English Language Discussion Forums


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > English Idioms and Sayings > English Slang

Quick Links
Sites for Teachers


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 25-Jun-2009, 04:14
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Country: Hong Kong
Posts: 12
Current Location: Canada
First Language: cantonese
Member Type: Student or Learner
leungss is an unknown quantity at this point
Default ride a desk

what does "ride a desk" mean?? I tried to google it but I couldn't find the answer in English. Any help would be appreciated. thanks.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2  
Old 25-Jun-2009, 08:39
jackolantern's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: USA
Posts: 94
Current Location: Texas
First Language: English
Member Type: Other
jackolantern is on a distinguished road
Default Re: ride a desk

It means "working a desk job". These types of jobs usually involve sitting at a desk, working on the computer or answering phones all day. It seems to be used in kind of an insulting way, such as a police officer saying "Tony joined the police force to catch criminals, but all he has done is ride a desk. I guess they don't trust him with a gun".

EDIT: It is not very common, and many native speakers would probably have to tell by context what it means.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 25-Jun-2009, 10:01
bhaisahab's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Country: England
Posts: 6,127
Current Location: France
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
bhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond reputebhaisahab has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: ride a desk

Quote:
Originally Posted by leungss View Post
what does "ride a desk" mean?? I tried to google it but I couldn't find the answer in English. Any help would be appreciated. thanks.
I have heard of a similar expression 'to fly a desk'. A pilot in the airforce promoted to an administrative position might say "I'm flying a desk these days".
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
singular or plural: ride a bike dido4 Ask a Teacher 2 20-Feb-2009 13:40
Ride out dilodi83 Ask a Teacher 1 17-Jan-2009 13:35
Game: Help Desk Scorpion Teaching English 1 18-Aug-2007 07:15
ride and ride on daisy1352 Ask a Teacher 1 07-May-2007 11:10
Ride by, ride past and stop by nicolas Ask a Teacher 13 22-Jan-2004 11:41


All times are GMT. The time now is 06:29.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.3.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2009 UsingEnglish.com