Favorite sayings in construction

[digger242j]

I got to thinking about some of the things certain people say frequently. There are a few I've picked up and repeat myself when the occasion arises, and a few I don't repeat, but that have a special place in my mind. I'm just curious if anyone else has any good ones to share.

The couple that I'll repeat are these...

For pretty much any event that hasn't turned out as well as intended: "Well... You'll have that in construction."

At the end of pretty much any day, but especially one that ends with everybody filthy dirty and dog tired: "Well, we didn't get much done today, but we'll give her hell tomorrow."

I credit my friend Jim Reese for the couple I seldom use, but I love anyway. (Jim started in the industry in about 1935) They are...

When trying to get something straight or plumb, and it isn't quite right (and regardless of which direction it's leaning): "It's leaning toward Fisher's Graveyard."

And lastly, upon finally completeing some task that has been exceptionally troublesome: "Patience, perseverence, and sweet oil will screw most any cat." (I asked one time what exactly that meant, and Jim said he didn't exactly know either. But so often it just seems so appropriate.)

[badranman]

I have a few. When I used to frame houses and something never lined up quite right we'd say "We're not building a piano" or "That's good enough for the girl I go with". At the end of a long day it's "Another day, another 50 cents, the government gets the other 50".

[huffmanmb]

Looks good from my house. I owe, I owe, off to work I go (Motto of the working man).

[Electra_Glide]

When looking at something that isn't quite right, but isn't completely wrong, and trying to figure out where to go next, somebody usually says "It is what it is...".

Joe

[PSDF350]

when i used to frame houses. oh well good enough cant see it from my house.

[Bob Horrell]

I have found this to be true most of the time. 90% of any well done job is in the planning.

[digger242j]

In the same spirit as "We're not building a piano", my Dad would often say, "We're not building a Swiss watch." Using that standard we often ended up with results that, "Nobody riding by on a motorcycle will ever notice..."

[RonG]

Originally posted by Electra_Glide
When looking at something that isn't quite right, but isn't completely wrong, and trying to figure out where to go next, somebody usually says "It is what it is...".

Joe

I used "it is what it is"just they other day while digging a cellar hole through a filled area and the step up for the garage would not be a 4' step like they usually get because I had to scalp the undesirables off the top to get the virgin ground the building inspector would be looking for when he approved the footing for pouring.
The job super came by and I brought it to his attention by saying "it is what it is,right?"

Ron

[Sled Puller]

"You'll have that on the BIG jobs."

Best used, after a fubar, and when a Super thinks he has a big job, but there is only two machines.

Dozer advice:" Always track over what you blade."

"If you don't..."mess"..up, you must not be doing nothing." Super said to me a day after I smashed his truck with a CMI belt placer.

[Limestone]

We had an old guy on our carpentry crew when I was building Rite Aid drugstores. His favorite line when he would mess up a cut and it would'nt fit right would be "caulk it" and we would always tell him "Frank, Caulk isn't trim".

[littledenny]

How about:

Reality is that which happens while you're planning an alternate event.

[max diyer]

When I worked with a good friend :

That guy in that airplane will never know.

It looks good to me. (reply) Yep, it works for me.

(at the end of a job or the day) It's time to hitch up the buggy, were
going to town.

And probably the most famous of all . . . . . . It's Millertime !

[killdozer]

My pappy used to tell me that in any deal you had three operative business rules:

1. You can have it fast!
2. You can have it cheap!
3. You can have it good!

You can have any two of the three, but you can't have all three. I think he was right; too many people today want all three and it isn't gonna happen.

THINK ABOUT IT.

[Grant]

Granddad always used to quote some unknown carpenter---'ALREADY THREE TIMES I CUT IT AN ITS STILL TOO SHORT!'

[will_gurt]

One that I was reminded of today.

Se you in the morning. Reply is: God willing and the creeks don't rise.