Screw the Pooch
(Screw the Pooch 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.)
Screw the Pooch
An earlier annoying phrase we examined, rightsizing, is what’s known as a euphemism. That is, it’s not just a replacement or synonym, but a nicer way to say something.
Screw the pooch is the exact opposite of a euphemism (unfortunately, there is no true antonym for euphemism, so let’s just call this an unnecessary and odd vulgarity).
Screw the pooch refers to making a gigantic, perhaps career-ending mistake; that is, screwing up royally.
While a euphemism is used to soften the impact of a phrase, screw the pooch is used to overemphasize the issue at hand. We would argue unnecessarily; though, there are those who believe accusing someone of making a gigantic mistake is not enough; that it needs more “oomph,” if you will.
To those managers we say this: are you really that comfortable discussing bestiality at work? Moreover, can making a mistake – regardless of how large – even compare?
Gross.
Replacement phrases: Gigantic mistake; Colossal error
See also: Shit the Bed; Drop the Ball
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The 30,000-Pound Gorilla in the Room is available on Amazon
