Overused words and phrases of the decade

In my regular trivia-combing on the Interwebs, I stumbled upon this list: the Top 25 Most Overused Words and Phrases of the Decade. Interesting—I like this list, and agree with most of it. Some of it seems like it's not novel to this past decade—"Dude!" and the clever combining of words (e.g., "metrosexual) go back to the '90s, if not earlier—but other points are well made. Some selective commentary:

"Wardrobe malfunction": This phrase is irritating, but mostly for the trend it's symptomatic of: the inability of anyone to take responsibility for anything. That Janet Jackson's–boob-at-the–Super Bowl stunt was dumb, but not remotely as dumb as the bozo puritanical reaction to it (yeah, date rapists breaking each other's vertebrae is wholesome family entertainment, utterly ruined by the sight of a female breast). "Waldrobe malfunction" is an example of the mealymouthed refusal to call idiots on their hypocritical nonsense. Ergh.

"Status update," "tweeted," "Un/Friended" All IM- and text-inspired abbreviations: OMG, TMI, WTF, LMAO, ZOMG, and the granddaddy of them all, LOL: Get used to it, Grandpa.

"Cougar": The novelty of this wore off about 30 seconds after the cultural meme hit the mainstream. George Burns once said that the greatest discovery of the 20th century is that women like it too; I'm incline to agree, but giving a cutesy nickname to perfectly normal adults who number in the millions betrays a real lack of sexual confidence.

“I just threw up a little in my mouth": I never liked this. It is neither funny, nor a particularly evocative way to say, "I'm disgusted."

Getting anything “on,” like “getting my drink on": Agreed. I despise this—the forced casualness and phony hipness of it drives me insane. I am constantly beating it back in my day job as an editor, reminding people that somehow, we were able to express ourselves before Missy Elliott came along.

"That’s what she said”: Call me juvenile, but I still think this is funny.

Personally, I feel like this past ten-year period has suffered from a peculiar infestation of especially annoying phraseology, but I'm sure civilization has always been plagued in this way. So I wouldn't panic too much. Still, if, when the 2020s come along, we're communicating solely in symbols and word fragments, I'll admit I was wrong.

Ol' Slangy, my lexicological friend

In my day job as a copy editor (really, just for fun, since being a quizmaster I'm continually showered with rubies and emeralds), I refer to the dictionary (Merriam-Webster's 11th edition) approximately 17 zillion times a day. Less often referenced, though still a vital tool that holds an honored place on my desk, is the Dictionary of American Slang, third edition, edited by Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D. I'm continually reminded of what an amusing tome this is, and I think I've come to realize that it might be my favorite book of all time. (Tough competition, though.)

Today's amusing example: the entry for the phrase I'll be damned. The book offers a number of variations, including I'll be danged, I'll be hornswoggled, I'll be ding swizzled (?!?), I'll be dipped in shit, and that classic among classics, I'll be a monkey's uncle.

And the definition: "May I be maltreated, confounded, accursed, etc; an exclamation of surprise or determination." This is what I love about Ol' Slangy: applying linguistic formality to the stupidest shit that comes out of human beings' mouths. Amusing juxtaposition is always a thrill.

I can recall the exact moment I first learned that such a thing as a slang dictionary existed. Ninth-grade English class, Mrs. Casapulla, Columbia High School (no, don't go high-fiving me; I was out of that place within a year). She was talking about slang in general, told us about its unlikely codification in various reference manuals, to the shock of both me and, I clearly remember, a classmate bound for fame and glory. "How is that possible?" the future idol and I both asked. "They update it a lot," Mrs. Casapulla assured us.

Eh, not really. For all I know, Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D. died in the French-Indian War, 'cause this thing is seriously out of date (copyright 1995, which is paleolithic in slang terms, especially considering the rise of the Internet since then). It's the time-honored manual, though, so I've stuck with it out of inertia. Some years ago I looked for a more authoritative alternative, but came up empty—most slang dictionaries are extremely selective volumes the size of religious pamphlets, with titles like English as a Second Fucking Language. (Though this looks promising; good thing I can expense book purchases.)

Come to think of it, someone should make an authoritative slang guide online. (Hell, someone should make an authoritative anything online.) Maybe that can be my next career: Internet lexicographer.

The Super Mega Ultra Blah Blah Returns!

Oh, boy: By popular demand, it is back. A stupidly challenging question, with your chance to win free admission to the BQT

But… I'm changing the rules: Instead of the first one to e-mail info@bigquizthing.com with the correct answer, I'll be accepting correct responses for the next week, until the end of Wednesday 1/28. I'll then randomly pick one correct responder and award that person the free admission. Got it? Good. Now, then…