Job Discussion Forums

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Which cliches do you hate the most? People often repeat the same wornout phrases without really even thinking about what they're saying. They often pop up on forums as well.

Here are some of mine:

"Avoid it like the plague" Uh, thesedays we don't have a big problem with the plague, dude! Cool

"Live like a king" Often used by cheapskates. Laughing

"Your neck of the woods" What about your elbow of the woods? Confused

I'm sure I've forgotten many others.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

There are lots of them, and they are all bad.

In the EFL/ESL field both "task-based" and "communicative" have been worn threadbare by folks who would know neither a task nor a communicative acitivity if it bit them in the---shorts.

EnglishBrian · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 189

Go figure

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Have a nice day!

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject:

"In my opinion." No kidding? I thought you were sharing somebody else's opinion.

"Raining cats and dogs." I don't know anybody who really says this, but all the text books seem to include it under weather expressions.

"Cool." or "Nice" or "Okay." If you're going to describe something, use an adjective that TELLS me something. Paint a picture. It's what adjectives are for.

Regards,
Justin

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

"Let me just make one thing absolutely clear here, ......" by the prime minister TB Rolling Eyes

basil

gmjones · Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 72 Location: UK

Grrr anyone who says 'you dont have to be mad to work here but it helps' should be shot (likewise anyone who sells anything with that on)

Anyone who refers to anyhting as 'ickle'

And '...at this moment in time': can you have a moment out of time?

'Go figure' (ha sorry!)

Spinoza · Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 194 Location: Saudi Arabia

carnac · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:00 am Post subject:

"Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt."

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

"It's not rocket science"

"Apples and oranges"

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:24 am Post subject:

"Men are from Mars...."

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

"At the end of the day it's a game of two halves and the gaffer said that if the lads gave 110% and scored more goals than them we'd be able to pull it off. The other team must feel sick as a parrot."

Say it in a high squeaky voice and you've got david beckham. Mind you, footy players aren't the brightest bunch and asking them to string a sentence together without using cliches would be like getting blood from a stone.

JonnytheMann · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 337 Location: USA

I've always disliked:

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

and

"You can't have your cake and eat it, too."

SillySally · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 167

"Remember, this is China."

Common excuse used to justify everything and anything wrong in China.

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:50 am Post subject: Raining cats and dogs