March 16, 2007
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Yeoman’s Job
I did a project last year outside of work, and it went ok. So today, someone called me from the program to thank me for “doing a yeoman’s job” with my project.
I looked it up and one site said that a yeoman’s job is “doing a good job all round; working hard and competently. The phrase is associated with work that doesn’t require specialized skills and can be done well by tackling the task industriously.”
Was I complimented or not?
Comments (57)
Take it as a compliment. I’m sure that is how they meant it.
Absolutely. Interesting…you show your youth by not knowing that phrase, John (which is not a bad thing). I haven’t heard that term in a long time. The second sentence in the definition is not what I think of when I think of the meaning. The first sentence is what it has always meant to me.
Yeah, I’d say it was likely intended as a compliment – they knew the first part of the definition but not the connotation.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love your profile pic?
Was he being sarcastic?
yes, it was a compliment. Look at your glass as half full rather than half empty!! Thats what I do!!
CynaraJane – You’re right, I did hear the phrase more when I was younger…
CapnK8 – Thanks, it’s from explodingdog.com. Sam Brown is a genius, and I highly recommend buying his books.
Xinergy – She was my boss, and she sounded sincere.
I would very much say so. Well done!
I think she was complimenting you for your heroic effort.
That’s a thinker John… maybe it was meant as a compliment, who the heck knows.
Have a great weekend.
Tricia
I think it is definitely supposed to be a compliment, but the term seems to be used Don King style. That is to say – slightly incorrectly.
‘Yeoman’s job’ means a job a person of high stature would usually send a yeoman to do. Used properly, it’s a semi-back-handed compliment because it acknowledges that your stature is greater than the job you’re doing, but also means you’re doing a job that’s beneath you. It’s kind of archaic, though, since it’s based on the British class system from the 1800s which dot-commies in 2007 aren’t really part of. So just assume that no one really knows about the back-handed part, and take it as a compliment.
This has been another installment of: More Than You Wanted To Know.
hahaa… back-handed compliment?
if you were thanked they probably didn’t look up the word before they used it, and meant it to be a compliment. It was beneath you but you’re such a good little worker bee you were kind enough to do it.
ps – like if I were in a nursing home and somebody had to change my diaper, would I thank them because it’s there job? on the other hand, if the Pope Himself changed my diaper … well, you get the gist of it!
HomerTheBrave wrote.
“‘Yeoman’s job’ means a job a person of high stature would usually send a yeoman to do. Used properly, it’s a semi-back-handed compliment because it acknowledges that your stature is greater than the job you’re doing, but also means you’re doing a job that’s beneath you. It’s kind of archaic, though, since it’s based on the British class system from the 1800s which dot-commies in 2007 aren’t really part of. So just assume that no one really knows about the back-handed part, and take it as a compliment.”
When going by what he wrote and if you break it down… “it acknowledges that your stature is greater than the job you’re doing”
^^ meaning that doing that job shows charity, pride in whatever work you do and good character. I belive yes, it is a compliment… even if it wasn’t meant to be one by the person who said it… feeled honored that he said it. There is nothing wrong with doing a job that is beneath, even in that there is honor.
You know, looking at your little requisites for the frontpage, I ain’t never gonna get on. Arse.
As for Yeoman, I recall that’s some sort of a nautical rank or designation. Perhaps it’s complimentary as the ranking is ascended.
If you got told you did an admiral’s job, well, John, you’re the shit.
Which is a compliment!
I’ve never heard that either. ^^ I don’t think I’ll be making the front page much more either unless you all come up with a nifty “hide yahoo bot” footprints feature
. Not that I was on the front page much anyways…
lol idk hahah…
Personally, I would take that as “Any fool could’ve done this by plodding along. Glad it was you and not me.” But I’ve been told I’m cynical…
haha…good job? i guess… =P
Consider yourself complimented!! I love old sayings like that as opposed to “You da bomb”
What ho stout-hearted fellow! Thoust doth put might and main to the task and doth vanquished thine labor.
Perhaps she was calling from a renaissance faire?
I think I will start talking like I stepped Basil Rathbone “tights and arrows” movie too. Praythee think of the merry jest that shall be afoot. Okay now I am scaring myself…
Dictionary.com spaketh thusly:
6. performed or rendered in a loyal, valiant, useful, or workmanlike manner, esp. in situations that involve a great deal of effort or labor: He did a yeoman job on the problem.
So compliment. Stayeth thine hand from seeking thine hilt Sir John.
Certainly a compliment.
hmmm….just take it as a compliment! heheheheh!
maybe “yeoman” also means “helluva”
I’ve always just associated that phrase with working hard, so I would have taken it as a compliment.
Sounds like a compliment. The person who gave it to you probably was only familiar with the positive side of the definition.
Oh, yes, and I have a few questions about when you block people… do you only block them from commenting your site or viewing it? If only commenting it, is Xanga working on making that viewing?
Do you want it as a compliment? XD If you do, just think of it as a compliment. Maybe the person who said it doesn’t really understand its meaning?
Just saw your comment about what movie made you cry on Dan’s site…..Made me smile…
Candy
u dont need compliments… u run this shit
I think its a compliment
I say go with the idea it was a compliment.
I’m not young anymore but I don’t know the phrase.
I’ll defer to those who do.
Here’s my thought, though…..whether or not it was meant as a compliment, you can’t lose by graciously accepting it as though it were
I think it just means that they wanted to emphasize how hard you work. ’nuff said.
Yes, you were complimented.
I would be insulted. I think it implies any unskilled fool who stuck with it would have done fine. Why not just say thanks for the hard work? It sounds like my cousin’s daughter. She’s always being a total bitch by using words she thinks you won’t understand. Because she’s smart, she thinks everyone else is retarded. (I just put that last word to try to make you smile, based on your last post!)
he called you a farmer. OOOH! are you gonna take that?
I would definitely say you were complimented. First, someone called you specifically to thank you . . unless they’re total sarcastic buttheads, that means they appreciate you. Second, I think the definition at the end SOUNDS kind of ho-hum, but when you really think about it still shows that the term is used appreciatively. The way I personally interpreted it, it’s saying that the job didn’t, in fact, require any special kind of skills, but that you still took it head on and gave it your all as with a job that WOULD. So think of it as you went above and beyond when you didn’t have to, and someone is appreciating that, rather than someone is thanking you for doing a mediocre job that you were expected to do as a good worker.
I’ll be your best friend forever if you can get the Footprints working before this week ends! I need a screengrab for my media kit!
p.s. Please give Drakonskyr a feature spot. I’m a secret admirer and I think he deserves it.
Ohhh, I used to HATE doing the Yeomans job… but that was the actual Navy job… which was a lot more difficult!!!
-Eric
jOHN
do u have anyway to lock the friends page in my public profile ?
after i have enabled the friends lock someone always disturbed my friends through the friends page in my public profile
Hmmm never heard of Yeoman being used other than a Navy job. I was a Yeoman in the Navy, it was more administrative. Another word…Pencil Pusher.
i’m sure you were but, like other said, i’m not sure they knew the exact definition of the phrase when using it.
wait…isn’t that like one of the people in some literature thing…like Chaucer or somebody wrote it I think…
ah yes, that was it…the Canterbury Tales…12th grade english class. That’s the only reason I’ve heard that word/phrase. Didn’t remember what it meant…but I would say compliment from your description.
Now if he had called you a Peon….
I think it was meant to be a compliment, though perhaps their use of “big words” made it rather ambiguous.
Hey John, check out my new blogring…
I’d take it as a compliment. Then again, I don’t get many compliments,so I would probably be desperate. Lol. Yeah, Take it as a compliment; )
IF they called to thank you, you should definitely take it as a compliment.
I wouldn’t if someone called me that, then again I would take it as sexist (the “man” in yeoman)
I hate sexist language. . .everything’s always he. . .or a group of girls called “guys”
your boss was being a bastage. shoot her in the face.
“Broast“
Natural talent, you born with it, big deal thank your ancestors. Now hard work, that is a virtue. It was big compliment.
ryc: it was not meant to be but who can use the word puddy w/out thinking of seinfeld? same with tryptophan, hair in the shower, lupus and the ubiquitous Art Vandelay HA!
yep… it is a compliment.
I say, not.
Why say “yeoman’s job” when they could just say “good job”?