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You understand what you are saying (or writing), but do they? I received an email yesterday that had a few acronyms that I couldn’t figure out. I had to Google them to see what my client was saying. So, I decided to write this article with a few acronyms and expressions to see if you can figure out what I’m saying. Here goes:
BTW, ICYMI, my last email said I need you to LMK … WYD, RN, because I have a problem and IDK how to solve it. TBH, I am stumped. I have TMI but NA. I didn’t cause this problem; “not my circus, not my monkeys.” The people who caused the problem are “a few sandwiches short of a picnic” and my new boss is no help … he is “all hat and no cattle.” I need to “bite the bullet” and get this done. I hope I am not “barking up the wrong tree” in asking for your help. But I’m “more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs”, because I need to solve this problem. This is as “serious as a heart attack for me.” The only suggestions I’ve gotten from my team are about as “useful as a screen door on a submarine” or “a pogo stick in quicksand.” I am OMW to your place. TTYL
Here are the answers to the acronyms:
By the way, in case you missed it, my last email said I need you to let me know what you are doing, right now, because I have a problem, and I don’t know how to solve it. To be honest, I am stumped. I have too much information but no answers.
Here are the definitions to the colorful expressions.
“not my circus, not my monkeys”
A Polish proverb, this phrase humorously likens a chaotic situation to a circus, implying that since it’s not yours, you’re not responsible for the madness.
“a few sandwiches short of a picnic”
This comical expression refers to someone being incomplete or lacking something, just as a picnic without all its sandwiches is incomplete.
“all hat and no cattle”
This is a cowboy phrase, referring to people who dress like cowboys (big hats) but don’t actually own any cattle, thus all show and no substance.
“bite the bullet”
To endure a painful or unpleasant situation. In the past, during battles or surgeries without anesthesia, soldiers were given a bullet to bite on to cope with pain.
“barking up the wrong tree”
To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action. The phrase comes from hunting dogs that would sometimes bark at the base of a tree where their prey wasn’t actually hiding.
“more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs”
Extremely anxious or jumpy. This funny image of a cat with a vulnerable tail trying to avoid being crushed by rocking chairs perfectly captures feelings of nervousness.
“serious as a heart attack”
This phrase is trying to give some personal meaning about how serious the situation is. I would say a “heart attack” is extremely serious.
“useful as a screen door on a submarine”
A playful comparison of a screen door, which allows things to pass through it, being used in a context where watertight integrity is essential.
“a pogo stick in quicksand”
Describes someone or something completely ineffective in a particular situation.
And the final sentence is … I am on my way to your place. Talk to your later.
It is great to use colorful expressions and even acronyms, but only if you know they know what they mean. Effective communication is critical in everything we do, and big mistakes occur when you assume they know what you were talking about. I did a program a while back for a large multi-national company and I asked to see a list of corporate acronyms they use. They sent me 25 pages. Can you imagine being a new employee and your boss throws four or five of those at you and you have NO CLUE what they are talking about and are scared to death to tell them you don’t know.
But my favorite story of all on using acronyms is the grandson who sent a text to his grandmother, who (by the way) was just learning how to text. He told he just got back from a great vacation, and she replied… “WTF.” He immediately picked up the phone and called her and asked her what she thought WTF stood for. She said the ladies in her bridge club said it stood for “Wow, That’s Fantastic.” He said there was no way he was going to tell his grandmother what it really stood for. He also said it has made future correspondence with her hilarious at times.
The ability to communicate is the single most
important skill determining your success in life.
Leaders who confuse people, aren’t Leaders for long.
Choose your words (and acronyms) wisely.