"AT THE END OF THE DAY" named most irritating cliche

Associated Press ^ | 3/24/2004

[sinkspur]

LONDON - At the end of the day, it's the most irritating cliche in the English language.

So says the Plain English Campaign which said the abused and overused phrase was first in a poll of most annoying cliches.

Second place went to "at this moment in time," and third to the constant use of "like," as if it were a form of punctuation. "With all due respect" came fourth.

"When readers or listeners come across these tired expressions, they start tuning out and completely miss the message -- assuming there is one," said Plain English Campaign spokesman John Lister.

"Using these terms in daily business is about as professional as wearing a novelty tie or having a wacky ring-tone on your phone."

Lister said people should follow the 1946 advice of writer George Orwell: "Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print."

The Plain English Campaign, which offers annual awards for good use of the language, surveyed its 5,000 supporters in more than 70 countries for the poll.

Other terms that received multiple nominations included: 24/7; absolutely; address the issue; around (in place of about); awesome; ballpark figure; basically; basis ("on a weekly basis" in place of "weekly" and so on); bear with me; between a rock and a hard place; bottom line; crack troops; glass half full (or half empty); I hear what you're saying; in terms of; it's not rocket science; literally; move the goal-posts; ongoing; prioritize; pushing the envelope; singing from the same hymn sheet; the fact of the matter is; thinking outside the box; to be honest/to be honest with you/to be perfectly honest and touch base.

Formed in 1979, the Plain English Campaign is an independent group that campaigns against cliches, jargon and obfuscation, particularly in official and public documents.

[ValerieUSA]

Being curious, I want to open that envelope. Wouldn't it be funny if everyone is pushing around an envelope full of money, instead of opening it?

[new cruelty]

I hear variations of "We've got" often in movies

"Ok, listen up, people! We've got a runner!"

Or

"We've got cows!" I recall that one was from Twister.

[new cruelty]

"you know what I'm saying?..."

very annoying...

I know what you mean.

[ladyinred]

"you know what I'm saying?..."

.Oh yes! That one drives me crazy! I also am so sick of "at the end of the day!"

[Mr. Buzzcut]

How could i forget: "You da man!"

I despise that!

[budwiesest]

What I want to know is, if you catch my drift, what's buggin' you?

[aloysius89]

this type of thing

ultra-conservative

religious fundamentalist

[Mr. Buzzcut]

I wonder about some of the cliches in personal ads. There are people living in Kansas who claim "long walks on the beach" as a favorite activity.

I once included in an ad that I HATE long walks!

[Ciexyz]

"We're not talking brain surgery here."

[new cruelty]

What annoys me is people who say "and ****," in place of "et cetera."

ROTFLOL. Well, ain't that a fine "how do you do"? You tell 'em.

[Protagoras]

I hear what you're saying, but At the end of the day, I'll be honest with you, I have heard these 24/7, and we need to absolutely address the issue in an awesome way. But this isn't rocket science, basically, all we need are some crack troops to give us a ballpark figure on a weekly basis of ways we might think outside the box on this problem.

In terms of this ongoing problem, I think we need to move the goal posts back a bit for people who use these terms. Touch base with me later and let me know if we are singing from the same hymn sheet on this.

[renosathug]

Drink the Kool-Aid, eat your own cooking, get your arms around it, catch a falling knife and take one for the team.

[hosepipe]

For me its the use of the word "BI-partisan"..
Silly really.. Theres no such thing.. If you are even IN a party you're partisan.. cause thats what the word means.. The pnly ones bi-partisan are Independants and they are democrats proveing they are not independant anyways.

So evertime I hear the word bi-partisan it means something absolutely partisan is going on...

Bi-partisan is like bi-sexual.. which means if it moves or not you'll have sex with it.. same with bi-partisan except its about money.. with many hands out.. no matter where the money comes from they'll take it.. Clean, dirty, above or under the table, legal or not legal, they don't care if its bi-partisan.. Remember that the next time you hear it because somewhere some extreme nastyness is going on.. And its not about sex until after they get the money.

[new cruelty]

_ _ _ _ or get off the pot.

The _ _ _ _ is going to hit the fan.

He can't tell the difference between _ _ _ _ and Shinola.

And one more- You fill in the blanks

: )

[ValerieUSA]

A bill written and passed by both republicans and demoncrats is bi-partisan.

[Revolting cat!]

OK, peoples, let's travel closer to home, where it hurts! Ye, I be talking about the most annoying and dumbest FR cliches. I'll start.

"did you get off your meds?" and similar responses,
"you are a Communist", and related,
"go back to DU",
"BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!".

Can we start by stopping with those already?

[Revolting cat!]

Cliche phrases are one thing, but cliched thinking in all its sincerity another story altogether. Take this post from another thread. I couldn't top this kind of phrasing if I tried:

"The economy is a messy thing. Jobs used to move around the country, looking for a more favorable environment to do business. Now they can move around the world.

Moral of this story? No job is forever. People have to be ready to change companies, change careers and acquire new skills."

[Khurkris]

...you must die...you must die now...

..heh heh heh...

[Henrietta]

Mine is, "At this point in time."

Choose one, 'at this point', or 'at this time,' but don't say both!

[CharacterCounts]

Mark my words clichés are everywhere. Nevertheless, I get tired of the same old, same old. We’re all in the same boat here. It's a matter of opinion, some say different strokes for different folks, I don’t wish to sound like sour grapes, but I think trite expressions are overused. For goodness’ sake they are driving me up a wall Like, It's a losing battle. Nothing is certain but death and taxes but people will probably continue to use them because like father, like son or the acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree

The best way to stamp out trite expressions is to think big, think positive and visualize success. Thinking outside of the box can make a difference, especially if you put your mind to it. Like, I mean, anything is possible and it only takes one person to make a difference. If you follow your heart, get with the program, grab the brass ring and shoot for the moon, you can achieve success in overcoming the odds and eliminating cliché’s.

I think we should give it 110 percent. The through sheer force of will, we can make a difference. Keeping in mind, however that it takes two to tango, we first must self-discipline. After all is said and done, no pain, no gain. Take it one day at a time and go for the gusto. It really stops to make you think, how the world would be a better place without the day-to-day use of clichés.

If you don’t see it my way, we may agree to disagree because at the end of the day It all depends on how you look at it.

A Penny for your thoughts