Sensible Talk - Criticism for the reality-based world

Register

Log In

What they say/What they mean, Op. 3

Robert Niles
Published: July 21, 2008 at 4:26 PM (MST)
Sensible Talk reader David Hume sent in this insightful example, one that I heard plenty of times during my stints with U.S. newspapers. Thank you, David.

What they say:

You are not being a "team player."

What they mean:

You are not willing to cover for my screw-ups.

Feel free to send additional suggestions my way. (E-mail link at the top of my profile page.)

Robert Niles also can be found at http://www.themeparkinsider.com

This journal entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Follow Sensible Talk

  •  Subscribe in a reader
  •  Follow Robert Niles on Twitter
  • Become a fan of Sensible Talk
  • Recent Journal Entries

  • "More damage from the collapse of the housing bubble"
  • "Which city's sports fans have suffered the most? The 2010 Sports Misery Index"
  • "The best old-school bite to eat in LA?"
  • Statistics Every Writer Should Know

  • Mean
  • Median
  • Mode
  • Percent Change
  • Per Capita and Rates
  • Standard Deviation
  • Margin of Error
  • Data Analysis
  • Polls and Sample Sizes
  • Statistical Tests
  • Student's T
  • Site Search

  • Archives

  • 2010: Jan. Feb.
  • 2009: Jan.
  • 2008: Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Dec.
  • Masthead

  • Robert Niles, Editor
  • Laurie Niles, Assistant Editor