Qfyilyi

The phrase "queer attitude" was commonplace in, say, my parents' era - simply meaning a "strange attitude" or "unhelpful behavior".

Unfortunately in the present era, I once used this phrase and sadly offended an LGBT person, since younger people today use "queer" as homosexual.

(Please note, there is no point in tirades about how language has meaning etc. The simple evident fact is that if you use "queer attitude" today, you will likely be hurtful to folks. I'm still disgusted that nobody uses apocryphal properly anymore, so don't look at me. Language changes. Who wants to be hurtful?)

Anyway, I can avoid saying "queer attitude" by just saying "strange attitude".

What's a PC-era alternative to "queer the deal" ?

Interestingly, the facts are:

• "queer the deal" has a very specific, clear, meaning, crossing over between "superstition" and "mental poise". Such as:




• perhaps you're buying a house; your friend asks you "where's the house?!" as a matter of, let's say superstition, you say "I don't want to talk about it! Don't want to queer the deal!"




• you have a big meeting at 9am. You tell your family "Ay! Everyone out of the house! I have to take this meeting! I don't want to queer the deal!" Meaning you don't want your poise, mojo, thrown-off.

Surprisingly, there really doesn't seem to be alternatives to the phrase that come to mind (perhaps because it's rather new - how new is it anyway?)

You have to sort of bumble around a long winded explanation. "I would prefer not to speak about it to much, or mention the address, because with me being a cross between superstitious and finding it hard to keep poise in a critical life-changing negotiation discussing it and vocalizing things will affect the internal dialogue in my head which I am trying to keep on track for the upcoming interactions .."

.. not very concise.

(Funnily enough, it's a concept you have to get across quickly - by it's nature! If you have to waste a long time explaining "I'd rather not talk about it..." that's you talking about it!)

It's universally accepted that if you exclaim "Don't want to queer the deal!" everyone drops it then and there, but it's understood you're not being rude, you just don't want to, well, queer the deal.

Anyway what's an alternative to "queer the deal" ?

Any other queer- phrases as easy enough to replace in our PC era, but I am stumped on this one.

(Funnily enough the other day I gave someone the alternative long-winded explanation - "I'm trying not to talk about it to not upset my negotiation so don't find me rude but I'd rather not go in to details ... etc" and my colleague immediately responded "Oh, you don't want to queer the deal, got it!" Geesh!)

Please, please, please, this is not an ELU question, it's an ELL question. If you're not totally, completely familiar with the commonplace native English business usage "queer the deal", there is no need whatsoever to comment or answer here, thanks.