Like, Basically, They're Clichés

Thursday, March 25, 2004
The Associated Press

... 24/7; absolutely; address the issue; around (in place of about); awesome; ballpark figure; basically; basis ("on a weekly basis" in place of "weekly" and so on); bear with me; between a rock and a hard place; bottom line; crack troops; glass half full (or half empty); I hear what you're saying; in terms of; it's not rocket science; literally; move the goal posts; ongoing; prioritize; pushing the envelope; singing from the same hymn sheet; the fact of the matter is; thinking outside the box; to be honest/to be honest with you/to be perfectly honest; and touch base ...

LONDON -- AP
At the end of the day, it's the most irritating cliché in the English language.

So says the Plain English Campaign, which said the abused and overused phrase was first in a poll of most-annoying clichés.

Second place went to "at this moment in time," and third to the constant use of "like," as if it were a form of punctuation. "With all due respect" came fourth.

"When readers or listeners come across these tired expressions, they start tuning out and completely miss the message - assuming there is one," said Plain English Campaign spokesman John Lister.

(More: The Arizona Daily Star)

2004 © The Associated Press.

Dan