'Fiscal cliff': banished for overuse
The phrase 鈥淔iscal cliff鈥� topped the list compiled for 2012 by Lake Superior State University of words that need to be banished because they have been overused.
The list鈥檚 full title is 鈥� from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness鈥� and has been compiled yearly by the university since 1976, when phrases like 鈥渁t this point in time鈥� and 鈥渄茅tente鈥� were voted for banishment. ("Invented by Henry Kissinger," the university wrote on "d茅tente" at the time. "Nobody else knows what it means, and now even Kissinger has forgotten. [Before the year was out the president of the United States also banished "detente." Later, voters banished Kissinger and the president.]")
The list and its rankings is based on submissions by English speakers who write to Lake Superior State University and complain about certain terms. The compilation is released annually on New Year鈥檚 Eve.
鈥淵ou can't turn on the news without hearing this,鈥� Christopher Loiselle of Midland, Mich. wrote to LSSU about 鈥渇iscal cliff.鈥� 鈥淚'm equally worried about the River of Debt and Mountain of Despair.鈥�
A contributor known only as Donna, who is based in Johnstown, N.Y., agreed with Loiselle.
鈥淢akes me want to throw someone over a real cliff,鈥� she wrote.
Other now-banished phrases includes the second-most-nominated term, 鈥渒ick the can down the road,鈥� and the phrase which came in third, 鈥渄ouble down.鈥� Mike Cloran of Cincinnati, Ohio explained the first for LSSU.聽
鈥淯sually used in politics, this typically means that someone or some group is neglecting its responsibilities,鈥� Cloran wrote of 鈥渒ick the can. 鈥淭his was seized upon during the current administration and is used as a clich茅 by all parties... Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, Tories, Whigs, Socialists, Communists, Fashionistas鈥�"聽
鈥淛ob creators/creation鈥� and 鈥淵OLO,鈥� which stands for 鈥淵ou Only Live Once,鈥� also attracted English speakers鈥� ire. Check out the full list .
