Nametag and a hairnet

Posted by ESC on April 02, 2004

In Reply to: Flipping burgers &emptying wastebaskets posted by Bruce Kahl on April 02, 2004

: : anyone cares to teach me the origins and the meanings of the two phrases above?thanks

: Your phrases describe menial minimum wage type jobs.
: I just happened to hear these phrases today on a public service announcement here in the US imploring that young people should stay in school and get a good education lest they occupy a career that includes "flipping burgers &emptying wastebaskets".

Well, it's not a bad place to start. But it's a bad place to wind up. Here's a similar phrase:

NAMETAG AND A HAIRNET - Refers to a low-level job. "...drummers and bass players aren't supposed to mess around with any task that doesn't require a nametag and a hairnet." From Vox Talks, an online discussion group. Accessed Sept. 18, 2002.

And while we're on the subject. Have you all heard of the hoax that is making the rounds in the U.S.? A guy calls restaurants (most recently a Bob Evans) and tells the managers that a customer or an employee is guilty of stealing something or other. The managers strip-search the supposed criminal. For real.

• Nametag and a hairnet Henry 02/April/04
  • Parking cars & pumping gas ESC 02/April/04
    • Despair for April ESC 02/April/04