Last Updated 4 days ago
Petrie (noun; HTFS-specific slang) — A petty know-it-all who shuts down conversation by constantly correcting others—even when their corrections are wrong. A Petrie treats every discussion as an opportunity to prove they know more than everyone else.
On set, a Petrie might interrupt a crew member mid-explanation, argue over an insignificant choice of words, or dismiss a workable suggestion without hearing it out. When someone points out that their correction is wrong, they double down, change the subject, or insist that everyone else misunderstood them.
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Characteristics of a Petrie
- Constant corrections: Finding something to dispute in almost every conversation, whether it needs correcting or not.
- Petty distinctions: Fixating on minor wording or irrelevant details until the original point gets lost.
- Unwarranted certainty: Delivering incorrect information with complete confidence.
- Shutting people down: Talking over others or dismissing their experience before they can finish.
- Needing the last word: Keeping an argument alive long after it has stopped being useful.
Example
“We were having a useful conversation until he corrected three people, got two things wrong, and argued with the person who actually knew the answer. Such a Petrie.”
Correcting a safety issue or a genuine technical mistake is part of doing the job. Being a Petrie means making a habit of needless, dismissive corrections because being right matters more to you than having a useful conversation.
In simple terms: A Petrie always has a correction. Accuracy is optional.
Related term: Sealy. Browse the filmmaking dictionary or explore terms beginning with P.