I found this quote in my January 2010 edition of Writers' News.
'I dislike having things "flagged up" for me and I don't like feel inclined to "get up to speed", "think outside the box" , "climb aboard" , "have a thought shower" and "find a window in my diary". I don't want to "touch base" , "run it up my flagpole" , "square the circle" or engage in "blue sky thinking". I do not like "no-brainers" and "bullet points" and I don't want to "chill out".
'There are ample words in the English language to express one's feelings clearly and accurately without resorting to this gobbledegook'.
Gervase Phinn
I know exactly what he is saying and in many ways totally agree but I also think some of these saying are part of how language evolves and changes and although they are cliche maybe some will end up part of our speech in say one hundred years. Certainly it feels like the express 'chill out' has been about for some time although it is one that people have said to me often and absolutely drives me mad - in fact it makes me do absolutely anything but 'chill out'!
2 comments:
The history of language is full of these kinds of phrases. Some stick and we continue to use them for centuries whilst others just disappear from use.
Shakespeare is full of what were considered 'popular' phrases. In fact his work was considered popularist by the critics of the time. Now he is considered one of the best playwrights of his time.
It all depends on your perspective. Familiarity with the terms I think leads to a certain amount of contempt for them. Who knows, maybe in a couple of centuries these phrases could be classics.
Language is constantly evolving and that is a good thing. As with anything once this process stops the language becomes stagnant and soon drops out of use.
I am not fond of cliche's unless of coarse, I am using them.. lol.actually you are right.
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