Ever get tired of being asked to “give 110%” of yourself? As if you could self-clone on the spot, or instantaneously multiply, in order to ‘better- support’ team needs?
How do you feel when advised not to “open the kimono” (this can sometimes happen when the 'idea hamsters' on the 'bleeding-edge' that you work with - haven't finished their testing yet). If your answer is "ready to take action" - then you may want to enter our Useless Jargon Giveaway where you might be randomly chosen to win a $50 Visa Gift Card* for submitting a workplace catchphrase that you think should be removed from the vocabulary.
Here’s the situation: Since 1976, Michigan’s Lake Superior State University has been doing great work polling and raising awareness about words that ought to be outright banned from everyday language use. Prior winners include:
Teachable moment | Intellectually bankrupt | Boneless wings |
Amazing | Win the future | Thank you in advance |
Refudiate | A-ha moment | Man up |
Game changer | Perfect Storm | Shovel-ready |
Staycation | Man cave | Under the bus |
Awesome | Talking Points | Friend-raising |
Junk Science | It is what it is | Pwn |
Curate | Cra-Cra | Hacks |
and even though you may still be receiving emails every day that use the word "amazing" three or more times to describe things that, well, aren't - it's reassuring to know that there are entities out there keeping track of this stuff.
But what about the parade of meaningless business expressions that are impossible for the average al desko luncher to avoid hearing in the workplace? Terms like core competencies, buy-in, empowerment, taking it to the next level and learnings (that most cringeworthy of the verbs-turned-noun, do you agree?) can now be submitted for inclusion in our directory of the most cloying words in memospeak!
TO ENTER, simply tell us in the comments below - which business jargon word or phrase you’d like to never hear again, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a $50 Visa Gift Card!
Good luck everybody! Oh, and we promise, if you win we will not be 'reaching-out' to you. Instead, we will contact you via email. ;)
*Open now through January 27, 2015 to US residents 18 years or older.
Congratulations to Lucky Winner! tsmith4
cra-cra - it grates on my nerves EVERY single time I hear it or read it. Like nails on a chalkboard
"That's in my wheelhouse"; "I'm so busy"
I would ban the popular incorrect use of the word "literally". For example, "I was literally waiting 100 years for you to show up" (when you were 20 minutes late). Maybe I am becoming a grouch, but I want to hand people a dictionary when I heard this.
That was suppose to say " thot" not that
Whatever you have to tell yourself!
That and bea
Definitely buy-in
"Im a grown ass man!" - Most of the time when this phrase is used, the person is acting a bit immature!
man up
"Let's table that!"
I can't stand Cra-Cra
"I'm sorry to hear that" - which basically means I have no interest at all in what you are saying and I am not going to have any sympathy for you whatsoever, I am just saying this because the manual says I have to say that when people are annoyed or upset about something. Drives me NUTS!! (or should I say cra-cra?) If you are sorry, just say you are sorry! Don't be sorry the words are hitting your ears - that's really just about you isn't it? Go on - tell me you are sorry to hear that I don't like this phrase! :)
"take it for what its worth"
"Brass Tax"
Oh yeah... one more... "We gotta step up to the plate".... WTF?!?!