# Buzzwords and hackneyed phrases that must DIE **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338 "2008-06-26T17:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/61 "2008-06-27T19:38:13Z")
[QUOTE=LisaRx] ETA: OH, and enough with the clever mixing of names: Brangelina, TomKat, Bennifer. It’s run it’s course. It’s so yesterday. [/QUOTE] And besides, Brangelina sounds like an Italian wheat-based soda. Or the name of the unlovely stepdaughter in a fairy tale. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/62 "2008-06-27T20:04:15Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] Here’s one that really bothers me - I know it’s techinically correct, but a linguist on NPR awhile back confirmed that I’m not the only one bothered by it: _Grow_ the economy. _Grow_ your business. etc. It just sounds wrong to me. [/QUOTE] It is, kinda. “Grow” can be either transitive or intransitive, but the transitive usage used to be limited to things coming into being that weren’t there before - “Sally grew tomatoes”, “Tadpoles grow legs” - or the adjective sense - “Richard grows tired of Sally”, “The cat grew fat and lazy.” This latter day business usage is like shorthand - “grow the business” really means “_make_ the business grow” in the sense of getting bigger. But how about “expand the business”? “Increase the business”? “Build up the business”? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/63 "2008-06-27T21:29:05Z")
When does a commonly used term become hackneyed? Is it hackneyed when it’s overused, or when it’s used inappropriately? Or when we’re just sick of it? I need to know, so’s to avoid pissing people off. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/64 "2008-06-27T22:03:41Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] “Going forward.” Going forward, we will never make any of these terrible mistakes again. Because going backward, we would already know about them. [/QUOTE] I was out of work for a few years, out of the loop when it came to Bullshit Bingo, and when I returned to gainful employment I thought “going forward” was some weird part of my new company’s internal lingo, because I had never heard the phrase before. Then I realised that _everybody_ is using it these days. So yeah, “going forward” gets my vote. I think everybody who uses that phrase should be forced to use “henceforth” instead. It means exactly the same thing but it would be funny to hear them say things like “henceforth we will leverage synergies”. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/65 "2008-06-28T05:02:39Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Buttons] **Staycation** [/QUOTE] I want to put knives inside every news anchor that uses that term. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/66 "2008-06-28T05:13:27Z")
Has “24/7” been buried previously? It is still in my nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/67 "2008-06-28T06:20:21Z")
" It’s getting close to the end game " STFU anyone in management who uses this term I can almost be certain that they have never played team sports. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/68 "2008-06-28T11:23:36Z")
[QUOTE=LisaRx] ETA: OH, and enough with the clever mixing of names: Brangelina, TomKat, Bennifer. It’s run it’s course. It’s so yesterday. [/QUOTE] That just so yesterday, but those nicknames have never been funny or clever. Never. Not once. Ever. The fact that they were invented is proof that Satan walks amongst us and the fact that they have been driven back is proof that God loves us. (to steal a paraphrase from Ben Franklin and his beer) ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/69 "2008-06-28T15:24:46Z")
[QUOTE=gravitycrash] " It’s getting close to the end game " STFU anyone in management who uses this term I can almost be certain that they have never played team sports. [/QUOTE] You mean it isn’t chess-related? Although that would only make it marginally less horrid. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/70 "2008-06-28T20:12:23Z")
I myself am trying to promote a return to _mediocre practices_. I have a few people at my workplace who are with me on this. Oh, also, low-hanging fruit. Makes me want to kick someone in the…um…_low-hanging fruit._ ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/71 "2008-06-29T04:00:37Z")
[QUOTE=Justine Thyme] **Post 9/11** , many \*\*wordsmiths \*\* have been \*\*thrown under the bus \*\* for their continual and–might I point out–incorrect usage of the word “ **decimate** ” (which, of course, refers to reducing by 1/10th, not completely annihilating). [/QUOTE] If you’re speaking English, “Decimate” most certainly can mean near or total destruction. Either definition is correct. Perhaps it would be a mistake if you were speaking Latin. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/72 "2008-06-29T04:14:20Z")
Has anyone ever been literally thrown under a bus? As in, one person wanted to get rid of another person, so they spotted a passing bus and grabbed them and threw them underneath it? It seems like such an inefficient way to get rid of somebody. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/73 "2008-06-29T05:49:24Z")
[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig] Has anyone ever been literally thrown under a bus? As in, one person wanted to get rid of another person, so they spotted a passing bus and grabbed them and threw them underneath it? It seems like such an inefficient way to get rid of somebody. [/QUOTE] I can think of better ways but maybe I shouldn’t go there. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/74 "2008-06-29T06:01:13Z")
These are the ones that piss me the Heck off. **On the ground** - Oh yeah. This one gets me really riled. There’s no requirement to add ‘on the ground’ whenever conflict of any kind is discussed…idiot. **Gravitas** - Thank goodness it’s dying. Conservatives had a field day…er…year with this one. **Perfect Storm** - {shudder}. This one’s so ridiculous folks who use it (usually TV bobbleheads) are not even pretending they know what it means anymore. Virtually, anything bad can be a perfect storm…Jerks. **At the end of the day** - This phrase has a longer shelf life than paint. Is ‘ultimately’ really so difficult a word? Really? Sheesh. **At this point in time** - ‘Now’, you fool. What’s wrong with you? ‘At this time’, or ‘at this point’ are also perfectly acceptable, convey the exact same meaning, and are much less stupid sounding. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/75 "2008-06-29T06:21:14Z")
B] Onomatopoeia\*\* No offense intended but that may be the worse user name to spell ever. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/76 "2008-06-29T07:48:16Z")
[QUOTE=Onomatopoeia] T **Gravitas** - Thank goodness it’s dying. Conservatives had a field day..er..year with this one. [/QUOTE] I’ve never heard this one, what was it used in reference to? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/77 "2008-06-30T03:38:45Z")
[QUOTE=CanvasShoes] I’ve never heard this one, what was it used in reference to? [/QUOTE] Folks with gravitas are thought to have a natural ability to conduct themselves in a manner that conveys dignity and substance, which lends weight to their opinions. That’s as close to a definition as I can give you. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/78 "2008-06-30T03:54:39Z")
What’s the status with “issues?” “I have an issue with that” It really just reminds me of how we’re a society always in therapy. Everything is redeemable and we’re afraid to admit otherwise. How hilarious is it when celebrities go to rehab to essentially exonerate themselves of assholish behavior? Issues is so mild. An issue is something that causes problems but in the end will be resolved. A problem is a problem. Sometimes there isn’t a solution. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/79 "2008-06-30T04:11:08Z")
Sharing. Thank you for sharing. I’d like to share a story with you. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338/80 "2008-06-30T13:30:31Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] Has “24/7” been buried previously? It is still in my nightmares. [/QUOTE] It’s now 24/7/365. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzwords-and-hackneyed-phrases-that-must-die/454338.md?page=5)