Word gurus banish ‘fiscal cliff’

WASHINGTON DC, USA – Language gurus at a Michigan college doubled down on the word “fiscal cliff” Monday, December 31, 2012, in their year-end bucket list of trending words and phrases that ought to be kicked down the road in 2013.

Lake Superior State University’s 38th annual “List of Words to be Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness” is drawn from tens of thousands of nominations from the United States and beyond.

Topping this year’s list is “fiscal cliff,” the buzzword for the spending cuts and tax increases that will kick in if President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders fail to overcome Washington’s budget crisis.

“Tends to be used however the speaker wishes to use it, as in falling off the fiscal cliff, climbing the fiscal cliff, challenged by the fiscal cliff, etc.,” noted one contributor to the list, the aptly named Barbara Cliff.

“Makes me want to throw someone over a real cliff,” added another.

Also making the list:

• Kick the can down the road 
• Double down
• Job creators
• Passion (as in “that’s my passion”)
• YOLO (you only live once)
• Spoiler alert
• Bucket list
• Trending
• Superfood
• Boneless wings 
• Guru

The entire list, which has grown to more than 800 words and phrases since it was launched 1975 by the college’s PR team, is at www.lssu.edu/banished. – Rappler.com