Words and Phrases that Need to Disappear
Every now and then a word or phrase will become overused. At that point, you must stop using it. In the late 80's "attitude" was a good example. "Busters" as a suffix was another. Here is a current list of things you should really stop saying.
"I got nuthin'."
"Too soon" (in response to a joke about a recent tragedy)
"Wake-up call"
"FYI" (just say "for your informaiton")
"Feedback" (as a euphamism for "criticism")
"Values" (this one actually wore out in the 90's but people still use it)
"I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you"
"High Definition", "Hi Def", and "HD" (when applied to things other than television)
The suffix "aholic" to indicate addiction (a workaholic would not be addicted to work, he'd be addicted to workahol)
"15 minutes of Fame" (this was not coined by Mark Twain or Neitzche or Plato--it was said by Andy friggin' Warhol, who was a hack)
"Savory"
"Angus Beef"
"Carpal Tunnel" (one, it's carpal tunnel syndrome and two, it used to simply be called "my wrist hurts")
That's all I can come up with for now, but I'm sure there's more. Feel free to respond and add your own.
"I got nuthin'."
"Too soon" (in response to a joke about a recent tragedy)
"Wake-up call"
"FYI" (just say "for your informaiton")
"Feedback" (as a euphamism for "criticism")
"Values" (this one actually wore out in the 90's but people still use it)
"I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you"
"High Definition", "Hi Def", and "HD" (when applied to things other than television)
The suffix "aholic" to indicate addiction (a workaholic would not be addicted to work, he'd be addicted to workahol)
"15 minutes of Fame" (this was not coined by Mark Twain or Neitzche or Plato--it was said by Andy friggin' Warhol, who was a hack)
"Savory"
"Angus Beef"
"Carpal Tunnel" (one, it's carpal tunnel syndrome and two, it used to simply be called "my wrist hurts")
That's all I can come up with for now, but I'm sure there's more. Feel free to respond and add your own.
posted by John McKenna at 4:58 PM
3 Comments:
What about the word "so", as in I am "so" over him. Or, I am "so" outta here?
sez ann-dee:
the one that's currently driving me batshit insane is "what happens in ____ stays in ____." and of course adding "extreme" to describe every last advertised product. Extreme was a uniquely untalented 80's hair-metal ballad band, not a radial tire or a plate of nachos.
I just thought of two more. Phrases from movies spoken by unintelligent characters to illustrate their lack of intelligence, which have fallen into common usage by people who didn't quite get the joke:
[blank] is the new [blank]. This is from "Clueless" and was originally the illogical phrase "Brown is the new black."
"Everyone, this is John. John, this is...everyone." This was spoken by a drunken Jamie Gertz in "Sixteen Candles" to show how drunk and vapid she was. Are you drunk and vapid? No? Then don't say it.
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