Funny you should say that because
GO GREEN OR DIE
Posted on 12/31/2007 8:13:17 AM PST by ricks_place
A "surge" of overused words and phrases formed a "perfect storm" of "post-9/11" cliches in 2007, according to a U.S. university's annual list of words and phrases that deserve to be banned.
Choosing from among 2,000 submissions, the public relations department at Michigan's Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie targeted 19 affronts to the English language in its well-known jab at the worlds of media, sports, advertising and politics.
The contributors gave first prize to the phrase "a perfect storm," saying it was numbingly applied to virtually any notable coincidence.
"Webinar" made the list as a tiresome non-word combining Web and seminar that a contributor said "belongs in the same school of non-thought that brought us e-anything and i-anything."
Similarly, the list-makers complained about the absurd comparisons commonly phrased "x is the new y," as in "(age) 70 is the new 50" or "chocolate is the new sex." "Fallacy is the new truth," commented one contributor.
Some words and phrases sagged under the weight of overuse, contributors said, citing the application of "organic" to everything from computer software to dog food.
In the same vein, decorators offering to add "pop" with a touch of color need new words, the list-makers said.
Such phrases as "post 9/11" and "surge" have also outlived their usefulness, they said. Surge emerged in reference to adding U.S. troops in Iraq but has come to explain the expansion of anything.
Other contributors took umbrage at the phrase to "give back" as applied to charitable gestures, usually by celebrities.
"The notion has arisen that as one's life progresses, one accumulates a sort of deficit balance with society which must be neutralized by charitable works or financial outlays," one said.
"Back in the day" raised hackles for being applied to recent trends rather than historical events.
Other teenage linguistic indiscretions such as the often meaningless use of "random" and "sweet" raised the ire of list-makers, as did the pointless "it is what it is."
Reporters were chided for skipping out on detail by describing an event or parting as "emotional," and for misapplying "decimate" when they mean annihilate or destroy, not the word's true meaning of to lose a fraction.
Sports announcers were urged to drop "throw under the bus" when assigning blame to a player. "It is a call for the media to start issuing a thesaurus to everyone in front of a camera," a contributor said.
And finally, any self-respecting writer would groan at being labeled a "wordsmith" who engages in "wordsmithing," the list-makers said.
Funny, because it seems that is used by people who generally are very “open” about sex (1st def), but want to be discreet when talking about which genitalia.
I believe strictly speaking, “gender” refers only to language format in those strange languages which haven’t advanced to purely neutral as English but insist on labelling different things as “male” or “female”.
Some people have too much time on their hands.
“there is no there there”.
In the movie, three storms converge to become an unusual threat...
Ya know what I’m saying?
Thinking outside the box
Infrastructure
New paradigm
Isn’t it 35 cents now?
Oh, and talk to the hand cuz the face ain’t listening.
It's used in every "commentating"! LOL
Even my spell checker passed it!!!!
A movie about a bunch of selfish greedy idiots supposed to be “heroes” or at least “poor victims” gets an overused cliche for its existence.
I cringe when hearing “perfect storm” just because I couldn’t believe how popular that movie was.
That would be truly amazing.
LOL!
Sorry, Hannity, I HATE that greeting.
And I thank you for thanking me. Your courage IS a skill set.
Also "they're in control of their own destiny".
“Get your ________ on”
Except of course for crossword puzzles. “Uva” is right up there with “Uma” and “Ute”, and a near kin of “comedian Johnson”.
Funny you should say that because
GO GREEN OR DIE
For several years, one of our local TV stations has had a real estate show called “Hot on Homes.”
For the life of me, I can’t figure out where they came up with the name (although the 20-something airhead girl hosting it might be a clue), or *why.*
Who *doesn’t* like (isn’t “hot on”) living in a home?
“Baby bump” is very near the top of my “arrgh” list.
Ha! *Absolutely* is the new “yes.” Cringe.
Reminds me of that idiotic commercial where all the employees are lying on the floor ideating. I sure hope that one doesn't take hold.
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