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Common phrases that society should phase out
- Thread starter tzhu07
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Another phrase I often hear is "long story short." More often than not, the story is as lengthy as it otherwise would have been. "Low hanging fruit" is another overworked expression.
I will add, however, that many of the phrases cited in this thread do have some purpose in conveying information. The problem is that many of us haven't taken the time to find better alternatives to say the equivalent more effectively.
I will add, however, that many of the phrases cited in this thread do have some purpose in conveying information. The problem is that many of us haven't taken the time to find better alternatives to say the equivalent more effectively.
It isn't really a phrase I hate but more the American pronunciation I hate.
Clique. It is pronounced kleek not click!
Clique. It is pronounced kleek not click!
Agree. 'Moving forward' sets my teeth on edge ..
Yes, what is wrong with the perfectly functional verb 'progressing', instead?
'Things are progressing nicely'.
I at least predict my longer-than-short response by using the variant: "To make a long story only slightly less long ..."
I'm not accustomed to hearing "moving forward" used in that context.
More like this: "I understand that you were under a deadline when you sent the proposal yesterday, but moving forward, we need to make sure that one of the VP's reviews every proposal before it goes to the client."
I guess "in the future" could work here, but "progressing" doesn't seem to fit.
Well, what about 'proceeding' instead? As in 'Proceeding to the next point .'
'Moving forward' just sounds so ..clunky. And inelegant.
That makes sense - but I don't know that I've every heard anybody say, "Moving forward to the next point..." or anything similar. When I hear it used, it's in the context of meaning "From here on out" or "from this point forward" with a directive or order to follow.
How about "home cooked" or "home baked?" When I see those descriptions on a menu, it makes me want to ask the chef if he or she lives in the restaurant kitchen.
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I think that you'e talking about two different concepts:
1. Moving forward, more often phrased as "going forward", meaning from this point in time on. Example: Going forward, our policy will be blah...
2. Moving ahead to the next point on the agenda. I've never encountered this usage, though it's not uncommon to say "Moving along" or "Moving ahead" during the course of a meeting.
I have heard it both ways. In the business sense it is almost always in a meeting or on a conference call where I will hear "moving forward" to mean, essentially: "Hey, Joe, I have had enough out of you. Shut the heck up so 'we' can continue."
As for the way you are accustomed to hearing it it wouldn't really bother me. But then there is "on a go-forward basis" which gets on my nerves a bit.
Michael
No offense, but that's going over old territory. When it comes to cliches, though, YMMV, and that's the bottom line.
Jesus H Christ. I'm sorry did he have a middle name? And we don't use Mohammed, Buddha as a swear word, why Jesus?
Also Oh my God (or worse OMG), generally used in every other sentence by some.
Also Oh my God (or worse OMG), generally used in every other sentence by some.
It's Harold.
Actually, I was wondering about the history/etymology of "Jesus H. Christ", and this Wikipedia article is pretty interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_H._Christ
Grind your gears, does it?
I'm okay with that one (obviously), but I can sympathize if you're around folks that overuse it. Or any expression for that matter. Particularly when it's a lengthy one that hogs conversational bandwidth. I've sat in on meetings where half the talking was content-free babble.
Interesting to see the confusion caused by "going forward". I loathed that expression at first, but it's in such common use in the US that I've succumbed to using it myself - simply because folks understand it.
Alternatives to "going forward" would be:
- "In the future", but that has connotations of crystal-ball-gazing.
- The "to-be" half of the "as-is"/"to-be" twins. One twin meaning "current state" and the other meaning "future state". They often appear in documents, but not many people actually say "to-be" because it prompts the corny, but irresistible shakespearean rejoinder "...or not to be?". Discussion derailed.
- "Future state" which has unfortunate sci-fi connotations of some dreary 1984-style dystopia.
- Lengthier expressions that describe the situation more precisely and elaborately, but send listeners off to sleep. Short attention spans, unfortunately.
So "going forward" it is. Regrettably.
Good for you! Folks nowadays with their "YOLO" nonsense have such low expectations.
Even Sean Connery's 007 (wayyyy back in 1967) got to live twice.
Good for you! Folks nowadays with their "YOLO" nonsense have such low expectations.
Even Sean Connery's 007 (wayyyy back in 1967) got to live twice.
Hey guys, I'm going to chug this glass of whole milk and not take anything to counteract my lactose intolerance. YOLO!!!!!
Actually, I think it is more of a sample of the beauty of the English language... the flexibility and changeability.....
Flexibility and adaptability, yes, but some of the terms used are just crude and clunky, instead of being articulate, eloquent and gloriously expressive.
There is a place for language as a bludgeon, but when the bludgeon becomes the default form of expression, then, language loses its grace and much of its meaning.
More to the point, some of these expressions are ghastly euphemisms which are designed to distort and mask their true meaning, rather than express what is meant by elucidating it clearly in plain, elegant prose.
Please enlighten this occasional antiquarian Across The Pond with an explanation as to what this horrible expression ('YOLO') actually means.
YOLO - "You only live once" often shouted immediately preceding