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Lake Superior State University 2006 List of Banished Words
Lake Superior State University ^ | 12/31/2005 | LSSU

Posted on 12/31/2005 1:45:38 PM PST by visagoth

Lake Superior State University 2006 List of Banished Words

SURREAL – One part opiate of the masses, 13 parts overuse. Oddly, news anchor and television small talk is becoming more surreal. “Dreams are surreal, not daily adjectives.” – Tracy from Murray, Ky.

HUNKER DOWN – To brace oneself, in anticipation of media onslaught. Trotted out in reports about everything from politics to hurricanes. “I have a hankering to ban all of this hunkering.” – Kate Rabe Forgach, Fort Collins, Colo.

PERSON OF INTEREST – Found within the context of legal commentary, but seldom encountered at cocktail parties. “People with guns want to talk with you.” – Melissa Carroll from Greensboro, NC. “Does this mean the rest of us are too boring to deal with?” – Patricia Johnson from Mechanicsville, Va.

COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS – A five-dollar phrase on a nickel-errand. Value-added into many higher education mission statements. “Not to be confused with ‘school.'” – Jim Howard from Mishawa, Ind.

UP OR DOWN VOTE – A casualty of today's partisanship. No discussion on this one; the committee just tossed a coin. “I see a bright future for ex-senators as elevator operators.” — Allan Dregseth, Fargo, ND.

BREAKING NEWS – Once it stopped presses. Now it's a lower-intestinal condition brought about by eating dinner during newscasts. “Now they have to interrupt my supper to tell me that Katie Holmes is pregnant.” — Michael Raczko, Swanton, Ohio.

DESIGNER BREED – Many nominators consider this a bastardization of dog breeding. It may be a good line to use on angry neighbors when an un-neutered dog escapes. “When you mate a miniature schnauzer to a toy poodle, it's not a ‘Schnoodle,' it's a mongrel.” – George Bullerjahn, Bowling Green, Ohio.

FEMA – Dedicated to the memory of a great federal agency consigned to the ash heap of parody. “If they don't do anything, we don't need their acronym.” – Josh Hamilton, Tucson, Ariz.

FIRST-TIME CALLER – Preamble often heard on talk radio. “I am serious in asking: who in any universe gives a care?” – Miguel McCormick, Orlando, Fla.

PASS THE SAVINGS ON TO YOU! – Marketing catch phrase that became a lost-leader long ago. “Read: Pass the markup along to you.” – C. W. Estes, Roanoke, Tex.

97% FAT FREE – Adventures in delusion. “Still has 3% fat . . . accept it.” – Andrew Clucas, Canberra, Australia.

AN ACCIDENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN – Best-laid mayhem. “This means some accidents need to happen, for whatever reason, I can't figure.” — Thomas Price, Orlando, Fla.

JUNK SCIENCE – Banished from the Marketplace of Ideas. “It's not scientists who are using this phrase so much as the people who practice junk politics.” – Ron LaLonde, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada.

GIT-ER-DONE – (Any of its variations) It's overdone. “There's no escaping it. It's everywhere, from TV to T-shirts,” says Amanda Tikkanen of LaGrange, Ind. “Please tell me when we're done with this one.”

DAWG – No designer breed here. Someone should wash out this Spot. “Even parents are starting to use it!” – complains Mrs. Swartz's Fifth Grade Class in Church Road, Va. “This is species confusion.” – Rob Bowers, Santa Clara, Calif. “Don't call me ‘dawg'! I'm not your pet!” – Michael Swartz, Albuquerque, NM.

TALKING POINTS – Cover your ears! “Topics which will please those you want to impress.” – Michele Mooney, Van Nuys, Calif. Joe Wonsetler of Swanton, Ohio, believes the phrase was created after PR staffers stopped attending seminars on how to put a positive ‘spin' on their press releases.

HOLIDAY TREE – Many salvoes were fired during this past season's “war on Christmas.” At the risk of jumping into the breach, the committee feels that “Holiday tree” is a silly name for what most folks hold as a Christmas tree, no matter your preference of religion. Thank goodness we all agree on the first day of winter.

LSSU accepts nominations for the List of Banished Words throughout the year.To submit your nomination for the 2007 list, go to www.lssu.edu/banished.


TOPICS: Local News; Society; Word For The Day
KEYWORDS: 2005review; 2006; banished; language; lssu
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To: Charles Henrickson
"I'D HIT IT - Clever the first 1500 times."

It's the "praise Allah" part that's the nice touch!
21 posted on 12/31/2005 2:34:56 PM PST by jdm (QOY "I'd hit it. Then I'd turn it over, praise Allah, and hit it again." Lazamataz on Osama's niece.)
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To: Charles Henrickson
MEME

Sounds egocentric to me.

22 posted on 12/31/2005 2:36:12 PM PST by stayathomemom
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To: mikrofon
TOXIC SOUP - Mmmm, mmmm, good . . . bye!
23 posted on 12/31/2005 2:42:50 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (Old Orleans.)
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To: mikrofon
-BOTS - As in, "Bushbots." Send this one to Botswana.
24 posted on 12/31/2005 2:49:58 PM PST by Charles Henrickson
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To: mikrofon
MOVE ON - It's time to move on to another phrase.
25 posted on 12/31/2005 2:50:33 PM PST by Charles Henrickson
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To: visagoth
CULTURE OF CORRUPTION - Used by corrupt Democrats to refer to Republicans. It didn't stick. See "Blowback."

BLOWBACK - May or may not be the new "Backlash," I'm not sure. Check in the Dictionary of Underexplained Political Terms.

26 posted on 12/31/2005 3:28:15 PM PST by Charles Henrickson ("Blowback" mounting.)
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To: visagoth; mikrofon; martin_fierro
BRING IN A - "This football team brings in a Jeremetrious Jackson, they bring in a DeShawndra Davis, they bring in a Shawntrelle Williams, and they still don't win football games." Note: The speaker does not mean one of several DeShawndra Davises. He means DeShawndra Davis. Even so, he must insert a superfluous "a." Also note the mandatory modifier, "football," even when the entire context of discussion is only football.

This footballspeak needs to go in a new direction.

27 posted on 12/31/2005 3:36:06 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (He brings in a tagline. . . .)
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To: visagoth
GRIND IT OUT, GRINDER - Baseball's pinch-hitter for "Give 110%."
28 posted on 12/31/2005 3:38:09 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (Do baseball players develop tag lines?)
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To: jdm
You can't be series.


AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

29 posted on 12/31/2005 3:40:51 PM PST by aomagrat
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To: Charles Henrickson; visagoth; martin_fierro
OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM - Followed by the implied- "of liberal thought", typically utilized by the likes of Sen. "Chucky" Schumer -- from the 'it takes one to know one' category...
30 posted on 12/31/2005 4:02:50 PM PST by mikrofon (Up the Mainstream w/o a Paddle)
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To: LRoggy
MAIN STREET MEDIA

Isn't the term, Main Stream Media?

31 posted on 12/31/2005 4:04:22 PM PST by Michael.SF. ('Only thing worse than a Frenchman is a Frenchman who lives in Canada' - Ted Nugent.)
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To: Charles Henrickson; visagoth; martin_fierro
PODCAST - Electronic audio file, e.g. of a radio program or music made available on the Internet for download, ostensibly containing a subliminal message from the Pod People to control the listener's mind when played backwards...
32 posted on 12/31/2005 4:18:13 PM PST by mikrofon (a/k/a Apple)
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To: visagoth; Charles Henrickson; mikrofon
F'shizzle and its variants -- Ridiculous phrase coined by an even more ridiculous non-talent

Cindy Sheehan -- Bankrupt in the marketplace of ideas

33 posted on 12/31/2005 5:00:50 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: visagoth
You've got to be Passionate about....?

Am I the only one thats sick and tired of everyone
being Passionate about every damn thing?

34 posted on 12/31/2005 5:15:54 PM PST by ThreePuttinDude ()......Politically incorrect by Intelligent Design........()
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To: visagoth
...and what the hell is up with .......

We have toCelebrate Diversity

I Celebrate birthdays
My grandkids getting an A at school
Hitting 3 out of 6 numbers at Lotto
Chicago Cubs just winning a game
Chicago Bears winning thier Division
Hurricanes Not hitting Florida
.........and so on....

35 posted on 12/31/2005 5:22:03 PM PST by ThreePuttinDude ()......Politically incorrect by Intelligent Design........()
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To: ThreePuttinDude
INSURGENTS - Terrorists.

PROGRESSIVES - Liberals.

FRENCH YOUTHS - Muslim rioters.

36 posted on 12/31/2005 9:07:00 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (Call a spade a spade.)
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To: visagoth
FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION - Religious organization, usually a church or church agency.
37 posted on 12/31/2005 9:09:14 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (Religious is good.)
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To: ThreePuttinDude
GAMING - Gambling.
38 posted on 12/31/2005 9:10:38 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (Gambling is a tax on the stupid.)
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To: visagoth
AT THIS TIME - "At this time we stand and sing. . . . At this time we welcome. . . ." Unnecessary filler.
39 posted on 12/31/2005 9:14:54 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (It's obvious that it's "at this time.")
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To: visagoth
GET YOUR ____ ON
40 posted on 12/31/2005 9:17:47 PM PST by denydenydeny ("As a Muslim of course I am a terrorist"--Sheikh Omar Brooks, quoted in the London Times 8/7/05)
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