabulary.) 'Blat' (Russian) is a goo'un too.
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