When an Engineer Says... What He Really Means

[alane1994]

When an Engineer says...	He really means...
A number of good approaches are being tried.	We're still guessing at this point.
Close project co-ordination.	We sat down and had coffee together.
An extensive effort it being applied on a fresh approach to the problem.	We just hired three new guys; we'll let them kick it around for a while.
Major technological break-through!	Back to the drawing board.
Customer satisfaction is believed assured.	We are so far behind schedule that the customer was happy to get anything at all from us.
Preliminary operational tests were inconclusive.	The darn thing blew up when we threw the switch.
Test results were extremely gratifying.	It works, and are we very surprised!
The entire concept will have to be abandoned.	The only guy who understood the thing quit.
It is in process.	It is so wrapped up in red tape that the situation is hopeless.
We will look into it.	Forget it, we have enough problems already.
Please note and initial.	Let's spread the responsibility for this.
Please give us the benefit of your thinking.	We'll listen to what you have to say, as long as it doesn't interfere with what we've already done or with what we are about to do.
Give us your interpretation.	We can't wait to hear your bull.
See me. Let's discuss.	Come to my office, I've screwed up again.
All new.	Parts are not interchangeable with previous design.
Rugged.	Don't plan to lift it without major equipment.
Robust.	Rugged, only more so.
Light-weight.	Slightly lighter than Rugged.
Years of development.	One finally worked. It was discovered by accident.
Energy saving.	Achieved when the power switch is off.
No maintenance.	Impossible to fix.
Low maintenance.	Nearly impossible to fix.
Fax me that data.	I'm too lazy to write it down.
We are following the standard.	We're not innovative.
I didn't get your e-mail	I haven't checked my e-mail for days.
Project slightly behind schedule due to unforseen difficulties.	We are working on something else.
The designs are well within allowable limits.	We just made it, stretching a point or two.
The design will be finalized in the next reporting period.	We haven't started this job yet, but we've got to say something.
A number of different approaches are being tried.	We don't know where we're going, but we're moving.
Modifications are underway to correct certain minor difficulties.	We threw the whole thing out and are starting from scratch.