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Example: "This webpage is your one-stop shop for all the HR forms, documents, and links you need."
What it really means: A single place that provides multiple items or services.
More info: A phrase that started as an obvious description of a large storefront has morphed into a lame description of any single thing that provides a variety of requirements. In addition to actual shops, I've heard it refer to financial institutions, websites, and even documents.
Slay it because: First, it just bugs me to imply that I should shop -- i.e. spend my money -- at something that isn't even a store. Second, it's really getting out of hand when I'm told that a document is my one-stop shop for all the information I need; it spreads the intended meaning too thin. It would be better to call the document, website, etc., comprehensive or that it includes everything I need.
Sources:
http://rmjacobsen.squarespace.com/notebook/2009/7/22/a-rant-about-clicheacutes.html
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/one-stop-shop.html
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
"Drink the Kool-Aid"
Example: I'm not going to drink the Kool-Aid and believe everything management tells us.
What it really means: to blindly embrace or buy into
More info: This is another example of a cliche that started with a tragedy. In 1978, cult leader Jim Jones directed his followers to commit mass suicide by drinking poison-laced Kool-Aid. It has come to mean blind faith in someone of authority. It's almost always negative.
Slay it because: In addition to being overused, this cliche bugs me because it just sounds dumb. And for folks who don't have the cult back story to refer to, it doesn't even make sense. Also, I'm pretty sure Kraft Foods, Inc., the makers of the totally awesome Kool-Aid soft drink, would rather not have their product associated with such a negative phrase.
Sources:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=drink+the+kool-aid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool-Aid
What it really means: to blindly embrace or buy into
More info: This is another example of a cliche that started with a tragedy. In 1978, cult leader Jim Jones directed his followers to commit mass suicide by drinking poison-laced Kool-Aid. It has come to mean blind faith in someone of authority. It's almost always negative.
Slay it because: In addition to being overused, this cliche bugs me because it just sounds dumb. And for folks who don't have the cult back story to refer to, it doesn't even make sense. Also, I'm pretty sure Kraft Foods, Inc., the makers of the totally awesome Kool-Aid soft drink, would rather not have their product associated with such a negative phrase.
Sources:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=drink+the+kool-aid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool-Aid
Sunday, May 24, 2009
"Old School"
Example: "Meghan McCain ridiculed the party her father headed this past election, declaring that 'old school Republicans' were 'scared sh**less' of the changing landscape." ~~ From Huntington Post, April 18, 2009
What it really means: old fashioned; in an old style; often, in a tougher, less complicated fashion
More info: This one is hard to research (mostly because a Google search comes up with the 2003 Will Ferrel movie and little else), and I can't find the origins of the phrase.
In my experience, I've heard it much more in the sports arena than anywhere else, but I've noticed that it's used increasingly to talk about everyday things. In sports, it generally is used as a compliment (comparing one to players who were tougher and played harder and made less money). But, it seems to be morphing to mean "not up-to-date" (someone told me that my simple flip-style cell phone was "old school" -- it's only three years old), and is being used less complimentary (like the above example).
Slay it because: it's everywhere lately: old school recipes, old school video games, old school music, etc. And the impressions of things from the past are generally inaccurate anyway.
What it really means: old fashioned; in an old style; often, in a tougher, less complicated fashion
More info: This one is hard to research (mostly because a Google search comes up with the 2003 Will Ferrel movie and little else), and I can't find the origins of the phrase.
In my experience, I've heard it much more in the sports arena than anywhere else, but I've noticed that it's used increasingly to talk about everyday things. In sports, it generally is used as a compliment (comparing one to players who were tougher and played harder and made less money). But, it seems to be morphing to mean "not up-to-date" (someone told me that my simple flip-style cell phone was "old school" -- it's only three years old), and is being used less complimentary (like the above example).
Slay it because: it's everywhere lately: old school recipes, old school video games, old school music, etc. And the impressions of things from the past are generally inaccurate anyway.
Monday, May 4, 2009
"In Your Own Words"
Example: "Tell me in your own words how you feel about getting this big win today."
What it really means: Well, I'm not really sure -- I guess it means "don't use cliches" or "don't say something you've memorized."
More info: I'm not sure this is really a cliche because I don't hear it terribly often. I usually only hear it in crime dramas or in impromptu interviews. While this phrase seems perfectly appropriate in a crime drama (as far as I can tell, but I have a pretty low threshold for suspending my disbelief when it comes to crime dramas), it's just plain out of place in an interview.
Slay it because: it's totally unnecessary. If you're sticking a microphone in my face and asking me how I feel about something, or what my opinion is, whose words would I use if I don't use my own? Plus, it has a bit of a bossy feel to it. It's best to skip it altogether.
What it really means: Well, I'm not really sure -- I guess it means "don't use cliches" or "don't say something you've memorized."
More info: I'm not sure this is really a cliche because I don't hear it terribly often. I usually only hear it in crime dramas or in impromptu interviews. While this phrase seems perfectly appropriate in a crime drama (as far as I can tell, but I have a pretty low threshold for suspending my disbelief when it comes to crime dramas), it's just plain out of place in an interview.
Slay it because: it's totally unnecessary. If you're sticking a microphone in my face and asking me how I feel about something, or what my opinion is, whose words would I use if I don't use my own? Plus, it has a bit of a bossy feel to it. It's best to skip it altogether.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
"Throw Under the Bus"
Example: At the press conference after the loss, the coach threw the quarterback under the bus.
What it really means: to call out publicly, to make someone a scapegoat, to unfairly blame someone to make yourself look better
More info: I heard this one for a long time in the sports world, but now I've started hearing it in the political world. There was a big stink when candidate Obama threw his former pastor under the bus.
Slay it because: Its over-use is getting out of hand. It's becoming the catch-phrase for any kind of blame, deserved and undeserved. It would be better to just state what the "thrower" said about the other person. Besides, it's more polite to refrain from blaming anyone for anything.
Sources:
http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=throw+under+the+bus
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08184/894024-51.stm
What it really means: to call out publicly, to make someone a scapegoat, to unfairly blame someone to make yourself look better
More info: I heard this one for a long time in the sports world, but now I've started hearing it in the political world. There was a big stink when candidate Obama threw his former pastor under the bus.
Slay it because: Its over-use is getting out of hand. It's becoming the catch-phrase for any kind of blame, deserved and undeserved. It would be better to just state what the "thrower" said about the other person. Besides, it's more polite to refrain from blaming anyone for anything.
Sources:
http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=throw+under+the+bus
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08184/894024-51.stm
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
"Perfect Storm"
Example: A perfect storm of bad luck and bad planning caused the company to go out of business.
What it really means: a convergence of small, unrelated events that coincidentally combine to create a much larger, often catastrophic, event
More info: This phrase originates from the 1997 book The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea that describes how multiple simultaneous weather systems coincide to create a deadly storm in October, 1991. The 2000 movie The Perfect Storm pushed the phrase further into popularity.
Slay it because: Using a metaphor about a catastrophe to describe another bad event dilutes the original catastrophe and weakens the metaphor. And people are beginning to use the phrase to describe neutral or even favorable events (I heard a sport-talk radio host use it to describe how a player signed with a new team). It would be better to talk about coincidences or serendipity to describe a series of events.
Besides, Lake Superior State University (you know, the ones who make their annual Banished Words List) doesn't like it either.
Sources:
What it really means: a convergence of small, unrelated events that coincidentally combine to create a much larger, often catastrophic, event
More info: This phrase originates from the 1997 book The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea that describes how multiple simultaneous weather systems coincide to create a deadly storm in October, 1991. The 2000 movie The Perfect Storm pushed the phrase further into popularity.
Slay it because: Using a metaphor about a catastrophe to describe another bad event dilutes the original catastrophe and weakens the metaphor. And people are beginning to use the phrase to describe neutral or even favorable events (I heard a sport-talk radio host use it to describe how a player signed with a new team). It would be better to talk about coincidences or serendipity to describe a series of events.
Besides, Lake Superior State University (you know, the ones who make their annual Banished Words List) doesn't like it either.
Sources:
Wikipedia: Perfect Storm
Amazon.com The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea/dp/006101351X
NCDC: The Perfect Storm - October 1991
The Perfect Storm
Lake Superior State University Banished Words List
Perfect Storm of Cliches
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"In the Loop"
Example: "I'll be working on this project now, so please keep me in the loop about the progress."
What it really means: fully informed, part of the group
More info: Since the "loop" refers to a circle of people, this idiom reminds me of a clique -- for the cool kids only. If you have to ask to be kept in the loop, the vital communication is already broken. And if you're already kept in the loop, someone is inherently left out. Usually it's not a problem (I don't really need to be kept in a loop I'm not working on), but sometimes there is bitterness about the exclusivity (especially if it's an executive loop).
Slay it because: First of all, it just sounds dumb. And, because it's so over-used, it's weak. A stronger statement would be to ask to be "fully informed."
Sources:
in the loop
In the loop - Idiom Definition - Using English.com
in the loop: Information from Answers.com
What it really means: fully informed, part of the group
More info: Since the "loop" refers to a circle of people, this idiom reminds me of a clique -- for the cool kids only. If you have to ask to be kept in the loop, the vital communication is already broken. And if you're already kept in the loop, someone is inherently left out. Usually it's not a problem (I don't really need to be kept in a loop I'm not working on), but sometimes there is bitterness about the exclusivity (especially if it's an executive loop).
Slay it because: First of all, it just sounds dumb. And, because it's so over-used, it's weak. A stronger statement would be to ask to be "fully informed."
Sources:
in the loop
In the loop - Idiom Definition - Using English.com
in the loop: Information from Answers.com
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