It's Friday. Let's do something fun. Definition time!

Caveman, kāvˌman, noun.

Beware of people in the workplace who refer to themselves as cavemen. It's a set up most commonly used in the following context:

"Well, I'm just a Caveman. I don't understand a lot of things and what you just said sounds so complex. But what I do know is __________."

The person in front of you isn't trying to make themselves look stupid, they're trying to railroad you into admitting that you're making something too difficult.  It might be that a complex explanation is needed, or maybe not. Check yourself on that. But when you hear "I'm just a caveman", it's really code for "I'm not going to do that or agree with you, and my path towards non-compliance is to diminish myself slightly before I try and knock you down a couple of pegs."

They don't agree with you. And they're saying you're fully of s##t in code. Good times.

Related word and phrases in the workplace that can do the same thing: "Blonde", "Country Boy" and "I grew up poor".

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Check out this classic video featuring Phil Hartman as Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer from Saturday Night Live for a great example.

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