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In Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), Blake is sent by the firm to motivate the office by announcing a one-week sales contest: first prize is a Cadillac El Dorado, and those who haven't regained their jobs by the end of the week will be fired:

Blake: Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired.

Why second prize is specifically a set of steak knives?

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    It's a crappy prize, but at least you're not fired. Commented 2 days ago

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Per the screenplay, these aren't even good steak knives. He's clearly bought them as a prop to illustrate that 'second place' is just a fancy word for 'first loser'. Sure, you get to keep your job (for now), but all you get from the company is some shit to take to your rinky-dink little apartment to show your wife. Only the big dog gets the actual steak.

BLAKE (CONT'D): We're going to have a little sales conference. And the fellow with the highest sales by the thirtieth wins first place. First prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. You wanna' see second prize?

[He reaches into his briefcase, takes out a cheap packaged set of Japanese steak knives.]

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  • Maybe part of it is that it's not even a full set of cutlery: you don't even get the forks, which are also needed to eat steak. Commented yesterday
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    @StuartF - Speaking as the proud owner of a very nice set of steak knives, you don't need special forks to eat steak, just special knives. Commented yesterday
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    80s/early 90s is also peak "Amazing Ginsu" television Ads as well as every single neighbour's college age kid selling Cutco MLM knives. So "yet another set of crappy steak knives" is more clearly a booby prize in the cultural zeitgeist. Commented yesterday

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