Phrases you're tired of hearing

[wienerdog]

Being in the corporate world, there are phrases I've heard on a frequency of 5 times in a day. This makes me wonder how limited the vocabulary is in the business world, and how that affects the overall imagination, ingenuity, and thought process behind decisions.

Let me start it off with one I'd like to retire:
"We don't need to re-invent the wheel" - can't we come up with a new way of saying this? I've heard this phrase from 5 different people at 5 different times in one day.

[morea]

"just get the image off the website".

"can your software do that?"

"we need to be proactive"

and anything that includes the phrases "synergy" or "paradigm shift".

[TheBluePanda]

Ooh, I have a perfect one for me.

"Pass through". Programmers will know this one. Its basically when you "pass" data from one place to another. I swear one of our programmers uses it in every sentence, and it gets on my nerves!

[Drawing a Blank]

"Lets throw them all at the wall and see what sticks" (no lets think about them for 2 minutes and see which ideas are worth pursuing)

"When you say a vector file does that include JPEG's" (Sob....sob.....sob)

"We just have to gut it out for the first few months" (No, I have a lot more work to do while you go sking)

Non work related "My babies daddy" (no comment I just hate this phrase)

[colonel5]

"Long story short..."
"ducks in a row"
"tighten the screws"
"bear down"
"step it up"
"all our eggs in one basket"

the list goes on...

[G-Man79]

"I have a headache..."

Oh, I'm sorry, we were talking about work-related phrases? In that case:

"Shoot me an email"

"Oh sure, we can do that" (Often said by my supervisors without consulting me)

[TheBluePanda]

"I have a headache..."

Oh, I'm sorry, we were talking about work-related phrases? In that case:




lol :D


"I'm tired"

"I'm sleepy"

[vtwin_gary]

this is not strictly used at work but it is one of my pet peeves when someone says
“I could care less”


In this case an expression which originally meant “it would be impossible for me to care less than I do because I do not care at all” is rendered senseless by being transformed into the now-common “I could care less.” Think about it: if you could care less, that means you care some. The original already drips sarcasm, so it’s pointless to argue that the newer version is “ironic.” People who misuse this phrase are just being careless.

[balou]

How about just one word:

TECHNICALLY

[Drorain]

"AIGA, The Professional Association for Design" ~ brand new and I hate it already
"Roll with it"
"Tit for tat"

[TheBluePanda]

"The client would like..(insert anything)"

[balou]

"I love it. Everything's great but...."

[Booger]

Excellent!

and all others above.
my babies daddy gets on my last nerve
or... (i dont know why, but i can't stand hearing this line)
something along the lines of "...I'm going to my friends work..."
Why not, "I'm going where my friend works" ????

When someone calls me and says...
"I need a sign request for some signs..."
Well no shit you say? You call the friggin sign department and want to request signs? Hell I thought you were going to tell me you needed 20 cases of Bud Light at the Exxon Corner Store..... Idiot!

[Neballer]

"At the end of the day..."

"Ya, they needed yesterday."

[morea]

slightly off topic... "ATM machine"

it's ATM. It means "automatic teller machine." Saying 'machine' again is redundant.

[Neballer]

or O.G. Gangsta, doesn't O.G. mean Original Gangsta? :cool:

[morea]

or O.G. Gangsta, doesn't O.G. mean Original Gangsta? :cool:

in Phantom of the Opera it was "Opera Ghost".

[Neballer]

in Phantom of the Opera it was "Opera Ghost".
that phantom was pretty gansta, don't cha think. :D

[morea]

he did whack a lot of people!

[morea]

speaking of O.G., remember O.G. Readmore from Saturday morning cartoons?

http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9812/images/tv-capnog.gif

[Neballer]

Yes!

[Jason Fraker]

What about these:
"Cut it out" What is IT and how do I cut IT out?

"Forget about it (or fugittaboutid, if you're in the mafia)" That's a tall order. How can I forget about something on demand like that?

"Let's get down to brass tacks" I'd prefer to avoid sharp, shiny metal things if it's all the same to you, bub.

"I think we're missing the bigger picture" Well, I can get the 18X24 if you think the 12X18 isn't large enough...

"You got a minute (followed by whatever they wanted to bother you about without letting you answer)?" Why don't you just walk up to my desk and start in on your blather? No need for a proverbial question.

[jimintn]

"Can I ask you a question?"

Well, you already have whether I wanted you to or not. Now you have another one?

(I have to admit that I catch myself saying this once in a while)

[rickself]

"Team player"

[morea]

rickself: how about "can you accept it in Publisher?" :D

[rickself]

rickself: how about "can you accept it in Publisher?" :D
RIGHT...then I use one of those phrases I'm sick of saying!!!_+*&^$)(!

And the next response from them is, "OK, how 'bout a Word file?"

[morea]

Gak! <left eye starts twitching>

[rickself]

"Can I ask you ________ a question?"
"dumb"
"silly"
"stooopid"
"technical" (coming from somebody that doesn't sh!t)

[Navian]

"So... When can you have this done?"

When I damn well feel like it!

[morea]

"can't you just add more pixels?" LMAO

[Neballer]

"make the logo bigger"

[John G]

"We need to get outside of the box" My boss is stuck on it.

And people calling me Flash. Not in any way shape or form did I put that my first name was "flash." I'm not related to that frickin comic/TV/whatever character (they also think it's funny cause I work in Flash. har har har).

[Navian]

Gotta love the movie: Office Space.

In jokes the phrases are funny, but forbid they use the lines in Office Space OR N.Dynomite, for professional work.

Edit*

So ADD: ANY MOVIE QUOTES, used at any time that isnt suited for the situation (even jokes).

[Wing1]

"I want something "edgier"..."
"Will this jpeg work?" (No. No. And no.)
"I have a rush job for you..." (Is there ever one that is NOT a rush?)

[Wing1]

"The client would like..(insert anything)"

Oh ya!!!

[morea]

"which is better, mac or pc?"

"all you do is play on the computer all day"

"new startup company needs logo, can't afford to pay"

">.<"

[skirklan]

Hahahaha!!#//~\| :p (snicker, snicker) Oh, you take me back.

How about:
"highest possible resolution"
and
"heads up"
and
"don't take it personally"

and, finally, the coup de grace,

basically

But my personal favorite, spoken by the CEO about a major ad campaign:
"I want you to go down the hall and do whatever it is you do--make some magic." :eek:

[morea]

how about after taking 25 random sized logos in gif format and redrawing them in vector format (because of course "the original file is nowhere to be found"), you print out a beautiful crisp copy with them all sized to the same width, then hand it to your boss who proceeds to say,

"it doesn't look any different to me... :confused:"

[Booger]

how about after taking 25 random sized logos in gif format and redrawing them in vector format (because of course "the original file is nowhere to be found"), you print out a beautiful crisp copy with them all sized to the same width, then hand it to your boss who proceeds to say,

"it doesn't look any different to me... :confused:"that still bugs you, haha, I've seen you post that countless times in my short time on this board.

listen to some david allen coe - take this job and shove it
;)

[TheBluePanda]

that still bugs you, haha, I've seen you post that countless times in my short time on this board.


You've been on this board for 2 weeks and seen it countless times? I havent seen it once! :p

[morea]

how can it not look different?!? LOL! :p

[ecsyle]

I think that the whole field of marketing needs to die:

It's all about syncronicity of best practice oriented frameworks in conjunction with the application level presentation efforts that move team-based collaboration products and services in the most efficient manner for deliverables as deemed fit by the desire of our market segments that have been placed into the higher stata of unified, collected demographics that span remote branch locations and interior gateway social marketing collectives for the overall betterment of the company.

A friend of mine wrote this. It scares me.
I can actually imagine this being the topic of discussion in a meeting somewhere...

[TheBluePanda]

My brain melted halfway through reading that ^

[morea]

and my eyes glazed over - like donuts. :D

[ecsyle]

mmm, donuts

[Neballer]

I can't pay attention to anything you post ecsyle, what with that guy and his forty just bumpin away. :D

[TheBluePanda]

kinda looks like the neck maneuver made famous by these guys.

http://www.zboneman.com/movies/images/nightattheroxbury.jpg

[ecsyle]

I can't pay attention to anything you post ecsyle, what with that guy and his forty just bumpin away. :D
Hahaha.

[EC]

I think that the whole field of marketing needs to die:

A friend of mine wrote this. It scares me.
I can actually imagine this being the topic of discussion in a meeting somewhere...

Why does your friend hate punctuation?

[Jason Fraker]

I hate when someone uses the word "literally" to describe something that is clearly not meant to be taken literally.

"I literally ate 3,000 cheese burgers yesterday." when they should just say "I ate a bunch of cheese burgers yesterday." UGH!!

Booger: I've only seen the GIF thing mentioned twice: once when it happened and today when Morea dredged up the whole painful experience for our own vicarious frustrations. You should thank her, really.

[morea]

lol @ Jason! Darn those old posts. :D


one of the guys from the office leaves every day at 4.

A customer just called for him, and was told that he was gone. The customer replied with the dreaded "well, how do I get in touch with him then?!?"

Um, you wait until tomorrow! This certainly isn't a life or death situation. :rolleyes:
Some people are so impatient.

[MD]

kinda looks like the neck maneuver made famous by these guys.

The Simon's from Castlevania do it better.
http://whatisvanialove.ytmnd.com/

[ecsyle]

Why does your friend hate punctuation?
I don't know. I think it's because punctuation would make it semi-intelligible :/

[Navian]

At my work I hate it when people dont understanding print sizes, and ask for:

"Can you print that full size?"

or

"Can you print that at half size?"

WTF! I wished people would understand paper sizes when requesting prints from cad files (I'm the only drafter among 18 project managers).

lol @ PD :p

SO! Here is a simple list (i use) for drafting paper sizes that I can plot(print):
(Scale means that if you put a ruler down if the sale is 1"=1' or 1/2"=1' and so on, the it is true to the measurment.)

ANSI A - 8.5" x 11" (Not to scale)

ANSI B - 11" x 17" (Not to scale)

ANSI C - 17" x 22" (Architects dont normally use this size in there drawing sets, but I can, then I have to manualy cut it, not a cutting machine but a razor and ruler. :mad: needs to be scaled.)

ANSI D - 22" x 34" (Printable with more white edge from the titleblocks. needs to be scaled.)

ARCH D - 24" x 36 (Standard size of Architecture sized drawings, most plans are done on this size. it is to scale.)

ARCH E1 - 30" x 42" (Another standard Architecture sized, usualy called Oversized E, used more with large floor plans, and it is to scale.)

ANSI E - 34" x 44" (Not normally used)

ARCH E - 36" x 48" (It is a supersized architecture size)

There is also a size Z which is not used in production/construction drawings, but more of a marker in a phase of the design stage. Its normally refered to a "Wall print" very few printers/drafting plotters can print it, it has to be sent to a print press. (usualy to scale)

[Booger]

Morea, I tend to browse through lots of old posts, some back 2 years or so, I just remembered it because I've been in the same boat.
Maybe next week I'll post some work frustrations up, I feel I shouldn't this week because I just got notice that I'm getting a raise!! WOOT!

[Silence04]

"no time better than the present"
"put your best foot forward"
"what's for lunch?"
"what are we eating boys?"
"Food's here, Let's eat!"
"she had big cannons and a bush like that (<-says "that" while making a triangle shape with his hands on his crotch)"

wow, it's so funny that someone posted this topic, i was going to post this same topic last week!!!!

[Neballer]

lol@ Silence - was she from 1986? :D

[MD]

Well the 80's are coming back ... at least you don't have to floss in the morning ...

[paulrandfan]

can we add "Mizzou Yellow"
can we use yellow, black and white...is that two color?
can we make the font bigger?

and because I just got dumped, how about some of the stuff I've been hearing over and over:

"This is for the best"
"You can do way better"
"He'll regret it"
"You didn't do anything wrong"
"Everything happens for a reason" ----grrrr!!!!!
"it was meant to be"
"You'll have twenty guys lined up at your door"

[D Lucks]

I hate when someone uses the word "literally" to describe something that is clearly not meant to be taken literally.

"I literally ate 3,000 cheese burgers yesterday." when they should just say "I ate a bunch of cheese burgers yesterday." UGH!!
HAHA! Listen to Dane Cook's Retaliation cds. There are a couple parts you'll like!

[Neballer]

can we use yellow, black and white...is that two color?

on blue paper?

[morea]

can we use yellow, black and white...is that two color?


oh, that brings back memories.

I had a client once that wanted me to to quote a print job for her... she told me it would be 3 color over one.

I asked what colors it would print, because if she used the printer's standards it would be less expensive.

She told me that it was black, reflex blue, and white.

I explained to her that the paper was white, so it would only be 2 colors on the front. When I faxed her the quote she immediately called me back - 'you listed the black and blue inks but you left off the white!'

Yikes.

[TheBluePanda]

I asked what colors it would print, because if she used the printer's standards it would be less expensive.

She told me that it was black, reflex blue, and white.

I explained to her that the paper was white, so it would only be 2 colors on the front. When I faxed her the quote she immediately called me back - 'you listed the black and blue inks but you left off the white!'


It would be reeeely scary if the person was like "Hmm.. no, my boss wanted white, so lets go ahead and use white ink too"

[morea]

that was pretty much how the conversation went, panda. She didn't really understand it no matter how I tried to explain it, poor thing.

[Navian]

LOL when i worked at office max, when i sold ink to people, they would always asked me: do i need a white ink cartridge. :confused:

I had to explain to them the obvious, i tell you those people walked out looking slightly educated. (they are the ones i usualy made the $200+ sales on).

So with that the quote: One mans junk is another mans treasure,

Now to modify it: One mans misfortune, is another mans fortune.

Translation:
If someone is stupid enough you could make a lot of money off of them. Especially making a sale.

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

"Are we all on the same page?"

"If I fax that over to you, can you scan it and drop it into the ad?"

"I'll take this back to the committee and see what they have to say"

Anyone calling me "dude" in a business situation...

- J.

[Vikia]

We have someone who can't carry on a conversation without the phrase "that being said..." at least 3 times in the same conversation. It's gotten to the point that we silently count the number of times and compare notes after the meeting is over.

lame entertainment, but it is fun never-the-less (LOL)

[D Lucks]

"If I fax that over to you, can you scan it and drop it into the ad?"
"I'll take this back to the committee and see what they have to say"

<Shudders>:(

[skirklan]

We have someone who can't carry on a conversation without the phrase "that being said..." at least 3 times in the same conversation. It's gotten to the point that we silently count the number of times and compare notes after the meeting is over.

lame entertainment, but it is fun never-the-less (LOL)

This reminds me of a fellow designer (whom I hired) :( had a habit of saying, "Lordy, Lordy, Lordy" about every 15 minutes. This increased in frequency whenever he got a little tense. It was MADDENING. One day while he went out for a cigarette break, I recorded "Lordy, Lordy, Lordy" as an alert on my computer. :eek: the first time it rang out?!! He laughed out loud for a long time, and it served to break him of his habit.

Audio torture in a caged environment. Absolute madness.

[Andreazza]

I work at a sign shop....and the most annoying thing I get from people on the phone is:

"Hi, I'd like to buy a sign"

WOW REALLY!!! I HAD NO IDEA!

[morea]

^ now THAT's irony for you, lol. :p

that would probably drive me crazy.

[greyghost]

"Git 'er done"

"upscale" when wanting anything from a classy to just a clean-looking ad, or even to describe the business itself, whether the ad is upscale or not.


"If I fax that over to you, can you scan it and drop it into the ad?"


AUUUUGGGGHHHH! I hate that one! (bangs head against wall)

[Andreazza]

That's all they will say too. Until you ask..."what kind of sign"
and sometimes the responses could be "one for the window"

Um...okay...

Really, are people that stupid? This aint rocket science over here...we make vinyl graphics, banners, and lawn signs...pick one.

We do digital printing too....so i can relate to all the "can you just take it off the website" kind of stuff too.

[Navian]

One of those deely things that go on the thingies. Yeah, one of them!

[Neballer]

Chrome Twisty Knobs?

[Navian]

I have no idea. It could be.

[Kool]

My favorite from my days at the print shop.

Phone rings:
Me: Hello can I help you?
Customer: Are my cards done yet?
Me: Umm.. I don't know, who (the #*@#) are you?
Customer: This is Joe.
Me: What company are you with Joe?
Customer: The college. (We do all the cards for the local community college and there are usually at least 50 different cards in the pipeline at any given time)

And so it goes on for another 10 minutes as I pry this idiots info out of him one tiny peice at a time.

[Only Seen Here]

"I was thinking edgy while still being traditional. You know, Grungy but really clean. Something that looks classic but still seems contemporary, in a lopsided but symetrical way."

[Only Seen Here]

oh, and "Mike Jones."

[EC]

"I need a website. How much does that cost?"

[JPnyc]

I get more than that. I usually get "I want people to login to use it" "Do you have a database?" "What's that?" **sound of a gunshot rings out**

[PrintDriver]

"What'd'ya mean there'll be rush charges?"
"Scale?"
"We want you to match this ________ (insert strange object) for color."

On the topic of white ink, just charge em for it. Makes them happy and you happy. Avoids needless discussion.
(Keyare actually uses white ink on his press, and so do I in UV flatbed.)

[cjoe]

A classic:

"Um... doesn't this need more than 4 colours?"

Hey wait a second, have you ever opened your inkjet printer?

[LeftBrain Artist]

Any phrase involving the word "turnkey" - usually to indicate that something is able to do something else - but we're not really sure what "something" is, nor are we sure what that "something else" might be - so we'll just say its "turnkey".

For example - "we provide turnkey solutions to your company's problems". Ah, bravo, I always wanted turnkey solutions, much better than turncoat solutions or turntable solutions.

I've seen that a few times now, and while everyone else is looking at the phrase or hearing it and nodding in an approving manner, I alway feel like the only one who reads it and says to myself "what the hell does that mean?" I might be more interested in purchasing someones services if they actually tell me what they do rather than offer a vague idea of what they might be about.

[skirklan]

Any phrase involving the word "turnkey" - usually to indicate that something is able to do something else - but we're not really sure what "something" is, nor are we sure what that "something else" might be - so we'll just say its "turnkey". For example - "we provide turnkey solutions to your company's problems".

Turnkey refers to the jailer who carries all the keys--quaint image, no? But in our industry, it means you can turn the job without involving outside vendors and incurring a markup on extraneous services. Turnkey--turn it around withouth leaving the "cell."

Everybody wants to lock down the out-of-control creative. tsk. tsk. :p
Perhaps you can quip back, "Most everyone has moved up to keypads." :D

[The_Black_Knight]

Anyone who uses the phrase "take it to the next level" should be banished to Antarctica for life.

The same goes for anyone that uses the word "actionable" to describe something that needs to be done. It's sort of a bastardized version of "action item."

Based on the above, I guess pretty much all people in sales and marketing should be banished to Antarctica, really.