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The overused word of the century
The Bing Blog ^ | 9/3/08 | Stanley Bing

Posted on 09/05/2008 12:49:04 PM PDT by wbill

I was at a meeting yesterday, one of those painful presentations where a guy comes in, does twenty minutes of PowerPoint, and nearly turns his entire career to suet. That is neither here nor there. I mean, those things happen all the time. This time, it was Badnick’s turn.

What was interesting to me is that in the middle of the debacle, I heard a small snap. It was the sound of a straw breaking a camel’s back. During the meeting, I realized that a certain word has now been so overused, so over-extended, so bled of any meaning, freshness or appropriateness, that it must now be retired.

That word is Leverage.

I believe I first noticed its widespread acceptance perhaps twenty years ago...(snip)

(Excerpt) Read more at stanleybing.blogs.fortune.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: bingblog; stanleybing
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What the heck, it's a Friday.

My vote would be for "phenomenal". Dictionary.com defines it as "highly extraordinary or prodigious; exceptional". I would describe Sarah Palin's speech as phenomenal, or perhaps the turnout for Obama's coronation last week was phenomenal. But, when a co-worker called the chips and salsa at a local Mexican joint as "phenomenal"....I'd had enough.

Another pet peeve is "conversation". People don't talk, yak, shoot the breeze, kibbitz, or BS anymore. They have "conversations". Irritates me to no end.

1 posted on 09/05/2008 12:49:04 PM PDT by wbill
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To: wbill
The overused word of the century

This thread is probably going to jump the shark.

2 posted on 09/05/2008 12:51:22 PM PDT by snarks_when_bored
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To: wbill

Casual Conversations ~Supertramp

It doesn’t matter what I say
You never listen anyway
Just don’t know what you’re looking for
Imagination’s all I have
But ever then you say it’s bad
Just can’t see why we disagree
Casual conversations how they bore me
They go on and on endlessly
But no matter what I say
You ignore me anyway
I might as well talk in my sleep (I could weep)
You try to make me feel so small
Until there’s nothing left at all
Why go on? Just hoping that we’ll get along
There’s no communication left between us
But is it me or you who’s to blame?
There’s nothing I can do, yes you’re fading out of view
Don’t know if I feel joy or pain
And now it’s all been said
If you must leave then go ahead
Should feel sad
But I really believe that I’m glad
Yes I really believe that I’m glad


3 posted on 09/05/2008 12:52:30 PM PDT by Hegemony Cricket (Palin Speaks - Results in Fear & Loathing on the Left, Rejoicing on the Right!)
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To: wbill

I would nominate “not so much” as THE most overused phrase...........


4 posted on 09/05/2008 12:53:31 PM PDT by Red Badger (If you're not part of the solution, then you must be part of the government............)
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To: wbill

Gosh when I picture the guy with the power point I think of the word “paradigm”. Every harebrained scheme that makes no sense is breathlessly touted as a “new paradigm.”


5 posted on 09/05/2008 12:54:28 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (Reagan is back, and this time he's a woman.)
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To: wbill

Actually, I think Actually is Actually the most overused
word in the English language.


6 posted on 09/05/2008 12:55:55 PM PDT by WKB
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To: wbill

Look, the fact of the matter is, at the end of the day, this thread is divisive.


7 posted on 09/05/2008 12:56:13 PM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (diogeneticistical...esque...ish...)
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To: wbill


8 posted on 09/05/2008 12:57:16 PM PDT by I see my hands (_8(|)
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To: wbill

When I used to have to go to those stupid meetings, “think outside the box,” and “core competency” were the two big phrases.

Used to drive me nuts!


9 posted on 09/05/2008 12:58:00 PM PDT by Tex Pete (Obama for Change: from our pockets, our piggy banks, and our couch cushions!)
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To: wbill
At the end of the day, gravitas should be thrown under the bus.
10 posted on 09/05/2008 12:58:18 PM PDT by Defiant ("There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you". Thus spoke Sarahthustra)
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To: I see my hands
The overused word of the century:

Diversity
11 posted on 09/05/2008 12:58:53 PM PDT by Sig Sauer P220 (Conceal carry - Don't leave home without it.)
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To: Red Badger

I hate “reach out to” as a euphemism for “contact” or “call.” How did that too-wordy, touchy-feely expression ever become a part of our business jargon?


12 posted on 09/05/2008 12:59:02 PM PDT by Cecily
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To: snarks_when_bored

Like, I think I know what you mean.


13 posted on 09/05/2008 12:59:29 PM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: snarks_when_bored; All
I forgot one word (or phrase)...."Honestly". OR..."In all honesty".

Had a sales guy use that on me the other day. I told him that when I heard a salesweasel say "In All Honesty" it made me want to put one hand on my wallet to be sure it was still there.

14 posted on 09/05/2008 1:00:07 PM PDT by wbill
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To: WKB

Basically, you may be correct.


15 posted on 09/05/2008 1:00:30 PM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: wbill
Leverage is a beautiful concept.

If you don't like the word you probably don't know what it means or how to apply it to your life.

16 posted on 09/05/2008 1:00:34 PM PDT by Vision ("Test everything. Hold on to the Good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21)
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To: Red Badger
I would nominate “not so much” as THE most overused phrase

I don't mind that phase. What phrase I absolute hate is "going forward" when some mind numbing CEO uses that phase to discuss future aspects of a company you know will never happen.
17 posted on 09/05/2008 1:00:48 PM PDT by plsvn
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To: wbill

1/3rd of Hussein’s speech attacked McCain. Nobody on the Republican side even came close to that percentage.


18 posted on 09/05/2008 1:00:48 PM PDT by SirAllen (Liberalism*2 = Communism)
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To: wbill

I think you just need “closure”


19 posted on 09/05/2008 1:01:33 PM PDT by edzo4 (Vote McCain, Keep Your Change)
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To: Cecily
Another word I have gotten tired of, "pro-active" followed closely by "paradigm" and "consensus"..............

"I've been proactive in developing a new paradigm. I'll reach out to all employees in an effort to reach a consensus."............

20 posted on 09/05/2008 1:01:52 PM PDT by Red Badger (If you're not part of the solution, then you must be part of the government............)
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