Comments on: Piece of work http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/piece-of-work/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: elizabeth http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/piece-of-work/comment-page-1/#comment-10104 elizabeth Sat, 25 Dec 2010 16:45:20 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=1720#comment-10104 "a real piece of work" describes someone charismatic but dangerous, to whom other people are simply stepping stones in the pursuit of his or her goal or desire. The damage caused to others by his or her behavior is of no account to such a person. An example is a very successful fund raiser, head of a major university, who at a major donor event who shook my hand smiled and looked right through me. Mid-term, he left to go to a different university for greater compensation. “a real piece of work” describes someone charismatic but dangerous, to whom other people are simply stepping stones in the pursuit of his or her goal or desire. The damage caused to others by his or her behavior is of no account to such a person.

An example is a very successful fund raiser, head of a major university, who at a major donor event who shook my hand smiled and looked right through me. Mid-term, he left to go to a different university for greater compensation.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.word-detective.com/2009/09/piece-of-work/comment-page-1/#comment-2344 Jenny Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:13:13 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=1720#comment-2344 I used this expression just yesterday, in a derogatory sense, but a slightly different one. I was referring to a guy who has a reputation of being a bit of a braggart and a bit self-unaware. I used in the sense that his behavior is so outside the norms that it is somewhat funny. I used this expression just yesterday, in a derogatory sense, but a slightly different one. I was referring to a guy who has a reputation of being a bit of a braggart and a bit self-unaware. I used in the sense that his behavior is so outside the norms that it is somewhat funny.

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