Strategic Incompetence

Purposely performing a task so poorly as to discourage being assigned this task again, but not poorly enough to be fired

Cube Dweller1: Dude, writing the weekly report is a sucky job; how do I get out of it?

Cube Dweller2: Just screw up some people's names and swap some people's tasks, nobody will want you to do it again

Cube Dweller1: Ahh....Strategic Incompetence....a fine idea....my inner slacker is jumping for joy!

Strategic Incompetence by TedDeadMan September 4, 2009

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Strategic Incompetence

Avoiding unwanted work by emphasizing one's own incompetence and/or praising someone else's greater competence.

"I would address the wedding invitations myself," said Cecile, in a dazzling display of strategic incompetence, "But my handwriting is practically illegible."

Strategic Incompetence by YoshinoyaBeefBowl May 25, 2021

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Passive-Aggressive Strategic Incompetence

A deliberate and calculated behavior exhibited by an organization or its members, particularly law enforcement agencies, where they feign misunderstanding or lack of capability to fulfill a legal or formal request for information. This tactic is employed as a means of evasion to avoid accountability, transparency, or the disclosure of information that could implicate the organization in illegal activities or misconduct. It is characterized by an outward appearance of cooperation or innocence, masking an intentional effort to obstruct justice or the rightful access to information. This behavior is passive-aggressive in nature because it avoids direct confrontation or refusal while actively working against the requester's aims to uncover truth or obtain justice.

This definition encapsulates the manipulative and obstructive nature of the behavior, emphasizing its purpose as a strategy to evade legal and moral responsibilities.

The police department's refusal to provide the requested documents, coupled with their pretense of not understanding the clear terms of the FOIA request, is a classic case of passive-aggressive strategic incompetence designed to shield themselves from scrutiny.

Passive-Aggressive Strategic Incompetence by I Juana Be Free March 3, 2024

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Toe Rag

A toe rag was originally a foot wrapping used, since mediaeval times up until the mid-nineteenth century, to protect the foot from chafing by boots or shoes. As these were, quite literally, rags they weren’t usually washed, and so with use they became very smelly until they were thrown away. Because of the similarity in smell, toe rag also became the name applied to dried, salted cod or other things with a strong, unpleasant, fishy smell. It didn’t take that long before the name was applied to someone who was an obnoxious, unpleasant OIC.

1 “Socks! Those aren’t socks you smelly git, they’re toe rags!”
2 “What have you been cooking? Smells like toe rag!”
3 “I can smell ‘er fanny from ‘ere, proper toe rag.”
4 That Heale Malcolm is a right toe rag.

Toe Rag by AKACroatalin November 29, 2016

Word of the Day on July 24, 2026

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Eternity leave

When some resigns or retires from a job, they are on "eternity leave". This can also refer to someone who has passed away, especially someone who worked somewhere for a long time, retired/resigned, then passed away later.

Oh I'm sorry, you didn't know that Kelly is on eternity leave? She resigned and moved to Hawaii!

With regrets I would like to inform you that my boss is officially on eternity leave. I will never see or hear them again. Ever.

Eternity leave by LingDanc803 February 7, 2023

Word of the Day on July 23, 2026

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jody

The hypothetical man (often a sinister character who decided not to go to boot camp) that is doing your girlfriend/wife while you are on deployment overseas.

Ain't no use in goin home,
Jody's got your girl and gone.
Ain't no use in goin back,
Jody's got your Cadillac,
Ain't no use in feeling blue,
Jody's took your checkbook too.

jody by Sgt Apan March 31, 2006

Word of the Day on July 22, 2026

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girl grip

The ability girls and women have developed to hold several items at once in one hand. The skill has been developed due to the lack of pockets in women's clothing.

I thought she'd need multiple trips to carry her phone, keys, wallet, and Starbucks to her car since she needed the other hand to open the door, but she used her impressive girl grip to carry everything in one hand.

girl grip by SillyMilly33 July 31, 2023

Word of the Day on July 21, 2026

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