The billionaire CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, which is a major shareholder of Heinz Kraft, was asked by an interviewer on CNBC why the consumer goods company had made an offer for its Anglo-Dutch rival even though the latter was clearly not interested in a tie-up.

He responded by saying that “if a diplomat says yes, he means maybe. If he says maybe, he means no. And if he says no, he’s no diplomat.”

He then added that “if a lady says no, she means maybe. And if she says maybe, she means yes. And if she says yes, she's no lady.”

But if you were surprised by the billionaire’s crude comments (and perhaps also his implication that it's impossible to be both a lady and a diplomat) then dig into his rich backlog of letters to investors and you’ll find that he’s no stranger to sometimes questionable, and other times just weird, sexual metaphors.

In a 2004 letter to investors, he likened being caught out by an unpredictable market, to skinny dipping in the sea.

“Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked,” he wrote.

A year later, when explaining that Berkshire Hathaway aims to grow the value of its investments and earnings, Mr Buffett said:

“In this ambition, we hope – metaphorically – to avoid the fate of the elderly couple who had been romantically challenged for some time. As they finished dinner on their 50th anniversary, however, the wife – stimulated by soft music, wine and candlelight – felt a long-absent tickle and demurely suggested to her husband that they go upstairs and make love. He agonised for a moment and then replied, ‘I can do one or the other, but not both.’”

Two years later, in a similar letter to investors, Mr Buffett compared unsuccessful business deals to "ugly" women saying:

“A line from Bobby Bare’s country song explains what too often happens with acquisitions: 'I’ve never gone to bed with an ugly woman, but I’ve sure woke up with a few.'”

And while the 86-year old has perhaps become crasser – or at least more uninhibited – with age, he seems to have always had a penchant for odd references.

Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires Show all 10 1 /10 Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires Businessman David Koch arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala Benefit celebrating the opening of "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" in Upper Manhattan, New York May 5, 2014. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT FASHION BUSINESS HEADSHOT) - RTR3NWXJ Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires attends the 15th annual Art for Life Gala hosted by Russell and Danny Simmons at Fairview Farms on July 26, 2014 in Water Mill, New York. 2014 Getty Images Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires Lleyton Hewitt of Australia Matthew Ebden of Australia during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 6, 2014 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) 2014 Getty Images Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires < > on February 24, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. 2014 Getty Images Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires SANTA MONICA, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos xxxxxxxxxxxx during a press conference on September 6, 2012 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Getty Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Mexican businessman Carlos Slim Helu, one of the world's richest men, smiles during a panel discussion about Latin America at the Clinton Global Initiative September 27, 2007 in New York. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carlos Slim Helu 2007 Getty Images Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 13: Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, speaks during the Fortune summit on "The Most Powerful Women" at the Mandarin Hotel October 13, 2015 in Washington, DC. Each year Fortune compiles a list of the countries most power women that spans industries as diverse as finance, retail, and entertainment. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 29: Amancio Ortega (L) and Marta Ortega Perez attend the Monaco International Jumping as part of Global Champion Tour on June 29, 2012 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) 2012 Getty Images Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires Bill Gates, founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, gestures as he takes part in a discussion organised by British magazine The Economist about expected breakthroughs in the next 15 years in health, education, farming and banking on January, 22, 2015 in Brussels. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Even way back in 1985, he attempted to emphasise the importance of patience by using an off-the-wall reference to childbirth.