department

Related to department: Department of Labor, department of corrections, Department Stores

be (not) (one's) department

To be one's area of expertise or responsibility. I can't approve expense reports—that's not my department. Car repair is my dad's department, so he should be able to help you out.
See also: department

from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious

Of such an obvious meaning or implication as to be completely redundant, superfluous, or unnecessary. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Pauline: "The Prime Minister has said that lower-class families are bearing the brunt of the recession worse than anyone else." Johnny: "Wow, any other riveting news from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious?"
See also: bleeding, department, obvious, of

in the trouser department

1. Literally, relating to or having to do with trousers or pants. Of course, in the trouser department, a nicely fitted pair of slacks will always look more respectable than tracksuit bottoms.
2. slang Relating to or concerning one's penis or its physical aspects. Look at that guy in his big flashy sports car. I reckon it's compensation for not having much in the trouser department, eh?
See also: department, trouser

not (one's) department

Not one's area of expertise or responsibility. I can't approve expense reports—that's not my department. Car repair isn't really Jim's department, but I'll take a look at the engine if you like.
See also: department, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not your department

If a task or area of knowledge is not your department, you are not responsible for it or do not know much about it. The political issues are something else, but that's not really my department. `If you identify him, then what?' — `Not my department.' Note: You can also say that something is your department if you are responsible for it or know a lot about it. `So what do we do with him?' Admiral Polaski asked. `That, gentlemen, is our department,' Rintner said. Bill spoke expertly. This had been his department.
See also: department, not
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

be somebody’s department

(spoken) be something that somebody is responsible for or knows a lot about: Don’t ask me about it — that’s Helen’s department, not mine.
See also: department
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

headache department

1. n. a central source of unnecessary problems; a person who habitually causes problems. Here’s another memo from the headache department.
2. and headache house n. a liquor store or department. I stopped in at the headache house for some supplies.
See also: department, headache
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • be (not) (one's) department
  • be somebody's department
  • not (one's) department
  • not your department
  • at the expense of
  • at the expense of somebody/something
  • be ahead of the pack
  • be on (one's) say-so
  • chime
  • chime in
References in periodicals archive
Noman (PPS BS-17) Planning Officer Health Department has been transferred and posted as Research Officer Water Section P and D Department, Mohammad Adnan (PPS BS-17) Monitoring Officer Social Welfare Department has been transferred and posted as Planning Officer Environment Department and Services of Syed Shoaib Ali Shah Gillani (BS-17 CBP) Assistant Chief (OPS) Agriculture Section P and D Department has been placed at the disposal of Sports Department for further posting as Senior Planning Officer (BS-18).
KP govt. reshuffles 15 senior officers
Rafael Mariano - Department of Agrarian Reform secretary
Vitaliano Aguirre - Department of Justice secretary
Perfecto Yasay Jr - Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary
Duterte names more Cabinet members
Pietroski, $1,535.37 in overpaid Employment Security Department benefits.
Troxel, $13,011.03 in overpaid Employment Security Department benefits.
Hager, $1,634.26 in overpaid Employment Security Department benefits.
Black, $2,487.28 in overpaid Employment Security Department benefits.
Nixon, $828.58 in overpaid Employment Security Department benefits.
Flaherty, $548 in overpaid Employment Security Department benefits.
Judgments
Raindance Roofing Inc., $5,146.29 in unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes.
RR Ground Systems LLC, $4,131.20 in unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes.
Richard Davis, $139.33 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes.
Gilbert Prado, $528.59 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes.
Anselmo Puentes Soils, $390.20 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes.
Judgments