Peon: Oh, you're going downstairs? Can I get a fag yogurt?
Manager: A… what?
Peon: A fag yogurt. (pause) Well, it's spelled f-a-g-e but we pronounce it the other… way. It's kind of… funny. (long pause) Am I fired?
Manhattan, New York
Peon: Oh, you're going downstairs? Can I get a fag yogurt?
Manager: A… what?
Peon: A fag yogurt. (pause) Well, it's spelled f-a-g-e but we pronounce it the other… way. It's kind of… funny. (long pause) Am I fired?
Manhattan, New York
Old man on computer and phone: Oh, I love dragging and dropping!
Manhattan, New York
Overheard by: adele works with septugenarians.
PR gal: We need a really memorable tag line, like “Stop, Drop and Roll” from the ’80s. Whatever happened to that, anyway?
Intern guy: It still works if you’re on fire.
41 Madison Avenue
New York, NY
Intern: Holy shit, it’s cold in here!
Sandy*, ancient secretary: Allen*! This a law office — a professional place of business. We do not use profanity in this office. What if a client had been waiting in reception and heard you use that kind of language? In the future I would ask that you refrain from using that kind of language. I’m sure the partners would not appreciate you speaking that way to your coworkers, especially those who are older than you.
Partner, entering five minutes later: Jesus-fucking-Christ, it’s cold in here! Goddamn, Larry* — cheapskate son of a bitch won’t turn the heat on until nine. Sandy, get me Larry’s number so I can give that asshole a piece of my mind. Fucking dick. Every goddamn winter he pulls this shit. And Sandy, make some coffee for these interns — it’s like 40 degrees in here!
Law office
New York, New York
Female cube dweller to another: I'll grab your pair and you'll grab my pair and we'll slap each other in the face with them.
Manhattan, New York
Overheard by: erak
Outraged peon, about Phil Hughes: This kid is 21 years old! Twenty-one! What were you doing at 21? Going to class? Drinking beer? This kid has the most important job in the world… and he is only 21!
Madison Avenue
New York, New York
Overheard by: Feeling bad for others
Secretary: There’s one class called “How to Shoot a Porno.”
Employee: What?
Secretary: Yeah, it’s girl-on-girl. I called to ask if we could get a group discount, but it’s been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.
Employee: Wow.
Secretary: There’s another class, “How to make sushi”…
845 3rd Avenue
New York, NY
Boss to employee: Read between my lips.
Queens, New York
Overheard by: Socket
Construction worker: Man, just being in this place makes me want
to learn how to read.
841 Broadway
New York, NY
Exec: I was in this fabulous hotel in Banff, in Alberta. And these Japanese businessmen were there too, and you know, the Japanese are so…what’s the word? Xenophobic. These Japanese businessmen come walking down the hall, seven abreast, as though everyone should just naturally get out of their way. So I just clipped the guy on the shoulder and spun him around. And he looked at me with this look and I said, “Hey, pal; welcome to America.” Actually, it was Canada, but same difference.
2000 Westchester Avenue
Purchase, New York
Overheard by: Emilio Lizardo
