23rd May 2012

Network Dictionary: Cock Blocked

Define “Cock Blocked”

In many IT organisations, there is (inevitably) someone who thinks that they are quite important. Full of their own brilliance, or maybe an overbalanced sense of ownership, but most likely someone who thinks who thinks they “own” something and make sure that no-one else gets access. (After all, if you are only one who ‘knows’ then they can’t get rid of you can they ? ……idiot).

These people think of themselves as the head rooster, or cock of the roost (a farming term for the pecking order in a chicken pen). And when they decide to block something that you are planning, typically because of their contrary nature, that is called COCK BLOCKING. ((Sometimes this person is also described as a cock , drawing on the same metaphor as ‘king of the roost’))

Example: Yeah, I took that concept over to the Linux team and John promptly cock blocked it because it’s in his area . Probably thinks its going to reduce his relevance.

1159198_rooster__cock_bird

This post is copyright of Thropos Ltd ©2008-2011 at Etherealmind.com - contact | email: greg.ferro@packetpushers.net - twitter: @etherealmind | All rights reserved
About Greg Ferro

Greg Ferro is a Network Engineer/Architect, mostly focussed on Data Centre, Security Infrastructure, and recently Virtualization. He has over 20 years in IT, in wide range of employers working as a freelance consultant including Finance, Service Providers and Online Companies. He is CCIE#6920 and has a few ideas about the world, but not enough to really count.

He is a host on the Packet Pushers Podcast, blogger at EtherealMind.com and on Twitter @etherealmind and Google Plus

  • http://ertw.com/blog/ Sean

    Erm, I can’t see this one getting traction in North America, it’s already got a definition.

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cock+block

    • http://etherealmind.com Greg Ferro

      Yes, and now you know exactly what I mean. Someone who stops from you getting to the action. I’m just saying it politely.

      • http://ertw.com/blog/ Sean

        No, I got that part ;)

        What I’m getting at is that the term “cock blocked” is so firmly entrenched as the sexual version that if I were to use it, no one one would get it. It would make more sense if it were a riff on the phrase “cock blocked”, just like people understand the phrase “dick magnet” because it’s a riff on “chick magnet”.

        Anyway, just my two cents. I know too many of these types of people, I need a way to describe them.

        Sean

  • http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid7_gci1359968,00.html Rivka Little

    I agree the sexual connotation is there in the U.S., but ultimately it implies the same exact thing. Makes it even funnier in that case!