24 minutes ago, Petraeus said:

 

Thankfully, he does not talk about his 'awesome team' 'reaching out' to his 'amazing customers'.

Is he at least incredibly thrilled and humbled by his exciting job ?

1 hour ago, Petraeus said:

 'reaching out'

 

Oh blimey, don't get me started. You're right - when did 'reaching out' replace 'contacting' or getting in contact with ? 'Reaching out' is extending the arms and hands in order to physically touch something, or to take hold of it. It's not sending a message or picking up the phone.

This leads me to another example. Some time ago, the RAF was retiring its Tornado GR4s and one was donated to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, near Cambridge. On the local TV news, they interviewed the director, who not only said they had 'reached out' to the RAF, but then said the Tornado GR4 was a valuable acquisition because...it told the story of the Cold War. 

The story (i.e. 'history' for us patronized grown-ups) of the Cold War ? Does the Tornado tell of the Berlin Wall ? Gary Powers ? The Cuban missile crisis, the Yom Kippur War ?  It's a piece of aviation technology from the Cold War period, but that's all. It no more tells the story of the Cold War than a musket tells the story of Waterloo or Gettysburg. But you can't say anything because then you're 'hater' - and don't get me started on that either.

1 hour ago, Paul K said:

Oh blimey, don't get me started. You're right - when did 'reaching out' replace 'contacting' or getting in contact with ?

Radar Contact should have been named “Radar Reaching Out”. Thank goodness for sanity. 🤣

39 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Radar Contact should have been named “Radar Reaching Out”. Thank goodness for sanity.

'Speedbird 321, reach out to London Approach on 123.75'

32 minutes ago, Petraeus said:

'Speedbird 321, reach out to London Approach on 123.75'

What? At this speed, me arms will come orf.

2 hours ago, Paul K said:

Oh blimey, don't get me started. You're right - when did 'reaching out' replace 'contacting' or getting in contact with ?

Maybe, the internet is a major contribution?
Before it existed, these things had to travel east across the Atlantic on their own and then gradually infect the language.
These days, they are injected onto screens in our homes and in our hands, wherever we may be.
"Reaching out" is like fingernails on a blackboard to me too.
At least for now the board is still black and not yet chalk.
 

56 minutes ago, Reader said:

Maybe, the internet is a major contribution?
Before it existed, these things had to travel east across the Atlantic on their own and then gradually infect the language.
These days, they are injected onto screens in our homes and in our hands, wherever we may be.
"Reaching out" is like fingernails on a blackboard to me too.
At least for now the board is still black and not yet chalk.
 

I feel as though the word "bespoke" has travelled *west* across the Atlantic.

41 minutes ago, Mace said:

I feel as though the word "bespoke" has travelled *west* across the Atlantic.

I feel as though you may be correct.
Then it started to be misused. 😁

7 hours ago, Reader said:

I feel as though you may be correct.
Then it started to be misused. 😁

Just like the word "prior" (without a capital P).

On 12/25/2022 at 5:59 PM, steve310002 said:

The word bespoke is so overused, I cringe whenever I hear it.

I agree, I find it grating as well and much prefer "custom made"

 While we're having a blinking good moan (and it's like literally the most awesomely-kewl time of year for it), I give you:

1) Racing drivers constantly using the word "mega" to describe something - "It was a mega lap" or "That race was mega". 'Mega' is a prefix, particularly meaning 10⁶ (or 'large' in a less formal sense).

2) NFL commentators saying that a player or team has "matriculated" the ball downfield.😒 Apparently, we have the former coach Hank Stram to blame for its first use in that way instead of its proper meaning of enrolling at a place of higher education such as college or university.🙄

Everything is 'super-' e.g. "I was, like, super excited that my TikTok slayed. I'm literally shook that my stans get me. Can't even".

Also instead of to finish, to place, to come [position], to win the [colour] medal, we now hear 'to medal' e.g. "She worked hard over the last 200m to medal in that race". 🤢

15 hours ago, F737MAX said:

. "She worked hard over the last 200m to medal in that race". 🤢

I have it on good authority that meddling is one of my "super" powers.

The worst two current offenders for me?

Cringe rather than cringeworthy: Mike S KPDX's response earlier in this thread was so cringe.

To drop (as in 'to release'): Metallica's new album will drop in April or PMDG's new 737 dropped last year. Drop?! What?! In fact, this is my current number one. Get off my lawn!

But... language changes. It always has and it always will 😁

'Momentarily' tops my list of toe curling words. Where did this absurd nonsense come from? If I could ban one word it would be momentarily! What's next? Momenting? Momentless?

Edited December 28, 20223 yr by jarmstro