Last Wednesday I was kidnapped by my father. Not really. I went with him to a town situated between the two large towns in our province so we could go watch a seminar series on building wealth.
Someone's wealth was built that day but it wasn't mine. The seminar started at 6pm and by 5:30pm there were a good-sized group of "pigeons" waiting at the door. I know this because we were also there early. What the seminar would describe to us was supposed to "blow you away" and we would definitely want to "pick up whatever they would be laying down".
Since we had a little time before the seminar, we went to have supper at the hotel's restaurant. Lucky for us we did. When we returned to the seminar room, it was "standing room only". The speaker began telling stories of how he built his own wealth and how we could purchase a class to find out how to do the same. They only had 9 places in the class so we had to act quick. The class, at this one time only offer, was discounted from $6,000.00 to $2,000.00. Wow, what a bargain! At the break (2 hours+ later) we were offered a granola bar for a snack. Unbelievable! These people were talking about all the million dollar deals they were making daily and then we were offered a granola bar for supper.
In the end, they sold all 9 seats in their first class for $2,000.00 and the 9 seats in the second class at $1,250.00 each, for a grand total of $29,250.00. The cost for the room we were in was maybe $500.00 and if you add in the cost of the water (available at the back of the room), $0.00, and the cost of the snacks, maybe $20.00, you get a final intake of about $28, 730.00. Even if the classes offered cost them $2,000.00, they still "come out ahead" at $26,730.00. So whose wealth was built that night?
1) a "pigeon" OR a "sucker" OR a "mark"- "There is a pigeon born every minute" OR "There is a sucker born every minute". This is an expression that isn't discussing actual flying pigeons. The suggestion is that pigeons are not very smart and they like to be in groups, i.e. do what the other pigeons are doing. So if you are someone who wants to convince someone to give you money or to purchase something above the actual worth of the product, you must look for a "pigeon". A "pigeon" is someone who wants to believe that they have knowledge that they do not and so they will pretend to understand what the salesperson is saying just to belong. This "pigeon" will purchase a car that is broken for full price. They will buy a new sweater for ten times the regular retail price because they believe the salesperson when they tell the "pigeon" that the sweater has magical powers. Essentially a pigeon, a sucker and a mark are all very gullible people who will buy whatever you tell them to. A disreputable salesperson will always want to talk to the pigeons before they try talking to the informed shopper.
2) to "blow you away" OR to be "blown away" - This expression suggests a bomb exploding or a very strong wind that would physically move your body and therefore mind. We use this expression anytime we want to suggest that the information we have to share is amazing and will shock the listener. Usually, this is a good thing. If you have gone on a buying trip for work, and your boss asks you what you paid for your samples, you can say "You will be blown away be the prices". When you read a mystery book and it reveals the reason for the killer's actions, you could say you were "blown away" by that information.
You can also say that something can "blow your mind". Again, this suggests amazement. The expression does have a drug-related connotation because some drugs (not alcohol) can change your perception and therefore what your mind perceives. You can use this expression at work if you are sure that what you are about to demonstrate will be new and surprising information for your audience. You could tell the client at your advertising firm that the new ad campaign will "blow her mind" because it is so revolutionary.
3) to "pick up what someone is laying down" - A slightly dated expression that can refer to a dog that follows a scent to a lost object. We use this to describe the idea that everything that is about to be said is important or exciting information that needs to be understood and considered valuable. It can be used at least 2 ways. 1) You can ask someone, like a subordinate at work, if they are "picking up what you are putting (OR laying) down" because they do not seem to be listening to you. The idea is that because of your greater experience at the job, you have good information to share. You can also tell someone to make sure they "pick up what you lay down" because you are offering a gift of your knowledge and the listener would be wise to take the valuable information and learn it. 2) If you are at work and the boss is questioning whether you are listening, you can say "I am picking up what you are laying down" to assure the boss that not only are you listening but that the information being given is also being valued.
4) "standing room only" - This term is literal but can be used figuratively. If a room has a limited number of chairs and every chair is full, then any other individuals in the room would have to stand. Hence, the room was "standing room only". Figuratively, the expression suggests an unexpected number of participants in any activity. For example, if you expect about 20 workers to attend your talk on workplace safety, but 40 people come to your talk, then you can describe the talk as "It was standing room only" thereby suggesting great success. The number of chairs in a room are not really relevant in the figurative use of the expression, only a successful number of participants.
5) to "come out ahead" - To "come out" is a phrasal verb usually equivalent to "result". "Ahead" here is referring to a gain, not a loss or balanced result. You can "come out ahead" financially or in product or valuable information. So, if you go to a conference that cost you $800.00 to attend and none of the information you get is useful to you, then you did not come out ahead. However, if at that same conference you made 3 new contacts that lead to sales for your company, then you could say that you "came out ahead" at that conference.
To "come out" also has some other meanings. One meaning is to move from one enclosed space into an open space. A cat hiding under the table could be convinced to "come out" by the offer of a special cat treat. Another meaning is very similar but used more figuratively. It refers to homosexual individuals that hide their sexual orientation from others (sometimes from themselves). An individual hiding their orientation can be referred to as "in the closet". This is a very common expression. When this person discovers or decides to tell the truth about their orientation to their family and friends then they are considered to be "out of the closet" or to have "come out".
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