Fighting clichés going forward
Further to this blog’s campaign to reduce the use of clichés in conversation and reports, I am grateful to Marlys Harris for her list (and the additional ones mentioned by those who have added comments to her piece). Here are some of those in her list that I detest most:
• Could we go offline to discuss this?
• At the end of the day
• I can’t wrap my head around this
• Bandwidth (when applied to something other than computing)
• Low hanging fruit
• To circle back.
• Take-away (where no food is involved)
• Win win situation.
Do feel free to add your own clichés.
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University Blog 
October 5, 2010 at 2:29 am
Run it up the flag-pole
Do a 360
The bottom line is…
A no-brainer
Leading economist
It is a truth universally acknowledged that… (usually followed by some obscure fact or a very dubious proposition)
Smart economy, knowledge economy
Put on the green jersey
Myles na gCopaleen’s Catechism of Cliché is a great source.
October 5, 2010 at 7:48 am
will it wash its face?
haircut
proactive(ly)
Hunt Report
points race
senior bond holders
…
October 5, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Going forward
October 5, 2010 at 9:08 am
There is an Ignite talk for this, the great Margaret E Ward:
http://www.youtube.com/user/IgniteDublin#p/f/3/OKMPS5lTcvM
October 5, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I’m about to dial into a conference call during which I do believe your list will be recited almost verbatim! Perhaps with the addition of “net-net,” which I can’t stand and still don’t actually understand (and do not wish to understand). If someone uses the word “efforting,” I shall quietly hang up.
October 6, 2010 at 2:29 am
Get real
On a go-forward basis
It is what it is
Give it some traction
Find a workaround
Leverage
October 6, 2010 at 2:49 am
Oh dear, look who just wrote “But for the moment we are where we are” 🙂
October 6, 2010 at 10:29 am
“Further to this blog’s campaign to reduce the use of clichés in conversation and reports…”
So you are seeking a paradigm shift w.r.t. generic language competencies? Many people have upgraded their skill set to enable them to talk the talk in the enterprise space. Now you would have them do a 180 (sic) and future-proof their interpersonals, down-size their vocabs, and pathway themseleves to simpler, more correct English? I for one would kick the tyres on that proposal.
October 6, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Pure genius,Niall
October 6, 2010 at 1:32 pm
By all means let’s have a laugh at the nonsense but let’s also be aware that it betokens something rather more serious than stupidity.
Here’s an old post of mine from 2008:
http://colummccaffery.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/when-youve-finished-playing-bullshit-bingo-tell-the-change-manager-that-the-game-is-up/
October 7, 2010 at 12:27 pm
“Clichés become clichés because they are the hammers and screwdrivers in the toolbox of communication”
– Terry Pratchett
(I’ve probably got some part of that quote wrong. In the current climate)