I was going to say he's a piece of work, but that might not translate too well. Is that all right, if I call you a 'piece of work'?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker jokingly asks permission to call someone a 'piece of work' to avoid awkward phrasing.
- In plain terms
- He wants to use a specific phrase to describe someone difficult.
- What can you take from it?
- Humor can ease awkward social interactions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we criticize without offense?
- Is humor appropriate here?
Another view
Such phrases can be insulting if taken literally.
More from George W. Bush
On United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States reaffirms its commitment to the worldwide elimination of torture. Freed…
Permalink to quote #187 See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda. - May 24, 2…
Permalink to quote #185 I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees. They did anticipate a serious storm. But these levees got breached. And as a result, much of New Or…
Permalink to quote #188
Related quotes
How is this? Ought not the petitioner to speak first, and the conqueror to listen in silence?
Lucius Cornelius SullaLucius Cornelius Sulla quote #1 Congratulations, you have a sense of humor. And to those who didn't: Go stick your head in the mud.
Jesse VenturaJesse Ventura quote #6 I asked him the most important question that I think you could ask - if he had ever seen Caddyshack.
Jesse VenturaJesse Ventura quote #7