A simple job that should take a small amount of time, takes forvever. Such as putting a picture up should involve a hammer and a nail, but ends up with drills, spirit levels, screws, rawplugs, tears, divorce etc etc.
2006-09-12 23:36:30 · 20 answers · asked by thehellmouthpirate 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
In job theory, the length of time a job takes is measured in five minute intervals, called ticks. A five minute job is a theoretical entity representing the smallest job possible. This is why you never hear someone say 'it will take one tick'. They always say 'it will take a couple of ticks'. 'Couple of ticks' is short-hand for 'more than one tick', which could mean two, but usually many more than that. The length of time a job will take is independent of the amount of equipment required to do it, or the magnitude of the side effects of attempting to do it without thinking it through first.
2006-09-12 23:49:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is first described as a five minute job, usually by use of phrases such as, "sure no problem it's a simple fix..only 5 minutes", etc to have the person needing the job done agree to getting the job done by a "professional". It then proceeds to take longer than the aforementioned/promised/guaranteed/realy quick five minutes so that the mechanic/computer tech/doctor/dentist/etc can charge more. It's called economics aka "The customer is always right, but they will also always get screwed." Usually only the first part of the idiom is permitted to be displayed in public areas of the office.
2006-09-13 07:47:32 · answer #2 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Law of Sod i am afraid, means that any job that is supposed to take a few mins takes longer.
Unless you are a maintenance person in which case a five min job is jargon to get you to appoint them and then it turns into a 5 day job for the money!!!!
2006-09-13 10:01:53 · answer #3 · answered by jaynie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Five minutes is a jiffy longer than we think, if only you clocked and watched over our shoulders intently. Nowadays the earlier five minutes have become
‘one sec’, you might be aware as the words and world fly.
2006-09-13 06:59:04 · answer #4 · answered by seshu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
.
This reminds me of the 8 Minute Tae Bo Workout video. It takes about 11 minutes really.
.
.
2006-09-13 07:32:48 · answer #5 · answered by eddweeness 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you are aware it will only last for 5 minutes job you took it for granted.
2006-09-13 06:44:47 · answer #6 · answered by richhter 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Normally it's because some daft sod tried to do the job and failed, and then turns for help
2006-09-13 06:48:38 · answer #7 · answered by Martin14th 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it doesnt take forever, it really take 5 minutes but the elements of space and time are so complex and confuzing that it purposefully make itself seem longer, just so you can enjoy the task set infront of you! :)
2006-09-13 11:55:16 · answer #8 · answered by viki c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually someone else is asking you to do the job because it will only take 5 mins, but they know it will take longer. lol ;-)
2006-09-13 06:42:24 · answer #9 · answered by dmareeg01 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
lol@ your question!
Murphy's Law!
The Law broadly states that things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance. "If there's more than one way to do a job, and one of those ways will result in disaster, then somebody will do it that way." It is most often cited as "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong" (or, alternately, "Anything that can go wrong, will").
2006-09-13 06:44:49 · answer #10 · answered by heatherlynnmorrow 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋