Some phrases just give me the irrits, big time (that’s one of them). The ones that really annoy me would probably have been really good the first three or four times but have just become part of the grab bag of phrases that people who want to sound ‘up to date’ all say. Here’s my current favourite hates, together with sample sentences, translations into more normal English and, where that isn’t helpful, some further indication of their function, as far as I can tell. Please add your own. A cacophony of cliche. The more the merrier; it’s all good (that’s another.)
It’s all good. As in ‘My wife just left me to run off with an orthodontist, my uncle was diagnosed with a brain tumour, my dog just ate my hashish stash and vomited on the Persian rug and me secretary just made a blackmail call but, it’s all good.’ Translation: it’s all rather crappy, but nobody really wants to hear me say that, do they?
Going forward …. As in, ‘Despite another quarter of diminished profits, we look set for secure profits going forward.’ Translation: in the future. But since all predictions are for the future, it’s a bit puzzling why you would need to affirm this. My guess: it distracts from your lack of evidence for optimism and gives your audience the reassurance of knowing that you weren’t planning on time travel in the immediate future.
Get over it! As in 'All right, we know your father disinherited you and your boss just made a billion with that invention of yours he stole. Just get over it! Translation: I’m well aware that you are the victim of massive injustice but I don’t give a toss right now and I probably never did and never will.
Tell someone who cares As in 'All right, we know your father disinherited you and your boss just made a billion with that invention of yours he stole. Tell someone who cares! Translation: I’m well aware that you are the victim of massive injustice but I don’t give a toss right now and I probably never did and never will.
Negative growth. As in ‘Bolivia just experienced its 32nd consecutive quarter of negative growth.’ Translation: the Bolivian economy just shrunk again. Oh come on, it might be OK. ‘My brain tumour just went through a steady period of negative growth.’ Now that couldn’t be bad, could it? Trouble is: economists have the virus but doctors with good news don’t.
Singing from the same hymn book As in ‘If you’re forced to approach senior management at any stage in this project, just make sure they’re singing from the same hymn book.’ Translation: have the same understanding and objectives. Straightforward enough, but where I work, whenever senior management are singing from the same hymn book, they seem to be on a different page.
