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pencil

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pencil whip

1. To complete a form or record, especially a checklist, without doing the work required or by providing falsified or incomplete information. It has come to light that the safety supervisor aboard the oil rig had been pencil whipping his observational reports for several weeks leading up to the disaster.

2. To approve such a form without actually verifying that the contents are accurate or properly completed. We're supposed to fill out a detailed checklist after each shift, but I know my boss just pencil whips them.

See also: pencil, whip

pencil neck

1. A particularly weak, meek, or unimpressive person; a wimp. No little pencil neck like you is going to give me orders, pal!

2. A person who is very inclined toward academic or intellectual pursuits. I always made sure to make friends with the pencil necks in my math classes so they would help me out with the homework.

See also: neck, pencil

pencil-necked

1. Particularly weak, meek, or unimpressive; wimpy. No pencil-necked twerp like you is going to give me orders, pal!

2. Very inclined toward academic or intellectual pursuits. I always made sure to make friends with the pencil-necked geeks in my math classes so they would help me out with the homework.

pencil pusher

One who has a boring, meaningless office job. Primarily heard in US. I refuse to be a pencil pusher the rest of my life. I have big dreams and goals!

See also: pencil, pusher

in pencil

written or signed with a pencil. Why did you write your report in pencil? You can't sign a check in pencil!

See also: pencil

pencil someone or something in

to write in something with a pencil. (Implies that the writing is not final.) This isn't a firm appointment yet, so I will just pencil it in. I penciled in a tentative answer.

See also: pencil

pencil somebody/something in

also pencil in somebody/something

to have a temporary plan to do something with someone The team had penciled in Morton as a key player this season. I penciled you in for lunch next Thursday.

Etymology: based on the idea that a pencil mark can easily be removed or changed

See also: pencil

put lead in your pencil

  (British humorous)

to increase a man's sexual ability You should eat a few oysters - that'll put some lead in your pencil. (British humorous)

See also: lead, pencil, put

a pen pusher

  (British & Australian) also a pencil pusher (American)

someone who has a boring job in an office He's a frustrated desk-bound pen pusher who dreams of trekking through jungles. (British & Australian)

See also: pen, pusher

put lead in one's pencil

Enhance or restore sexual vigor, as in Try one of these hot peppers; that'll put lead in your pencil. This phrase, a euphemism for causing an erection, is considered far more vulgar than the contemporary synonym put hair on one's chest, alluding to a secondary male sex characteristic. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

See also: lead, pencil, put

pencil in

v.

1. To write something in with a pencil: The assistant penciled in the editorial changes on the manuscript. After the teacher reviewed my test, I penciled the corrections in.

2. To schedule something tentatively: The secretary penciled in a staff meeting for 3:00. The band penciled a rehearsal in on Friday.

3. To schedule a tentative appointment with someone: We penciled him in for lunch next Monday. The interviewers penciled in the applicant for the end of the week.

See also: pencil

have lead in one’s pencil

1. tv. to be vigorous and active. (Widely known phrase. Not taboo.) Your problem, Tom, is that you should have more lead in your pencil. You just don’t have the stamina.

2. tv. to have an erection of the penis. (Usually objectionable.) Due to his drinking habits, he never has any lead in his pencil.

See also: have, lead, pencil

pencil-pusher

n. a bureaucrat; a clerk; an office worker. (see also paper-pusher.) Look here, you lousy pencil-pusher, I want to talk to your boss!