In our American dialogue, words exist from every corner of the world -- some Yiddish, some Italian and many from our own popular culture. Some of these words get tossed in and become everyday lingo. Phrases like "What do you know?" and "It's cool" or "schmuck," have become a regular part of how we speak. Others have all the plastic charm of a one-hit wonder. I'm thinking "chillaxin" and "outside the box."
And some of these words and phrases have to go.
When it comes to our "cutting edge" colloquial voice, phrases tend to have a short shelf life. This usually happens with words plucked from rap music or hot rod culture. Favorites like "old school" or "kickin' it" arrive at our ears as street credible hotness -- until you read it as your mom's Facebook status. Just as when the "latest fashions" from New York City finally hit Kansas -- you know they're no longer fashionable.
I've started a list. The following are words I no longer hold within my vocabulary portfolio:
• Old school
• Outside the box
• It is what it is
• Kickin' it
• At the end of the day
• Coolio
• True Dat
• Chillaxin'
• That's what she said
• Keeping it real
• Whasuuuup
• Biatch
• Farm out
• Just sayin'
• Honey-Do-List
• Hubby
And, there's more added each day, my fizzles. (See? Another!)
An exception to this rule, of course, is to use them ironically. With plenty of sarcasm, you could say "That idea sure was outside the box, Roger ..." Using air quotes around the out-of-date word helps, as well. But beyond that, these words must die.
In fact, our agency has a list going here.
Check it out -- you'll also find words we want to bring back, as well as new words we wish to add. Feel free to add some yourself via comment. Later.
