John Miller
The phrase to be treated like a mushroom means to be kept in the dark and fed nonsense. It is of American-English origin and came into use in 1965. The phrase is used to describe a state of ignorance, often in the context of being misled or deceived. For example, an employee might feel that they are being treated like a mushroom if their company is taken over by another organization and they are not provided with adequate information or transparency about the changes that will occur.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | American English, 1965 |
| Used a few years later in Australian and British English | |
| Meaning | To be kept in a state of ignorance and told nonsense |
| To be pushed to the edge and avoided with distaste | |
| To be kept in the dark and fed manure/bullshit | |
| To be kept in the dark and have things/shit thrown at you | |
| To be lied to |
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What You'll Learn
To get the mushroom treatment
The phrase is often used in the context of being kept in the dark about something, especially when this is coupled with being fed misinformation. For example, in a relationship, if one partner has been wasting money and the other has no idea, and when they find out, they are lied to, this could be described as a case of treating their partner like a mushroom.
The phrase is also used in the context of management and politics. For instance, the "mushroom theory of management" refers to keeping employees in the dark and feeding them misinformation. In politics, the phrase has been used to describe the behaviour of politicians, with the implication that they are not to be trusted.
The phrase is also used in a joking manner, as in the joke: "Why is working for [insert company name] like being a mushroom?" "Because they do nothing but keep you in the dark and throw sh*t on you."
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To feel like a mushroom
To "feel like a mushroom" is to be kept in the dark and fed bullshit, manure, or nonsense. This phrase is of American-English origin and means to be kept in a state of ignorance.
The phrase "to feel like a mushroom" is often used in the context of being treated like a mushroom by someone in a position of power, such as a manager, the government, or a spouse. For example, an employee might feel like they are being treated like a mushroom if their manager is keeping important information from them or feeding them lies. Similarly, citizens might feel like they are being treated like mushrooms if the government is not being transparent about its actions or decisions. In a relationship, one partner might feel like they are being treated like a mushroom if the other partner is keeping secrets or lying to them.
The "mushroom theory of management" refers to a management style in which employees are kept in the dark and fed manure or bullshit. This management style is often criticized as it can make employees feel disrespected, undervalued, and untrusted.
The phrase "to feel like a mushroom" is also used in a more light-hearted or joking manner. For example, someone might say that they feel like a mushroom because they are confused or because they feel like they are being treated like a fungus. In some cases, the phrase can be used to describe a feeling of being out of the loop or not included in the decision-making process.
Overall, the phrase "to feel like a mushroom" conveys a sense of being kept in the dark, ignored, or disrespected. It is often used to describe a power imbalance or a lack of transparency and trust in a relationship, workplace, or political context.
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To be kept in the dark
The phrase "to be kept in the dark" is part of the expression "to get the mushroom treatment" or "to feel like a mushroom", which means to be kept in a state of ignorance and fed false information or nonsense. This expression is of American-English origin and dates back to 1965, later spreading to Australian and British English.
The phrase is often used in the context of being kept uninformed by those in power, such as politicians or employers. For example, an executive might say, "We got the mushroom treatment after the acquisition. We were kept in the dark, then they covered us with manure, cultivated us, let us stew, and finally, they canned us." In this case, being "kept in the dark" refers to the employees being left uninformed about the company's plans following a takeover.
Another example of its usage can be seen in a quote from a mental ward patient: "Gateway is like Watergate. Sometimes I feel like a mushroom. They keep me in the dark and feed me bull." Here, the patient is expressing their sense of being kept in the dark and fed misinformation by those in authority.
The expression has also been used in personal relationships, such as when one partner hides significant information from the other, like running up gambling debts and lying about it. In such cases, the phrase "to be kept in the dark" implies a lack of transparency and honesty within the relationship.
While the phrase is commonly associated with being kept in the dark and fed misinformation, some sources suggest that it can also be used more broadly to refer to any situation where someone is pushed to the edge or treated with distaste. However, this usage may be less common and may require additional context for understanding.
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To be fed manure
The phrase "to be fed manure" is part of the larger expression "to be kept in the dark and fed manure" or "to be kept in the dark and fed bullshit". This expression is also known as "the mushroom treatment" or "to be treated like a mushroom". The phrase means to be kept in a state of ignorance and told nonsense or lies.
The expression has been in use since at least 1965 in American English and later in Australian and British English. It is also used in other languages, such as in the international language Esperanto, where the phrase "trakti kiel fungon" means the same thing.
The phrase is often used in the context of management or leadership that withholds important information from employees or the public and provides misleading or false information instead. For example, one executive described their experience during a company acquisition as receiving "the mushroom treatment":
> "Right after the acquisition, we were kept in the dark. Then they covered us with manure. Then they cultivated us. After that, they let us stew for a while. And, finally, they canned us."
In another example, the phrase is used to describe the behaviour of politicians:
> "We shouldn't be treated like mushrooms. We ought to know the truth!"
The phrase can also be used in personal relationships, such as when one partner is hiding something from the other. However, this usage is less common and may require additional context for understanding.
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To be treated like a mushroom
The phrase is often used in the context of management or leadership, where those in positions of power are accused of keeping their employees or citizens ignorant and feeding them lies or false information. For example, an executive might say they were given the "mushroom treatment" after their company was taken over by another, more significant conglomerate: "We were kept in the dark. Then they covered us with manure. Then they cultivated us. After that, they let us stew for a while. And, finally, they canned us."
The phrase can also be used in a more general sense to describe any situation where one feels they are being kept in the dark or misled. For instance, in a relationship where one partner has a secret addiction or has made a significant financial decision without consulting the other.
In summary, to be treated like a mushroom is to be kept in ignorance and fed lies or misinformation. This phrase is often used to describe power dynamics, whether in the workplace, politics, or personal relationships, where those with more power or knowledge withhold information or actively mislead those with less power or knowledge.
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Frequently asked questions
To be treated like a mushroom means to be kept in a state of ignorance and told nonsense.
The phrase originated in American English in 1965 and a few years later, it was in use in Australian and British English.
"Her husband treats her like a mushroom. Poor Anita."
