"A Piece of Work"

Join Our Community

Collarchat.com

Home Login Search

"A Piece of Work"

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> "A Piece of Work"

Page: [1]

Login

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

"A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 3:28:55 PM

Posts: 19100
Joined: 3/25/2007
From: California, USA
Status: offline

I've heard that term used to describe various people quite a bit these last few days. I'm not sure why, but women seem to use the phrase a lot more often than men. Of course, men say "psycho bitch" more often, so it probably balances out.

Is referring to someone as "a piece of work" synonymous with "psycho bitch," or are there shades of meaning I don't have enough estrogen to catch?

_____________________________

If you lose one sense, your other senses are enhanced.
That's why people with no sense of humor have such an inflated sense of self-importance.

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 3:34:41 PM

Aynne

Posts: 740
Joined: 1/25/2008
Status: offline

Nope. Not gender specific at all for me Heretic. It is a pretty general comment for anyone that is well..basically fubar.

_____________________________

*Yes I know I have no profile at this time...

I looked in your eyes
Without saying a word
I told you what I am
And I hoped that you heard

~Owned and Loved by Master Sifu~

*founder of I Love Lushy Inc.*

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 3:35:54 PM

hizgeorgiapeach

Posts: 1672
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic
Is referring to someone as "a piece of work" synonymous with "psycho bitch," or are there shades of meaning I don't have enough estrogen to catch?

When I use the term - yeah - it could be considered synonymous with a guy calling a woman Psycho Bitch. (Although Personally I tend to smile in the 'bearing of teeth' manner and thank them when they call Me that!)

There are, however, Some subtlties of shading within it - some women having more Shades visible to them than others.

_____________________________

Rhi
Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Essential Scentsations

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 3:37:31 PM

Posts: 5091
Joined: 10/11/2005
Status: offline

For me the term requires a significant ammount of effort to qualify, because nobody could naturally be that much of an idiot. so it he/she is "a real piece of work". I also use it to define those dedicated to making being an asshole an artform.

_____________________________

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." ~ Japanese Proverb

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 4:23:34 PM

Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline

When I use the term, "a real piece of work" it means that someone is mentally/emotionally messed up and dealing with them takes too much time and effort for minimal results.

_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE

http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 7:26:10 PM

Posts: 857
Joined: 6/4/2008
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: hizgeorgiapeach
when I use the term - yeah - it could be considered synonymous with a guy calling a woman Psycho Bitch. (Although Personally I tend to smile in the 'bearing of teeth' manner and thank them when they call Me that!)

There are, however, Some subtlties of shading within it - some women having more Shades visible to them than others.

heh. we refer to that particular facial expression as the "not-smile". and depending on the one baring the fangs it can be a seriously scary experience.

kitten, actually smiling.

(in reply to hizgeorgiapeach)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 7:33:49 PM

Posts: 10943
Joined: 6/22/2004
Status: offline

I agree that it's not gender-specific, but I'm not sure it's quite the same thing as fubar. Fubar stands for "fucked up beyond all recognition." Military-speak. To me, "a piece of work" is a difficult person whom you just can't get anywhere with. Someone who always raises some sort of unpredictable impediment, never lets anything go smoothly, always makes life difficult--that's "a piece of work."

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aynne

Nope. Not gender specific at all for me Heretic. It is a pretty general comment for anyone that is well..basically fubar.

(in reply to Aynne)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 8:59:06 PM

Posts: 3607
Joined: 1/6/2005
From: Arkansas, U.S.A.
Status: offline

quote:

I've heard that term used to describe various people quite a bit these last few days. I'm not sure why, but women seem to use the phrase a lot more often than men. Of course, men say "psycho bitch" more often, so it probably balances out.

Is referring to someone as "a piece of work" synonymous with "psycho bitch," or are there shades of meaning I don't have enough estrogen to catch?

The phrase comes from a monologue in Hamlet:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/405100.html

If you'll note in the link I provided, the usage of the phrase today is completely different from what Shakespeare had intended.

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 9:18:08 PM

Posts: 19100
Joined: 3/25/2007
From: California, USA
Status: offline

Thanks for the history, Slaveboy.

On it being gender-specific, I didn't mean in the application, just in terms of who I hear using the term. Thanks to all who have replied so far.

_____________________________

If you lose one sense, your other senses are enhanced.
That's why people with no sense of humor have such an inflated sense of self-importance.

(in reply to slaveboyforyou)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/27/2008 9:57:31 PM

Posts: 824
Joined: 5/22/2004
Status: offline

A "piece of work" is someone who in my opinion is extremely high maintenance, feels a sense of entitlement, gossipy and thinks they know everything there is know about life but this is not necessarily gender specific. Now, psychobitch, I have only heard this to be referred to a woman.

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/28/2008 2:31:47 AM

cpK69

Posts: 1593
Joined: 5/9/2008
Status: offline

My ex-husband is the first person I ever heard use the phrase “a piece of work”. I took it to mean something like a piece of art that you could only stare in awe at, in an attempt to try and figure it out. Kind of beautiful in it’s own confusing way, though, often frustrating.

Around here, “psycho bitch” is unmistakably; a venomous creature, often violent, who will attack for no other reason then being in their near proximity. This is both physical and relatively speaking, ie… married into the family; friend of a friend...

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/28/2008 4:57:52 AM

Posts: 552
Joined: 8/25/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aynne

Nope. Not gender specific at all for me Heretic. It is a pretty general comment for anyone that is well..basically fubar.

sorry for the deviation, i've hear of a piece of work before and feel i understand it's usage ... FUBAR got me ... i did a search and it's amazing ...

FUBAR 1. (WWII military slang) Fucked up beyond all recognition (or repair).

(in reply to Aynne)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/28/2008 5:01:11 AM

Posts: 14463
Joined: 6/19/2008
Status: offline

Well, I lived with a "psycho bitch" and she was "a piece of work".....does that help.

_____________________________

"Sweetie, you're wasting your gum" .. Albert

This here is the boi formerly known as orfunboi

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/28/2008 5:30:07 AM

Aynne

Posts: 740
Joined: 1/25/2008
Status: offline

lol...I know, I come from a military family so fubar was pretty commonly tossed around. Never at me of course.

quote:

ORIGINAL: JulieorSarah

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aynne

Nope. Not gender specific at all for me Heretic. It is a pretty general comment for anyone that is well..basically fubar.

sorry for the deviation, i've hear of a piece of work before and feel i understand it's usage ... FUBAR got me ... i did a search and it's amazing ...

FUBAR 1. (WWII military slang) Fucked up beyond all recognition (or repair).

_____________________________

*Yes I know I have no profile at this time...

I looked in your eyes
Without saying a word
I told you what I am
And I hoped that you heard

~Owned and Loved by Master Sifu~

*founder of I Love Lushy Inc.*

(in reply to JulieorSarah)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/28/2008 6:01:45 AM

Posts: 17896
Joined: 1/15/2008
From: United States
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: thishereboi

Well, I lived with a "psycho bitch" and she was "a piece of work".....does that help.

Wasn't aware you knew my ex,now you claim to have lived with her?...just kidding she is the mother of my only child and for that I will allways love her!!!!

_____________________________

If we want things to stay as they are,things will have to change...Tancredi from "the Leopard"

Forget Guns-----Ban the pools

Funny stuff....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNwFf991d-4

(in reply to thishereboi)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/28/2008 6:18:51 AM

Posts: 4294
Joined: 3/2/2007
From: Little Rock, AR
Status: offline

For me, saying someone is "a piece of work" is akin to saying they're a real "character." It doesn't necessarily mean they are psycho, just that they are kind of an odd individual with a lot of quirks who's hard to sum up. "Piece of work" has a slightly more negative connotation than "character" but I use them pretty interchangeably when I use them at all..............luci

_____________________________

To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list. ~John Aikin

(in reply to TheHeretic)

RE: "A Piece of Work" - 7/28/2008 7:26:57 AM

Posts: 26123
Joined: 1/15/2006
Status: offline

I am with Luci on this one. For me, "piece of work" is kinda like "motherfucker". Though not quite as flexible.

I've said "damn that woman is a piece of work" with a raised brown and a shake of the head........definately not a positive.

Then I've said "That boy is a real piece of work" with a chuckle and smile and little warm glow in my heart..........definately a positive feeling to it.

Just don't even try to get me started on all my "motherfucker" usages.........

_____________________________

My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

(in reply to slaveluci)

Page: [1]

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> "A Piece of Work"

Page: [1]

Jump to:

New Messages	No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages	Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages	Locked w/o New Messages

Post New Thread

Reply to Message

Post New Poll

Submit Vote

Delete My Own Post

Delete My Own Thread

Rate Posts

Collarchat.com © 2024

Terms of Service

0.070