ESL Vocabulary and Idioms

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

shaved — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:07:15 GMT

yeah, that phrase works fine in America

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Tanit — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:43:21 GMT

MrP, your "public sector employees" fits nicely, and I hope it'll be fine also for the Americans.

Now I have two or three expressions I can use, so many thanks to everybody who has participated in this thread.

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

MrPedantic — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:48:47 GMT

In the UK, the term "civil servant" only applies to those who are employed by the Crown (e.g. in government depts).

It doesn't include those who work for Parliament itself (e.g. in the National Audit Office or the Electoral Commission) or for non-governmental public bodies (e.g. local authorities, the Health Service).

I believe the term that encompasses all these people is "public sector employees".

MrP

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Old Man Gordon — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:15:14 GMT

Shaved is pretty much on the mark with the social commentary, although overly beurocratic and non-productive jobs are by no means limited to the government. Even though we wouldn't say "I'm a civil servant", we could say that someone has a job in 'civil service'. The combination of the words "government" and "worker" is inherently funny in the US.

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

shaved — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:50:32 GMT

Grammar Geek
No thank you.

= )

good times

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Grammar Geek — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:46:07 GMT

shaved

COMMENT ON MY OPINIONS PLZ

kthx

No thank you.

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

shaved — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:44:51 GMT

COMMENT ON MY OPINIONS PLZ

kthx

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Grammar Geek — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:40:03 GMT

Tanit, without wishing to comment on the editorial opinions offered by the prior poster, the phrase for someone who doesn't do much at work is a "chair warmer." Funny how close it is to "seat heater."

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

shaved — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:27:17 GMT

Tanit
I was surprised to read this, though: "if you can't cut it in the private sector, work for the government".

there are a couple reason for this

- gov jobs are generally more secure than private sector jobs

- they often pay less for the same position

- there is far less pressure to perform well

- it's difficult to lose a government job for any reason

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Tanit — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:30:29 GMT

Hi Shaved,

Thanks for your insights. It's a pity I cannot use any of your nice expressions in a scientific paper!

As I said earlier, we live in a small world ... the most common term for them here would be something like "seat-heaters", 'cause they're supposed to be just sitting on their seats all day long, doing nothing but keeping their chairs warm.

I was surprised to read this, though: "if you can't cut it in the private sector, work for the government".

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

shaved — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:05:37 GMT

I like to say 'cubicle riff-raff', but I often get in trouble for my colorful euphemisms

other great government worker words:

DMV rejects

9-to-5ers

cubicle dwellers

pencil pushers

etc...

Really, in the US, it's rarely seen as an accomplishment to get a government job. In fact, there's a stygma associated with it. Going to work for the government in the US is often the last resort.

There's a saying where I come from.. if you can't cut it in the private sector, work for the government.

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Tanit — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:29:36 GMT

Thanks, Barb. I've just PMed (?) you.

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Grammar Geek — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:17:35 GMT

Tanit, if you're writing about specific municipalities in the US and you want to run a few by me, please feel free to e-mail me. I think you still have my e-mail address, but if not, I'll PM you.

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Tanit — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:51:36 GMT

Thank you again, Clive!

Re: AmE equivalent of public servants?

Clive — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:53:07 GMT

Hi,

In the city, we usually say 'city employees'.

Clive