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Hi everyone,
I have been reading the Guradian just to put myself in the picture about the American bail-out plan. I found this expression the meaning of which I guess is something like "obstruct". Do you agree?
Thanks everybody.
The pair have just spent two gruelling days in front of the congressional and Senate banking committees, where US politicians "kicked the tyres" of the proposal.
The Guradian (Guardian?) must be a British publication. "To kick the tires" (tyres is British spelling I think?) is an expression derived from the business of buying a used car...(the buyer kicks the tires to test whether they are road-worthy)...and it means that one is testing an idea, or measuring the soundness of something...sort of like saying "kicking the idea around".Quote:
Originally Posted by diegonel
To "kick the tires" also means that the buyer of the car has no idea of what he is looking at or how a car works but feels that in doing so he gives the impression that he knows all about them.
Vicente is right (and, yes "tyres" is the British spelling which, as someone from the US, always looks like a child's misspelling) about the origin of the expression. Flaco, are you serious in your expansion of the meaning or were you joking about the competency of politicians in this matter?
Guys,
I appreciate your help very much. I see I misunderstood the meaning. Now it's clear to me.
I'd like to know how i can say "empleado raso" We can talk about senior managers, managers, bosses,all of whom hold a hierarchical position. But what about those who don't?
a plain employee???:eek:
Thanks again! DIEGONEL
I am not familiar with that term (I feel so stupid sometimes), but from the context you have given, "low-level" or "non-management" employees could work. Low-level sounds a bit harsh, but the idea is transmitted.
Scottj
I Don't Think You're Stupid At All. I Sometimes Ask Questions Like The "kick The Tyres" One. And After I Read Your Replies, I Could Feel Stupid For Not Having Infered The Meaning From Context. But I Don't. At Times We Are Smater Than Others And That's Human.
Regarding Your Version Non-management Or Low Level Employees, I Think It Will Do.
Thanks Scottj.
Diegonel
Scott, "to kick the tires" is an old saying/joke among car dealers and does imply a lack of knowledge on the kickers part as it tells you nothing about the car, where as a knowledgeable person will open the hood and know what he is looking at and do a complete vehical inspection and be able to make a knowledgeable decsion on the car where the "tire kicker" will buy the car simply because it looks cool and how he will look driving around in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottJ
Weather this was the meaning of the writter about the politicians I can only guess but would assume it fits in many cases.
PS, the British also call the hood a bonnet and the trunk is the boot and the windshield is a windscreen.
I like non-management employee...it sounds better than low-level .Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottJ
You could also say ordinary employee but I still like non-management better.
Sorry to disagree Flaco. Used car dealers might consider this an inside joke but that's not what the expression means.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flaco
I know all about buying cars and how to tell if they are sound or a lemon...and I have kicked plenty of tires. It's a natural thing to do, maybe even a requirement:D when you are looking at an old car with questionable looking tires. It might not prove anything but neither will opening the hood. A tire kicker can do that too.:)
Vicente, this has been my understanding of the term after working in the automotive field for thirty years. I've kicked a few tires myself but for a different reason.
I understand Flaco. Maybe this is a situation where the phrase has one meaning to people in the automotive industry and another to people not involved in that industry. I have never considered it to mean that somebody didn't know what they were doing but I see your point. In any case I suppose you have to know the context in which it is being used.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flaco
Probably so Vicente but they do make language interesting and fun but they do need to be used with caution when speaking to the public, just look at how that remark by Obama about lipstick on a pig turned out.
Absolutely. Caution is essential...how many times have we heard someone complain that they were "taken out of context".Quote:
Originally Posted by Flaco
You got me to thinking about this and I'm wondering if the difference between our respective interpretations might be simple formation because I agree that if we were in a conversation and you described somebody as a "tire kicker" or "someone who just kicks the tires" I would immediately think of somebody pretending to know what he was doing. On the other hand, if we were talking about an idea or a job and you said "let's kick the tires on this" I would think you meant that we should examine the ramifications or consequences.
Yeah! This is probably where they come up with the saying " don't listen to what I say listen to what I mean". But it's all fun. It's like the guy who was asked if he spoke any other languages and he said "no, why would I want to be confussed twice?"
I had not heard of the term, but from your description I suggest "rank and file" employee (often hyphenated: rank-and-file). The term originated in the military, from the formation of troops in ranks (rows) and files (lines). Officers were not part of the formation. The term has come to mean the large body of members of any organization, excluding the leaders.Quote:
Originally Posted by diegonel
Example: Recently, Congressional leaders have been trying to raise support for the bailout scheme among the rank-and-file members of Congress.
Excellent post ronm! :) "Rank and file" did not occur to me but it is an apt description of general, non-management employees.Quote:
Originally Posted by ronm