(Shit the Bed 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.)

Shit the Bed

If as an adult you ever shit the bed, it was likely a personal matter, correct? You didn’t share this information with your coworkers, did you?

Okay, then we’re confused how this one became so ubiquitous in many businesses today. Certainly, the increased open use of vulgar slang in the office holds a little blame; though, how in the world did shit the bed become a semi-acceptable way of describing the act of making a mistake?

Truly, how many people have ever literally shit the bed?

Of course, we don’t really care and certainly don’t want to know.

While this one is annoying on many levels, the clear winner of the annoyance sweepstakes on shit the bed goes to the overusers. Like most office slang that includes a curse word, shit the bed users find enjoyment in saying it. They likely experience a quick dopamine rush when they do; therefore, they say it again and again until they’re hooked.

If you’re a shit the bed user, you must stop; you’re annoying the rest of us. We don’t think you’re funny or cute or avant-garde. We just think you’re an irritating ass, and we’d like to help you get better.

Of course, just like someone who’s literally shit the bed on multiple occasions, one of the first steps is wanting to quit.

Replacement phrases: Make a mistake

See also: Drop the Ball; Screw the Pooch

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