Archives: Banished Words 1979
I Feel - Too often used
for "I think" or "I believe." Since
"feel" is emotional, the speakers protect
themselves from challenge.
Social Security -
Neither social nor secure.
Energy Crisis - Nobody
knows what constitutes an energy crisis, what to do about
it, or even, for certain, if one exists.
What Are You Into? - As
in "I used to be into children, now I'm into death."
Most Cautious Use
of the English Language Award -
To the Clemson University Football Player who
said of Woody Hayes (after being slugged on national
television by the Ohio State University coach), "He
might of gotten pushed into me."
Fried Cabbage Leaf
Cluster Award: - To
"Yuh Know," making the list for the
second year. All Unicorn Hunters are directed to use the
typewriter "c" key (since the cent isn't worth
anything, any more) for this phrase, thus saving great
quantities of paper. In the same category, a type of
verbal punctuation: Okay, Really, EH (which
is the Canadian Yuh Know) and Right.
These phrases are so cluttering that real words may
become obliterated.
Limited
Banishments
The Bottom Line -
Commonly used as the ultimate expression for any ultimate,
is banished for use by all save accountants and financial
vice presidents.
Learning Resources Center -
Forbidden to librarians who are attempting to say "library."
Somewhere Down The Road -
Banished from business but not song lyrics. Frequently
used in press conferences to keep department heads and
press guessing. Also used by executives if they don't
actually plan on doing something: "That's somewhere
down the road (and if I have anything to say about it we'll
never get there).
Two-Year Probation
Ambience and Opt. -
There is nothing wrong with these words, but they are
being over used, particularly by restaurant critics and
architects (and such usage tends to be pompous).
Washington Phrase
Alert
Where You Stand Is Where You Sit -
Apparently means that's one's philosophy and opinions are
based solely on one's job. A slight distortion of
original coinage by Don K. Price, then a Harvard dean:
"Where you stand depends on where you sit."
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