A catchphrase from a TV comedy, picked up by tool-teardown culture to flag a bad decision whose consequences are predictable but not immediate: a sloppy wire splice, a missing seal, a cheap bearing or a part held on with one screw. The point is that the problem will show up later and be worse than the effort saved now.
Heard on the job
Single wire nut buried in the motor housing with no strain relief, this is how you get ants.
Also heard as
- that's how you get ants
- do you want ants
Related terms
Belt and suspenders
Using two independent safeguards where one should do, for redundancy or out of extra caution.
Bodge
A crude, makeshift repair or piece of work that does the job, but only just.
Good idea fairy
The imaginary visitor who brings last-minute changes and bright ideas nobody thought through.