Work

This is our local philosophy for avoiding unnecessary drama or extra work. By pretending you don't know what's going on or playing the fool, you steer clear of pesky responsibilities and keep your stress levels low.

To flatter someone shamelessly or 'carry their balls' just to get into their good books. Usually used for that colleague who always agrees with the boss, even when the boss is clearly wrong.

This is when you know exactly what’s going on, but you choose to ignore it—the ultimate strategy to avoid extra work or awkward social situations. It's that classic 'I didn't see anything' look you give when the boss asks who left the meeting room in a mess.

This is your go-to hyperbole for when life is just too much. Whether it's doing extra sets at the gym or sitting through a three-hour meeting that could've been an email, 'can die' is how you tell the world that you're metaphorically crossing over to the other side from pure exhaustion or misery.

This refers to the daily hustle of making a living, usually in a way that’s modest or hardworking. It’s not just about earning millions; it’s about doing what you gotta do to put food on the table.

To behave like a desperate bootlicker just to get on your boss's good side. It’s that cringey act of showering someone with excessive flattery or doing unnecessary favors, just hoping for a promotion or a freebie.

In the context of Singaporean National Service, this refers to the act of doing a set number of push-ups or other physical exercises as a form of light, swift punishment. It’s the sergeant’s favourite way to tell you that you’ve messed up, usually followed by a number that makes your arms tremble.

The ultimate art of pretending to be sick or injured just to get out of doing work. You’ll hear this most in National Service when someone suddenly develops a mysterious 'backache' right before a long route march.

To charge forward with maximum intensity, whether you're racing for a seat on the MRT, finishing a project at 2 AM, or hitting the dance floor at Zouk. It’s that unstoppable, slightly chaotic energy of going all-in and putting in 110% effort, even if you’re half-dead from exhaustion.

A total mess-up or a blunder of epic proportions. It's that moment when your plan goes completely sideways because someone fell asleep at the wheel, whether it's forgetting to book the flight or burning the chicken rice.

When you absolutely, positively need to make sure someone isn't bluffing or that the plans are set in stone. It’s like a regular confirmation, but with extra Singaporean insurance to stop things from falling apart later.

To 'eat snake' is to mysteriously disappear when there's real work to be done. It’s that master-level art of skiving, where you make yourself look busy while actually floating off to grab a coffee or scrolling through your phone until the boss stops looking.

This refers to the incredible 'talent' of standing around and watching everyone else sweat while you do absolutely nothing. It’s like you’re trying to telekinetically finish the work just by staring at it, but somehow, the heavy lifting just doesn't get done.

The dramatic way to say someone has been fired or given the boot from their job. It’s like watching a cuttlefish curl up when it hits the hot wok—sudden, permanent, and definitely not something you want happening to your career.

To 'fry sotong' means to get fired from your job, or colloquially, to hand in your resignation. It paints a funny mental image of being tossed into the hot wok of unemployment.

Technically, it means to fry something up in a pan, like your favourite mee goreng. Figuratively, it’s when someone gets a massive roasting or ear-bashing from their boss or parents, where they get 'fried' until they are crispy.

Describes someone or something that's totally subpar, sloppy, or just plain useless. If your project proposal is 'half past six,' don't expect the boss to give you a bonus; it basically means the quality is so low, you might as well go home.

To kena arrow means you’ve been 'pointed at' by a superior to do some annoying or thankless task that nobody else wanted. It’s that sinking feeling when your boss looks around the room and suddenly, you’re the chosen one for the projects nobody likes.

To 'kiv' is to hold something back or pause it for a later time, like when you tell your boss you'll 'kiv' that email until after lunch. It’s the ultimate Singaporean way of saying 'let’s park this idea here and not touch it until we absolutely have to.'

This is the person who has seen it all and done it all. You don't need to teach them anything because they already know the shortcuts, the traps, and exactly how the system works.

To work for someone else as an employee, usually with a bit of a cynical shrug. It carries the vibe that you're just showing up to 'eat salary'—meaning you're there for the paycheck, not necessarily because you're saving the world.

An 'old bird' is someone who has been around the block enough times to know exactly how the system works. It’s the seasoned veteran who doesn't get rattled because they’ve survived the chaos a thousand times before.

The glorious sound of closing your laptop or shutting off the machinery at the end of the day. It’s what you whisper to your colleague when the clock hits 6pm and you’re legally allowed to escape the office.

To 'pia' something is to give it your absolute, 100% maximum effort, like you’re pulling an all-nighter for a project or running so hard you might actually faint. It carries that desperate, 'do or die' energy where you aren't just trying—you are going to war with the task until it’s finished.

A derogatory slang used in National Service or the workplace to describe someone who is physically unfit, injured, or constantly claiming medical issues to avoid work or training. It plays on the visual similarity between 'Pikachu' and the Hokkien term for having lame or crippled limbs.

The refined art of acting like you're disappearing into thin air when you're supposed to be in class or at the office. It's that cheeky thrill of skipping your responsibilities just to go catch a movie or hang out at the arcade instead.

To 'sabo' someone is to deliberately mess up their plans, stitch them up, or throw them under the bus for a laugh or out of malice. It’s that one friend who makes you late for a date or the colleague who hides the stapler right when you’re rushing to finish a report.

The literal 'shit work' that nobody in their right mind wants to do. It refers to those tedious, soul-crushing, or downright messy tasks that you inevitably get stuck with when you're the junior person in the room.

The MVP of the office or the platoon who always kena tasked with the dirty, boring, or tedious work that nobody else wants to touch. They are the unsung hero who takes one for the team, handles the paperwork, or unclogs the metaphorical shit, usually without making a big fuss about it.

When you’re so wiped out you can’t even lift your chopsticks, that’s shag. It’s what you feel after a 12-hour shift or pulling an all-nighter for a deadline; basically, when your soul has left your body and requested a long vacation.

To sit around completely idle, often while others are busy working hard. It paints a funny mental picture of someone chilling so much that their only 'exertion' is swinging their dangling leg while they wait for their tea or a paycheck.

To 'siam' is to dodge, bail, or scramble out of the way before things get messy. Whether it’s dodging a wet patch on the floor or bolting the moment your boss asks for volunteers on a Friday evening, it’s the art of tactical disappearance.

Originally referring to traditional puppet or stage performances, we use this to call out someone being a total drama queen or putting on a fake show for the bosses. You know that colleague who only acts busy when the manager walks by? That is pure wayang, brother.

The classic Singaporean retort for when someone asks you to do something you’d rather not, or simply can’t fit into your jam-packed schedule. It’s not just about being busy; it’s a way of saying the task is a low priority or frankly, a bit of a waste of energy.