Image: Paul Bradbury / OJO Images / Getty Images
About This Quiz
The world of construction is a hard place filled with men and women who know a thing or two about tools, construction machinery and, most of all, building something.
Construction is not only putting up concrete walls, making a roof and all the other things associated with building; its a lot of preparation as well. Before any of this can be done, the area needs to be prepared. This is done with specialized machinery and good old elbow grease in most cases.
Elbow grease? Yes, hard work! Now that's a great example of the kind of slang or jargon you will find on a construction site, and there are many others. For instance, did you know that a bucket is called an "Indiana Round Ladder"? Or that an electrical current is referred to as "juice"? And what do you think construction workers will call a shovel? Well, how about a "muck-stick"?
These are just some of the examples of slang terms you might hear on a construction site if you were to spend the day eavesdropping. But how many do you think you might already know or be able to guess? Well, let's see by taking this construction worker slang quiz! Good luck!
"Balls" is a term used when measuring up a construction site. But what does it mean?
An exact measurement, say 7.00 meters
Instead of saying something measures at 7.00 meters, construction workers will use the term "balls." So, for instance, if a piece of wood measures 7.00 meters, they will say "seven balls."
Yards
A slang term for a measuring tape
None of the above
Advertisement
If someone on a construction site is described as an "I.B.E.W.," what do they do?
Work hard
Block walkways and thoroughfares
"I.B.E.W." stands for "I Block Every Walkway" and is the name given to construction workers who do just that, often unintentionally. They are always in the wrong place at the wrong time getting in the way.
Sleep on the job
Don't like hot days
Advertisement
When told to "get jiggy with it" on a construction site, what should you do?
Dance
Go on a lunch break
Speed up on the job you are doing
The term "get jiggy with it" simply means to speed up a little more on the task you are currently busy with. Construction sites are all about hitting deadlines to make sure the job is done on time and even slowing down on the smallest job can hold people back.
None of the above
Advertisement
From the list below, what type of tool do you think a "beater" is?
Saw
Pliers
Paint scraper
20 pound sledgehammer
Although construction workers might have some strange names for tools used on a construction site, there is certainly no mistaking what a "beater" would do! Sledgehammers are mainly used to break down things, for instance, a patch of hard ground filled with rocks or an old wall that needs to be destroyed.
Advertisement
Workers installing "Canadian plywood" are doing what?
Installing a drywall
When separating two areas within a building, construction workers generally will use drywall, especially if the building is to be an office space in the future. To do this, they use drywall, or "Canadian plywood."
Making shelves
Laying a foundation
None of the above
Advertisement
Builders who have said there is a "cheese eater" on site have seen which of these?
Cat
Rat
Construction sites aren't the cleanest places around, and depending on where it is, the chances of rats scurrying around between equipment and building materials are pretty good, especially in metropolitan areas.
Dog
Bird
Advertisement
If a fellow worker needed to "drop a deuce" where would you point him?
The foreman's office
The takeaway joint across the street
The toilet
Listen, sometimes bodily functions take preference over what happens on a construction site. So if a fellow worker wants to "drop a deuce" he wants to make a number two in the closest toilet! Let him go!
The bus station
Advertisement
When asking for a new "skid lid," what would a construction worker want?
New gloves
New boots
New protective eyewear
New protective headgear
Protective gear is paramount on any construction site. And the head is probably the most important part of your body to protect. To do so, you would need a "skid lid" or helmet.
Advertisement
When asked for a "manual backhoe," what tool should you give your fellow worker?
Pliers
Hammer
Screwdriver
Shovel
A backhoe is a mechanical excavator that digs holes on a construction site. So a "manual backhoe" is simply a shovel!
Advertisement
Who is a "bucket dumper"?
A drill operator
A frontend loader driver
A frontend loader is an important vehicle found on most construction sites. It is generally used in the preparation stage before building takes place where it can dig into the ground and move earth from one place to another. The drivers of these beasts are known as a "bucket dumper."
A cement truck driver
None of the above
Advertisement
As a new worker, if you are told to report to the office to get your "dress," what is it you will receive?
Reflective safety vest
Construction sites are dangerous places; there is no doubt. You really need to wear a reflective safety vest at all times, yes even during the day. Workers generally call this a dress.
A toolbox
A lunchbox
A dress
Advertisement
Can you tell us what protective gear "hand shoes" would be?
Hard hat
Eyewear
Shoes
Gloves
Protective gear on a construction site is mandatory. And just to be a little funny, construction workers call glove "hand shoes."
Advertisement
Who would a "nail bender" be in construction slang?
Carpenter
Construction workers take all forms. After the initial work is done on a building, for instance laying foundations, building walls or putting on the roof, other workers then apply the finishing touches like electricians or "nail benders," or carpenters.
Electrician
Fiber installer
Foreman
Advertisement
What is a "fire wrench" in construction slang?
Oxy-acetylene torch
Pass the "fire wrench!" Yes, that's the construction worker slang term for an oxy-acetylene torch. These are used in a number of ways on a construction site, especially if there is welding to be done.
An extinguisher
A drill
None of the above
Advertisement
A "sparky" is which profession found on a construction site?
Digger driver
Tunnel worker
Fiber technician
Electrician
It's not only on construction sites that an electrician is known as a "sparky," but in many other lines of work where they may be found. They are also sometimes called a " spanky."
Advertisement
A worker described as a "kid" is ______?
An experienced veteran
A new apprentice
On every construction site, you will find a range of workers, from grizzled veterans to newbies. A "kid" is simply an apprentice starting out in the construction game.
A new father
None of the above
Advertisement
Who would a "sand hog" be?
A truck driver
A backhoe operator
A tunnel worker
Some construction sites might need tunnels built underground. To achieve this, a tunnel worker, or "sand hog," will be brought in to complete the job.
A carpenter
Advertisement
Do you know what a "cowboy" is?
A type of C-clamp
C-clamps are used throughout construction sites and for many different situations. There are generally referred to as "cowboys."
A rigger who doesn't use safety gear
A nail gun
None of the above
Advertisement
If your fellow workers tell you there is a "hog in the corn," what does that mean?
Time for a smoke break
Its almost lunchtime
A foreman or boss is near you
"Hog in the corn" simply means a foreman or site boss is nearby to where you are working. That means you better make sure what you are doing is close to perfect!
None of the above
Advertisement
The construction slang word "bullets" refers to which of these?
Wood splinters
Screws
Many things need fastening on a construction site, most notably by carpenters. To do so, they will use screws, or "bullets" as they are known.
Cans of WD40
Drill bits
Advertisement
Which construction worker profession would a "Rembrandt" be?
Carpenter
Plumber
Electrician
Painter
Construction humor, hey! Yes, any painters on site are referred to as "Rembrandts" by their fellow construction workers after the famous Dutch painter.
Advertisement
A trip to the "blue room" is which of these?
A bathroom break
There are no proper toilets on a construction site; there are only portapotties! And these are generally blue in color, hence their slang name the "Blue Room."
A trip to the emergency room
A trip to the local takeaway
None of the above
Advertisement
Which of these would be a "gear jammer"?
Painter
Electrician
Truck driver
Construction sites are filled with a variety of equipment. Some of them are brought there on the back of trucks, for example, while rubble would also need to be removed from the site by truck. And the drivers of any trucks on a construction site are generally called "gear jammers."
Foreman
Advertisement
Fasteners are useful on a construction site. Which of these is called a "chicken band"?
Torx bit
Nail
Screw
Zip tie
Zip ties are unsung heroes in everyday life and even on construction sites. These little fasteners, called "chicken bands" in construction slang, can be used in many different ways.
Advertisement
A fellow worker who has been "promoted to customer" has been _____?
Promoted to foreman
Fired
It's never a nice thing to be fired, but true to form, construction workers have a slang term for it which makes complete sense and has a little bit of humor as well: "promoted to customer."
Given holiday
None of the above
Advertisement
Of these tools, which do you think would be a "cats paw"?
Drill
Small nail puller
When you need to pull out nails on a construction site, and there is no claw hammer nearby, you would use a "cats paw" or small nail puller as regular folk would call it!
Hammer
Chisel
Advertisement
When something is described as "fubar" on a construct site, it is ______?
Beyond repair
Although not strictly a construction site slang word — it actually comes from troops during World War II — if something is "fubar" it's pretty messed up and not easily fixed!
Perfectly done
Still unfinished
None of the above
Advertisement
If someone calls for the "skipper" on a construction site, who are they looking for?
Site foreman
Ever site has site foreman in charge. Certainly not an easy job, they control all the workers and make sure that plans are being followed to the letter! Site foremen are often called the "Skipper."
An apprentice
A lorry driver
None of the above
Advertisement
What day is known as the "eagle has landed"?
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
Payday!
No one works for free, not even construction workers. And they even have a slang term for payday. They say the "eagle has landed" when money is coming their way.
Advertisement
What is a "fiber jockey" in construction slang?
A painter
A bricklayer
A person from an outside telecom company
As construction on a site progresses, all kinds of outside people are going to visit the site to complete their specific jobs not related to construction itself. For instance, laying of fiber lines for communications and internet access in a building. These will be installed by "fiber jockeys."
A welder
Advertisement
Any idea what you would likely find in a "worm bag"?
Worms
Tools
Of course, tools are important to construction workers. Some might even have their own set of tools. They carry these in their toolbox, which is called a "worm bag" in construction slang.
Food
None of the above
Advertisement
Can you tell us which of these you think would be a "personal drainer"?
Electrician
Plumber
Although it may seem simple, plumbing is an essential part of planning for a construction site. Plumbers will work from the get-go, laying down pipes initially but later, installing all the fixtures in completed buildings. They are often called "personal drainer" in construction slang.
Carpenter
None of the above
Advertisement
Can you tell us what a construction worker looking for "weasel piss" wants?
WD 40
Good old WD 40. Of course you are going to find cans of the stuff on a construction site. And here, it is called "weasel piss."
Oil
A cooldrink
A fruit juice
Advertisement
What do you think "drag out drops" would be when mentioned in construction slang?
Beads of sweat
Construction work is hard going, and when it takes place on a hot summers day, everybody is going to be pushing out a few "drag out drops." What are they, well it's simply sweat!
A throat lozenge
Headache tablets
None of the above
Advertisement
You Got:
/34
