Leadswinging
 

(Lead = as in the metal)

not sure if your all familiar with this term
used for someone who makes the appearance
of being busy and doing lots of work

when they are in fact skiving

sort of walking around quickly with pieces of paper
behaving all importantly - that sort of stuff


do you know anybody like this?

what do you call them?

Re: Leadswinging
 

Well, where I work, they're called Nugget and Homealone :D

Re: Leadswinging
 

Boss :D

Re: Leadswinging
 

Sounds like me at work....

Re: Leadswinging
 

"Myself"
"very busy"

Re: Leadswinging
 

Interestingly the term derives from the old days of sailing before standard charts and depth measurements.

When a ship was approaching the coast, whilst everyone else was working hard navigating the ship, furling sails and ropes etc, there would be one guy at the bow who would be taking depth soundings.

This was done with a lead weight on a piece of rope which he would swing forward, let fall to the bottom of the sea and then haul back up to report how much water was under the keel and whether it was rock, sand, mud etc.

Naturally this was much easier work than all the rest, especially since instead of doing it every time he could "swing the lead" back and forth a few times without actually doing anything.

Another interesting expression, this one is from the leather working trade.

If you have a thick piece of leather (generally 3mm or more) that you want to bend around a buckle or other fitting, you can end up with a rather bulky fitting. So to make it less bulky you can cut away layers of the leather. This process is known as "skiving off".

Of course, if you want, you can cut these layers very thinly to make the job last as long as possible, meaning you don't have to do other, harder, work.

You mean like someone posting messages about definitions and origins of words when they should be working...? Erm... :blush: :D

Re: Leadswinging
 

hmmm

Re: Leadswinging
 

haven't got time to read this, i need to look busy!!!

Re: Leadswinging
 

yeah - know what you mean

as I furiously type this

appearing to onlookers like a busy person
at my terminal

Re: Leadswinging
 

look behind you, im watching!! :rofl: :rofl:

Re: Leadswinging
 

' thinking of getting wing mirrors fitted here

so I can watch out for lurkers peering over my shoulder

Re: Leadswinging
 

http://www.firebox.com/?dir=firebox&...roduct&pid=281

:)

Re: Leadswinging
 

The Windows key +M are a wonderful combination for the leadswinger..

Re: Leadswinging
 

we call them ceiling inspectors at work.......they walk around staring at the ceiling carrying bits of paper or folders..........
pen pushers is another turn of phrase we use.....these people feel the need to carry an important looking briefcase to work when all it contains is a pen , todays paper , sandwiches and an apple.

Re: Leadswinging
 

They just call me Sir