jack-in-office

It was just jack-in-office unpleasantness, and I had no choice but to ignore it.

The Sky Writer Geoff Barbanell 2010

And its understanding would help free future generations from stupid orthodoxies of all sorts: “the jack-in-office, the pompous official, the petulant commander, the ignorant pedagogue.”

Parasite Rex Carl Zimmer 2009

And its understanding would help free future generations from stupid orthodoxies of all sorts: “the jack-in-office, the pompous official, the petulant commander, the ignorant pedagogue.”

Parasite Rex Carl Zimmer 2009

And its understanding would help free future generations from stupid orthodoxies of all sorts: “the jack-in-office, the pompous official, the petulant commander, the ignorant pedagogue.”

Parasite Rex Carl Zimmer 2009

Old Marigold lost her nerve and did a trip over the cruet-thing that holds the gasometers, Thoms helped Roberts, in a way, by a spirited rendering of the jack-in-office.

The Nursing Home Murder Marsh, Ngaio, 1899-1982 1963

Just another example of pettish bureaucracy, the officiousness of the jack-in-office.

Greener Than You Think Ward Moore 1940

It was enough to make a man eat his heart out to have to stand the kick and the cuff of every petty jack-in-office, to have rice to eat and water to drink, when that gorgeous fortune was ready for him outside, just waiting to be picked up.

The Sign of Four 1915

We can easily imagine the high-and-mighty jack-in-office he must have been in Adolph's time.

Richard Wagner Runciman, John F 1913

The whole system teems with "wait-a-bit" thorns; and in such rare cases when difficulties do not exist, some jack-in-office is certain to arrive with the sole object and intention of inventing them.

On the Heels of De Wet Lionel James 1913

"What a jack-in-office!" she grumbled under her breath.

Monitress Merle Angela Brazil 1907