Pop Culture
"Mission Accomplished!" ...? What phrase would you retire?
By Adnaan Wasey
April 30, 2008, 05:31 PM
Five years ago, on May 1, 2003, President Bush marked the end of major combat in Iraq with a nationally televised speech from the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Iraq war continued and the giant 'mission accomplished' banner hung from the warship has come to symbolize its opposite. But there are other phrases that have changed in meaning over time and it's time now to stop using them. What phrase or word do you want to retire?
#22 Posted by DIANE BERGER , May 01, 08:47AM
ANY TIME SOON! enough
#23 Posted by Jean Rigg, May 01, 08:49AM
Re phrases to be retired: "takeaway" (& I'd guess I'm not the first to make this suggestion?)
#24 Posted by Doug, May 01, 08:50AM
I'd like to see the letter "h" retired from the pronunciation of words that do not have an "h" in them. I don't know whether it's a fad, a dialect or a speech impediment, but there is no "h" in "street" or "strike" or "stress", yet many tv and radio reporters say "shtreet" or "conshtruction" or the like.
#25 Posted by Aaron Mitchell, May 01, 08:50AM
Speaking of ridiculous business words, how about "synergy"? Does anyone who uses it even know what it actually means? As far as I can tell from it's usage, it means "anything good."
#26 Posted by Sam in Fort Lee NJ, May 01, 08:50AM
Let's *stop beating a dead horse*, but "mission accomplished" is actually a *dead in the water slogan* that is abused by the electorate *ir*regardless of party affiliation. It's *so over* and *yesterday's news*.
#27 Posted by Mary Bergin, May 01, 08:50AM
I will be certain that "mission accomplished" will be realized when the phrase "Wait on" again refers to the service of a waiter/waitress and not a substitute for "wait for"
#28 Posted by Trey H, May 01, 08:53AM
The phrase I'd like retired is: "'I could care less' is incorrect, you should say, 'I couldn't care less' instead." It's called SARCASM, folks. Sarcasm doesn't really work when you say exactly what you mean, does it? :)
#29 Posted by Joe Huybens, May 01, 08:57AM
"I mean..." or "Y'know..." as the beginning of a question. Meaningless padding.
...Not that it could ever happen on NPR (Not that it could happen every thirty seconds on Sound Check).
#30 Posted by Dashiell, May 01, 09:06AM
Irregardless. What is that extra syllable at the beginning of the word for, exactly?
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#21 Posted by kate Skwire, May 01, 08:47AM