Clichés

Lazy journalism, pure and simple. It has to be a battle. You can't just be ill with a horrible disease and then die because the treatment didn't work/was too late. Where are the superlatives in that? It has to be newsworthy!!! Somehow patience and quiet fortitude or, even worse, weeping with the pain and discomfort, don't have the same ring.

[sarc emoticon]

Similarly, a person being described as 'brave' when they are living with illness or disability, whether physical or otherwise. There is no choice or alternative. They live it, and with support of others (see thread on older carers), get through day -to-day. I think the word 'brave' like 'hero' is so often out of context.

Devastated - a word that has been flogged to death in this country.

Absolutely JessM , it is used to describe how someone feels when they have lost a loved one, when some team comes second in a tennis or football match, or how a celeb feels when she doesn't win Celebrity Come Dancing!. Tragedy is another overused word.

Has anyone actually experienced the 'emotional roller-coaster' I've been hearing about? Seem to be lots of them around.

Yes, and it made me sick.

Alton Towers: my heartbeat slowed right down and my lips went blue.

ooooo I have one every time I paint my toenails chook. Will I smudge it? Will I put the second coat on too soon? Will I like the colour? Will it last? It's a nightmare it really is.

And just to add to it – why are Catholics always devout?

And older actresses " National Treasures"

Loving your amazing comments but have to go out now and literally must fly!

OMG. How far are you going? Is it by broom or something more conventional?

Is it a full moon tonight and will we see em literally over it?

Here's another - Authentic Thai food - and it never is. Plus new building superlatives - used to be superior, then executive, luxurious, prestigious - can we not just go back to 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms or will we progress to 'even more prestigious'. What's wrong with 'perfectly ordinary house, but very good value'.

The battle with cancer thing always annoys me, same with reality TV shows where the competitor describes their time on the show as their "journey" and they're always doing whatever the challenge is in memory of someone who's died, or course leading to a tear or two.

Players no longer kick or score a goal, they "goal". Competitors don't win or earn a medal, they now "medal", and in Australia Rules Football you either kick the ball or handball it, which is now described as "disposal by foot" or "disposal by hand".
I may be cynical, but given that most commentators are retired sportspeople and generally thick as bricks I think they're just trying to seem a bit brighter.

Have you notice in US TV shows they always carry their groceries in brown paper bags (or paper sacks as they say) and there's always a french stick poking out of the top of one bag?

And every time some American kid grabs a gun and shoots up the place, they interview a neighbour who inevitably says "He was a nice boy. He used to cut our grass".

Yes to all the above!! And what's all this about firms having 'mission statements'? What a load of rot. Most businesses have one 'mission' only - to make as much money as they can.

Luckily for me I don't watch sport, so all that changing nouns into verbs has passed me by.

Totally agree, PoppaRob. And another cliché that irritates me when a small girl goes missing or is found dead by accident or design, is the almost invariable description of her as 'bubbly'. Although I always feel shock and sympathy in this situation, I wish that the people using the word would think about the real child and not hide behind a stock description that is essentially meaningless. I sometimes have the unworthy suspicion that what they really mean is 'stroppy brat' or something of that kind.

I agree with most of the above what I read on my DGSs school report this year said he "showed potential" what the Master should have said was,if he got his backside into gear he would have done better.

glammanana, the greatest teacher I ever had at school wrote on one of my school reports "Could do better if he tried harder", and yes, the word "harder" was crossed out! :-)

Looking at the TV listings yesterday I read that owners of a country house were being helped to monetise their property. I almost watched it.

Anyone else fed up with the word "dreams" ?

Not quite appropriate to the thread, but does anyone else think that the laying of flowers (still in cellophane, even worse!) and teddies etc at places and houses where there has been a 'tragic' death is ridiculous? Adding a note to these things is even worse. It just seems to be 'the thing' now that some people do.

Yes greenmossgiel, quite ridiculous – especially teddies for grown women.

Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.

Yes, I know, it IS a good sentiment - but I'M SICK OF HEARING IT.