# Abuse a Figure of Speech **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 21, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476 "2006-02-21T15:22:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/1 "2006-02-21T15:22:44Z")
Pardon the interruption, but please mangle your post with some overused cliche that just plain doesn’t fit or make sense. For what it’s worth, this may have been attempted before, but, as they say, it can’t have been recently or I might have seen it or, heaven forbid, posted to it. If it serves your purpose, have nothing but cliches as your post, unless, perish the thought, you really wanted to say something. Tally Ho! ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/2 "2006-02-21T15:55:57Z")
Well, someone certainly got out of bed on the wrong side this morning. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/3 "2006-02-21T15:58:30Z")
My favourite is a mixed metaphore: “Look folks, this isn’t rocket surgery!” :smack: Is that what you’re looking for? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/4 "2006-02-21T16:10:41Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Is that what you’re looking for? Kind of. Unfortunately having the OP serve its full purpose would have meant starting with something like “in other words” but the title would have allowed that to make sense – somewhat. Mixed metaphors and malapropisms are fine, but I was hoping to have some of these overused filler expressions (of which the OP is replete with) as the meat and potatoes of the post(s). Maybe I got out of bed too early. Maybe I’m still dreaming and this is The Far Side… ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/5 "2006-02-21T16:29:42Z")
Of course you could really mangle the language by claiming that compulsary purchase orders on homes in order to build an airport runway is akin to ethnic cleansing. Not only do you mis-use a figure of speech but you get to spit on all those people who really \*have \* been murdered/displaced because of their ethnicity or religion. :rolleyes: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4731948.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4731948.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/6 "2006-02-21T16:40:11Z")
> [@zelie zelerton](#): > > Of course you could really mangle the language by claiming that compulsary purchase orders on homes in order to build an airport runway is akin to ethnic cleansing. Not only do you mis-use a figure of speech but you get to spit on all those people who really \*have \* been murdered/displaced because of their ethnicity or religion. :rolleyes: > > [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4731948.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4731948.stm) Nice example! A touch excessive. (is it just me or does the use of the “word” impact and its other variants (like impacted) just signal to you that the person using the word doesn’t remember all the rules about affect and effect?) ---
**Author:** ![HeadNinja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b4bc9f/32.png) [@HeadNinja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadNinja)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/7 "2006-02-21T17:31:25Z")
If memory serves I’ll have the veal. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/8 "2006-02-21T17:40:40Z")
> [@HeadNinja](#): > > If memory serves I’ll have the veal. Well I’m sorry but that’s just PC gone mad. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/9 "2006-02-21T17:49:08Z")
> [@HeadNinja](#): > > If memory serves I’ll have the veal. Why does this make me think of Anthony Hopkins and Ray Liotta? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/10 "2006-02-21T18:31:04Z")
It’s now a mute point. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/11 "2006-02-21T18:37:40Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > It’s now a mute point. It’s “moot”, you flumox. Geez, who let the idiots out of the barn door after the cows opened the door? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/12 "2006-02-21T18:59:21Z")
I know that! I was making a bad joke. ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/13 "2006-02-21T19:22:15Z")
Well, I wanted to give 110%, you know, put it all out there, leave it on the field. But I’m calling it quits - I’ll have to let the chips fall where they may, or just throw in the towel and go back to the drawing board. In any case, tomorrow’s a new day so as long as I wake up on the right side of the bed, I’ll be good to go. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/14 "2006-02-21T19:25:18Z")
OK I generally don’t tend to comment on google ads but, one just struck me as very amusing. Need Cliches Find cliches now 500,000+ manufacturers online. Now we know what romance novel writers do when they retire. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/15 "2006-02-21T19:58:20Z")
I agree with the OP, it literally pisses me off when people do that. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/16 "2006-02-21T20:03:18Z")
\ What pisses me off more than people who incorrectly use literally are people who overuse literally correctly. The most frequent offenders seem to be British chefs - “I’m literally going to sprinkle a little salt on it.” “Cook it literally for an hour 200 degrees.” Come on people, it’s not like I literally thought you were being figurative. It makes me want to scream. Literally. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/17 "2006-02-21T20:57:13Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I know that! I was making a bad joke. I know you know, but I wanted to take your joke and run it up the flagpole to see if it swam. ---
**Author:** ![marque\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@marque\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marque_elf)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/18 "2006-02-21T21:19:19Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I know you know, but I wanted to take your joke and run it up the flagpole to see if it swam. and then beat it with an extinction cord to see if it’s as dead as a doornail.\* \*yes, I know it’s “extension cord”. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/19 "2006-02-21T21:25:53Z")
If I recall correctly, I am not a lawyer. For what it’s worth, your mileage may vary. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476/20 "2006-02-21T21:28:12Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I know you know, but I wanted to take your joke and run it up the flagpole to see if it swam. That would be a huge step in the right direction. Just overheard that one outside my cubicle while surreptitiously reading this thread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-a-figure-of-speech/345476.md?page=2)