The Word Thread

[anto]

ramalama ding dong - Homer. J

[Yellow_Festiva]

You know what's funny, the fact that inflammable and flammable mean exactly the same thing, or how the word decimate has been so misused that the incorrect meaning has become accepted as correct.

I bought a DVD set, I think from ABC or SBS “The Adventure of English”. Well worth looking up if you are into the origins of our language ;)

[pursuit2359]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

You know what's funny, the fact that inflammable and flammable mean exactly the same thing, or how the word decimate has been so misused that the incorrect meaning has become accepted as correct.

I bought a DVD set, I think from ABC or SBS “The Adventure of English”. Well worth looking up if you are into the origins of our language ;)

That's a good one - I even checked the definitions to be sure. I haven't gone into the origins, but I suspect that "inflammable" would have come first (as in to inflame) and that "flammable" is some sort of mongrel word.

[ThaFlash]

vitriol

not a fan!

[Riksta]

Anyone up for a game?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzzword_bingo

Buzzword bingo is generally played in situations where audience members feel that the speaker, in an effort to mask a lack of actual knowledge, is just spouting off a bunch of buzzwords rather than providing information or ideas of actual value. Business meetings led by guest speakers or notable company personalities from higher up the pay scale are often viewed as a good opportunity, as the language used by these speakers often includes predictable references to arcane business concepts, which are perfect for use in the creation of buzzword bingo cards.

An important element of the game is having the courage to actually yell "Bingo!". In order to avoid the reprimands that would likely result from doing so, participants may resort to looking at one another and silently mouthing the word "Bingo". An alternate variation requires the person who has achieved bingo to raise his or her hand and use the word "Bingo" within the context of a comment or question.

An example of a small Buzzword Bingo card:
user-centric clinical governance scalable
strategise pipeline milestone
facilitate bandwidth benchmark

[pursuit2359]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Anyone up for a game?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzzword_bingo

How would you structure this game?

I also have a variation for the office environment: instead of saying or mouthing "bingo", you make an affirmative comment to the person next to you, like "that is so true", "mmm, right on" or "yes, it's got to be proactive."

Alternatively, you could just repeat the buzzwords and add a few of your own. For example, "Minimalising waste inefficiency is key, but could we simultaneously and proactively optimise the resultant synergies?"

[Franco Cozzo]

Leverage

A buzzword used by management and those who aspire to become management. It used to describe an advantage gained by using a tool. Later it became a term used to describe corporate debt. For example, a leveraged buy-out is one where the buyer has to borrow money in order to buy the other company.

After much mis-use, the word leverage no-longer describes anything or have any meaning to anyone who has ever worked in an office.

in business circles this word is most commonly used in place of the word 'use'.

Steve: Can we take this off-line, I'm hungry. I'm going to leverage a sandwich.

Paula: Great idea, I could also leverage some food.

Steve: Come on then, we can leverage my car to get to the sandwich leverager.

Paula: Good leverage, we should leverage your leverage so we'll leverage

Steve: Leverage

Stolen from UD lol.

Another thing that ***** me is employers referring to particular roles with fancy names. For example a dealership mechanic is now an "automotive technician". Yeah mate and I'm an "underwater ceramics detailer" (dishwasher).

[AC]

Well if you didnt know...




Had to be done, Sorry

[Loonar]

Hirsute... a word that sounds almost exactly as it is ( hair suit !! )... and pretty well sums me up.. !

[ThaFlash]

rambunctious - perfectly named

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by hawkgirl

"moving forward"

i hear them using this at work & honestly I just want to smack them.

My old work use to use this and the words to me means 'we've stuffed up because we thought we could get away with it but now we have been cause to looks like morons and will have to do it the right way'.

Hate when people use this phrase as I just think less of a person.

[ThaFlash]

chutzpah - how pox

[Iggypoppin']

Can't go into details but some reasonably high up office bloke at work used the following terms at work the other evening and I am still confused as to their meanings.

"Social Strategizing"
"Streamlining and fast-tracking interdepartmental issues"
"Creating High energy and high output workflow areas"
Now, I work in a hotel and more importantly in the kitchen and bar areas and NONE of those terms mean anything at all to me. If someone could shed some light, I'd be grateful.

[buggo]

He's just explaining things with fancy words that will tell everyone his brain is as big as the wang on his forehead.