The English Oracle

What is a 'Swivel Servant'?

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Music by Eric Matyas
https://www.soundimage.org
Track title: Puddle Jumping Looping

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Chapters
00:00 What Is A 'Swivel Servant'?
00:16 Answer 1 Score 3
00:39 Accepted Answer Score 9
00:59 Answer 3 Score 2
01:16 Thank you

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Full question
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Tags
#meaning #phrases

#avk47



ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 9


It's probably a play on words - swivel and civil sound similar in pronunciation. It can either be a form of mockery or wordplay (for example, in this song) almost as if it's taboo to say 'civil servant', or it could simply be a misheard expression, as Guffa said.




ANSWER 2

Score 3


I had not heard this term before today, but my first thought was of a lazy-susan style device. After some searching, it seems I could be right, however the word swivel has been adopted as the name of a company which sells servers (not servants) hence swivel server. Swivel Servant might be a simple (incorrect) variation of Swivel server.




ANSWER 3

Score 2


"swivel servant" - play on the expression "civil servant"

A person who pretends to work while lounging in his or hers taxpayer-provided swivel chair !!
Possible origin - CBC Radio - "Canadian Air Farce"- program