(Not My First Rodeo is an annoying business term and is just one of the 212 Most Annoying Business Phrases Managers Effuse, Confuse, and Overuse detailed in the hilarious must-have guide for every workplace: The 30,000-Pound Gorilla in the Room. Available right now on Amazon.)

Not My First Rodeo

Yes… yes, it is.

When you say, “It’s not my first rodeo,” you’re signaling to the rest of us that if this was a rodeo, it would indeed be your first rodeo. We hear not my first rodeo, and we think, “Not your first rodeo? Bull. You’ve never competed in a rodeo! In fact, there’s a really good chance you’ve never even been to a rodeo.”

When someone tells you, “it’s not my first rodeo,” they’re telling you they’re not only super cool, but they’ve got this one; this one is easy because they’ve been there, done that.

The situation, issue, problem, or opportunity you’re describing is passé to them; boring, in fact. They’re better than the rest of you because they’re an experienced bronco buster or steer wrestler or something.

Not my first rodeo is sometimes the annoying coworker’s way of expressing how insulted they feel at being asked about their readiness or experience. As if we’re never allowed to ask them about such things.

It’s also – and this is where it gets really annoying – the egomaniac’s way of expressing they are the king of everything; the master of their domain. Basically, the most qualified, experienced, and smartest person in the room.

They’re not. They just like to sound cool. Shun them.

Replacement phrases: Experienced; I’ve seen this before

See also: Been There, Done That

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The 30,000-Pound Gorilla in the Room is available on Amazon