The 2008 Gag-Me-With-A-Rototiller Awards
Cats: Uncategorized|See my Herald column over here.
In short, these awards are called the GagMe’s. They represent the jargon and buzzwords words that made us gag in 2008.
They include:
1. Going forward or moving forward: words politicians use to make us think they are doing something when in fact they have no idea.
2. Made-in-Canada solution – a pat-you-on-the-head phrase used by Canadian politicians to make Canadians feel good about themselves (ie superior to Americans).
3. Stimulus package – sorry, sounds too much like the box the vibrator came in.
4. “Happy Friday!” salutations, also “Happy Saturday-Thursday!” — The “Happy” is like money. If you use it too much, you end up suffering inflation and the happy (not to mention the money) is devalued when someone wishes you a Happy Birthday.
5. “Yummy Mummy” — This idea is modeled on Hollywood celebrity mummies who have nannies, housekeepers, stylists and personal trainers to keep them looking yummy. Real mummies often look pale with fatigue and sport spit-up stains on their non-designer tunics.
There’s more in the column. Go see.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:00 am
5) Call me old-fashioned, but I’ll stick with “MILF” over “yummy mummy” even if the former is badly overused as well.
3) Heh.
1) Oh yes. Add “push back” to that, as in “whoa, I’m sensing a little push-back going forward as I identify my stakeholders”.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I’d like to add “under the bus”. We followed the U.S. election last year and it’s amazing how many people got “thrown under the bus”. The roads were just littered with people, we heard that expression so many times.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I’m thinking that there is something to this concept of a “war on terror”, and it should fall well within the jurisdiction of the Canadian Mental Health Association. At least they would appear to be the best qualified to tackle terror.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
If I hear one more woman define herself as a “hockey mom” I’ll gag myself with a rototiller. So please add hockey mom to your list.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Well, I like saying Happy *insert day of the week*
However, a phrase, which is not necessarily a buzzword of this year…but “Have a good one.” Makes me want to scream.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Bubs, there was a time when I banned MILF, but it seems entirely more honest, and it does have a certain sense of humour about it. and yes, push back, grrrr.
Sara, yes I heard that too. My mum used to have saying for idiots: there’s a bus leaving at 6, be under it.
Dick, that is true on so many levels. you have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Judy, I always hated those mother identifiers, soccer mom, hockey mom. It’s like mom has no other existence.
Allison, that’s funny cuz I like saying have a good one. If we ever met, you and I would scream at each other on greetings and goodbye, but the rest of the time we’d have a great conversation I think
January 9th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Please add the latest sports cliche’, “it is, what it is.”
I’ll allow that dodge when they are talking about questionable officiating and they don’t want a fine, but otherwise?
January 9th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I think that the gag me’s are great, haha, very funny except #6 ” Size 00 — This is a new clothing size which requires certain women to be several pounds over organ failure.”
I think it is rude and is the equivalent to saying ” Size 18- overwieght people who make me want to vomit” ( I see nothing wrong with people of any size, only used as an example) You would not print that because it is hurtful, well I am a size 00, not by choice but everyone seems to think it is. Same as people who are overweight, they cannot always help it can they? Am I not entitled to wear clothes that fit me?I wish people like you would have a little consideration for the feelings of others, and not make hurtful comments. I was always told that when you ridicule someone else for their appearance it is usually based on your own insecurities….hmmm something to look at maybe?
January 9th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I’m guilty! You won’t want to be my new BFF if I keep using some of those words and phrases so I’m vowing to rid my vocabulary of them right now. I need a new BFF in Canada.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Cormac, reminds me of that infamous Clintonism “Depends on what the meaning of the word is is”
Mishelle, the column is a criticism of stupid words in 08. “Size 00″ is one of those words. The criticism is directed at a fashion industry that adopts such a ridiculous name for a size. Why not small or Xsmall? The fashion industry calls this “vanity sizing.” I’m not the first to point out how ridiculous and in some cases dangerous this sort of sizing protocol can be for some women. If you look again, you will see that the column says “certain” women. Obviously, you are not one of these women.
Lisa, cleanse thy language of jargon, BFF.
January 10th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I am so with you on the hatred of mother identifiers. Not only do they sound embarrassingly stupid, but they compartmentalize women into certain roles, based on either the lives of their kids, or their looks/money.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
“It is what it is” is a Southern cop-out that predates the Clinton-Lewinsky incident by at least twenty years or so.
January 11th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I hear you. On my next Cat Blog Friday, I’ll wish everyone a Crappy one!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:07 am
The slang in school can be unbearable..
Tipsy as in “We’re going to the Marquee tonight to get tipsy.”
Ish: “The thing that made me ish about him was his ____.”
If you think it sounds ridiculous in writing you should hear it in person..
January 12th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Ambera, I’m doing another column as a follow up and will use “ish” as yet another gagme word. Thanks
Cube I’ll check that out
Cormac, once again you have infused me with brilliant useless information.
Barbara, it’s a long standing gripe.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I can’t put my finger on it but I do not like the phrase 24/7. And I totally agree with you about “my bad”, Where-TF did that come from??
January 13th, 2009 at 10:50 am
YAM, you aren’t the first to mention 24/7. I’m including it in my follow-up column. Apparently mine didn’t even scratch the surface
January 16th, 2009 at 8:38 am
I have had it up to here with people using the word “Cheers” as a salutation, either in writing or on the phone. Some even say it to your face instead of goodbye. I first saw it in an email a few years ago and thought it was cute. Now it gags me. Even my husband uses it and I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes.
January 16th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Alicia, really? That’s an old British idiom. It’s a informal catch-all term that covers thanks, good-bye and “cheers” when you raise a pint of beer. I’m glad that one’s made over to NAmerica.
January 16th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
“wake up call”….
I hate this expression with all my heart and soul. It makes me seethe with anger when I hear someone use it.