I was just speaking to a few people and I have been using legal terms around them that in my case I just think that everyone knows. I sometimes forget that using words like “perfunctory” might confuse some and make them not understand what it is I am trying to say. Using legal terms in my conversations is often like speaking to people using my kids’ choice of vocabulary.

This is a classic example of a recent conversation while I was on the phone with someone that really didn’t know me very well. I was talking to them and forgot to mute the television:

Them: Is that a movie I hear in the background?

Me: Yeah.

Them: What are you watching it sounds like a race car?

Me. Yeah. I’m just watching Kachow.

Them: Excuse me?

Me: Oops sorry I thought everyone knew that the movie “Cars” is actually known as Kachow.

I often catch myself in this dilemma of trying to explain my vocabulary at times. Let’s just say, if anyone wants to call you on a word like “Kachow”, just call me I’ll be able to help you explain its origins. Oh and for you that are still wondering about “perfunctory”, it means in a legal sense, the hearing is just a formality, the outcome is predetermined.