"Standard abbreviations..."
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"Standard abbreviations..."
Trevorhp's post of "'Laws' relating to rebuilding cars !! made me think about the "Standard Abbreviations" I tend to us:
RTFM = Read The F***ing Manual
JFDI = Just F***ing Do IT
I guess everyone has others...?
RTFM = Read The F***ing Manual
JFDI = Just F***ing Do IT
I guess everyone has others...?
- Peter Laidler
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Re: "Standard abbreviations..."
We had several in the big tank workshops. Many of them of a technical nature, not heard in polite civilian circles
PDQ was pretty damn quick while PDFQ needed a higher degree of urgency. While not an abbreviation, the term 'shagged' meant that the item was past its useable best while 'totally' or 'fxxxxxg shagged' told the storeman that it needed replacing......., er......, PDFQ!
In Australia, as a clean living, polite, churchgoing pom who knitted socks for the elderly in his spare time (just joking...) there were a LOT more abbreviations such as a 'gnats knacker' or a 'RCH' when a gap was very close. Maybe the antipodeans can enlighten us poms.......
PDQ was pretty damn quick while PDFQ needed a higher degree of urgency. While not an abbreviation, the term 'shagged' meant that the item was past its useable best while 'totally' or 'fxxxxxg shagged' told the storeman that it needed replacing......., er......, PDFQ!
In Australia, as a clean living, polite, churchgoing pom who knitted socks for the elderly in his spare time (just joking...) there were a LOT more abbreviations such as a 'gnats knacker' or a 'RCH' when a gap was very close. Maybe the antipodeans can enlighten us poms.......
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- Location: Essex, UK
Re: "Standard abbreviations..."
RTFM is standard parlance, or so I thought until I used it at work and nobody knew what I was on about.
Youngsters; useless. They need YouTube instruction for everything, manuals are a bit C20 for them.
Youngsters; useless. They need YouTube instruction for everything, manuals are a bit C20 for them.
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Re: "Standard abbreviations..."
GYGAFO.
As a young office junior 30 odd years ago a rather unapproachable and angry old underwriter had this on a sticker on his trays. Took me a while to ask him what is stood for, ‘get yer gear and f.. off’ came the brutal reply.
I still use it now.

As a young office junior 30 odd years ago a rather unapproachable and angry old underwriter had this on a sticker on his trays. Took me a while to ask him what is stood for, ‘get yer gear and f.. off’ came the brutal reply.
I still use it now.

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- Location: North Cotswolds, close to Prescott & Shelsley Walsh hill climb venues by Stratford upon Avon UK and
Re: "Standard abbreviations..."
WFM! Not one beginning with H. But as an older enthusiast I have learned much from selected YouTube instruction videos - car related I should add

- Joel Welsh 4769VU
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:54 pm
- Location: Wauseon, Ohio, USA
Re: "Standard abbreviations..."
I'm a former (read old) us army sergeant.
Theres a quite a few we have.
But the standard favorites...
FUBAR- F****d up beyond all repair
FIDO- F*** It drive on
SNAFU- situation normal all f****d up
BOHICA- bend over, here it comes again!
Theres a quite a few we have.
But the standard favorites...
FUBAR- F****d up beyond all repair
FIDO- F*** It drive on
SNAFU- situation normal all f****d up
BOHICA- bend over, here it comes again!
Last edited by Joel Welsh 4769VU on Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
Wauseon, Ohio- United States
1964 mk1 Austin Cooper "Dianna"
Tartan red and black
I can't take credit for what others built- all I can do is try to put her back on the road.
You just can't fix stupid... you can hide it sometimes though...
1964 mk1 Austin Cooper "Dianna"
Tartan red and black
I can't take credit for what others built- all I can do is try to put her back on the road.

You just can't fix stupid... you can hide it sometimes though...

- Exminiman
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- Location: Berkshire UK
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- Location: Sweden
Re: "Standard abbreviations..."
"Float Test" and "Flame Test" -for broken / worn / suspect parts:
If the part is metal, then "Float Test" -Throw it in the sea / lake, and if it floats, keep it..
If the part is wood /fabric etc, then "Flame Test" -Set light to it, and if it doesn't burn, keep it...
If the part is metal, then "Float Test" -Throw it in the sea / lake, and if it floats, keep it..
If the part is wood /fabric etc, then "Flame Test" -Set light to it, and if it doesn't burn, keep it...
- Bitsilly
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Re: "Standard abbreviations..."
RAOTFLMTO!
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Re: "Standard abbreviations..."
I recall my father using the abbreviation ( RCH ) for the smallest measurement known to man. Steve (CTR)