phrase General Slang

buff and turf

BUFF and TURF · phrase · slang

Polish the chart, then offload the patient elsewhere

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Definitions

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The combined manoeuvre of making a patient look well worked-up ('buff') and then transferring them to another service ('turf').

“Best plan is buff and turf him to medicine before the bed goes.”
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buff and turf In A Sentence

Best plan is buff and turf him to medicine before the bed goes.

Origin & Usage

From 'The House of God' vocabulary; the classic paired verbs.

People Also Ask

What does 'buff and turf' mean?

It means to make a patient look thoroughly worked-up ('buff' the chart) and then transfer them to another service ('turf'), so they become someone else's responsibility.

Where does 'buff and turf' come from?

It comes from the classic paired verbs of the satirical medical novel 'The House of God', which popularised much hospital slang.

Is 'buff and turf' cynical?

Yes. It is dark humour about patient-flow and offloading difficult admissions, though the 'buff' part does imply a proper work-up.

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