General
buff and turf
What does buff and turf mean?
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."
Origin
From 'The House of God' vocabulary; the classic paired verbs.
Frequently asked questions
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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