The overused word of the century

The Bing Blog ^ | 9/3/08 | Stanley Bing

[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)

[wbill]

I can’t stand referring to everyone as “stakeholders”.

I always think of Dracula movies when I hear that term.

I've been on more than one project that needed to have a stake driven through it.

[Walmartian]

New Drinking Game:

Every time Newt Ginrich uses a form of “fundamental”.

[Petronski]

I like the fact of the matter is. It serves to put the reader/listener on notice that what follows is certainly not accepted as fact and might very well be a brazen lie.

[dfwgator]

but we can workshop it and collaborate, and then maybe throw it under the bus.

That sounds like a whole new paradigm.

[al_c]

Words and phrases I’m sick of hearing ...

synergy
outside the box
paradigm (with or without shift)
hyperfocus
win-win
McCain=Bush ;o)

[LearnsFromMistakes]

like I think “overused” is like way overused, I mean like , it’s so like last week, but we can like workshop it and like collaborate, and like then maybe throw it under the bus.

[Fiji Hill]

I get totally bummed out at “prequel,” a non-word which has even found its way into library catalogs. “Antecedent” or “precursor” is the preferable term.

[Sig Sauer P220]

This is what I like about the FR. We can have fun making fun of liberalism, while the DUmmies over at whatitsname are just bitter little liberals.

[wbill]

It’s kind of fun when someone puts the whole conference call on hold and everyone gets drowned out by the sappy music, though!

Oh yeah. And there's always one dummy that says "Would you please take us off hold? We can't hear!".

The inconsiderate jerk put the call on hold! He's not listening! At all! Whining about it only compounds the issue!

[Petronski]

I’ll interface with you on that going forward.

[CaliforniaCon]

I nominate “amazing” as the most overused word. Everything these days seems to be “amazing.” Blecchh!

[38special]

Awesome!

[CaliforniaCon]

RE: “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!”

Amen! Words like that were the last ones I heard before retiring — thank GOD!

[Sig Sauer P220]

We can have fun making fun of liberalism

Correction: Make that libspeak.

[Mopp4]

The most over-used word today has got to be: ABSOLUTELY

[Enduring Freedom]

I find the narrative of this thread disturbing..

[CodeToad]

“synergy”

Few who use it know what is means and everything is “syngerized”. No wonder many countries are kicking our business butts. We as a country know more about stringing together buzzwords for bingo than doing anything productive.

[CaliGirl-R]

Oh yeah, or the crappy actors/musicians working on their “craft”. GAG

[Constitution Day]

I think you’re absolutely right!

[Travis T. OJustice]

Pre-planning really bugs me. I mena, what the hell is pre-planning? Is it a plan to make a plan? Why not just say planning? URGH!