Favourite (i.e. most hated) cliches!

[MrsThierryHenry]

From the sublime to the ridiculous.

Earnest question: what can you use instead of "proactive"? I can't think of anything (other than roundabout "showing initiative" sorts of phrases) - and it is a useful concept.

Hmmm...not sure...do you not like 'proactive', then?

and the appalling "almost unique" - erm it either is or it isn't surely?

Well, GentleOtter doesn't (see below/above, depending on how you read threads).

For sake of her digestion, I'll use something else if there is something - but I sort of think there isn't?

Show of hand - I am PMSL at 'novelty ties'!

Notwaving - yes! also 'quite unique' or 'very unique' under the same annoying heading!

Active is sufficient.

Ah, yes, Bink, I really should of (ho ho) read through my own thread, now, shouldn't I?

Sheik - can I just take the opportunity while your on my thread to tell you how much I love your MN name? If there were a MN names competition I believe you and Voluptua Goodshag would win hands down.

Really? To explain: I've been trying to teach my (passive, perhaps abnormally so) 9yo about taking initiative - so, eg, "Well done, you thought ahead to press the green man button. Good, that was proactive" is helpful for him. "Active" doesn't work in context.

What else can I use? - he needs a single word.

Bink, you sound like a lovely and wise mummy!

Think proactive has been stolen by management types to cover a multitude of sins. (It was used in this way in a Simpsons episode this week I think - they were trying to describe a new cartoon character they had in mind and they kept saying he must be 'proactive'.)

Anything to do with "learning curves"

"moving forward" what? as opposed to sideways or backwards?
or "seeing where you're at" ie don't know what else to say to you but lets invent a reason to meet.

aargh

"X is the new Y" particularly when something is the "new black".

pan fried is as opposed to deep fried, surely?

Spidermama beat me to it:
"a whole raft of" ideas / proposals / weak attempts to prop up the NHS

all management bolleaux mentioned above

PLUS:

this website for like-minded pedants

Although this seems quaintly outdated these days... sadly all these words have become "normal" in business bolleaux.

I am loving this thread

"well i have to admit"

"pushing the boundaries"

"random"

"How are you spelling your name?" As though you spell it differently each day, on a whim ...
"Is X there at all?"
"I'm looking for X" (on the telephone)
"with all due respect....."
"Yes, no, yes, I agree with you ..."

Oh, I could not let it lie Bink....
Definition

"singing from the same hymn sheet"

"not fit for purpose"

"lessons must be learned"

All heard today on radio 4..Ggrrrr

'At the end of the day'

'What goes around comes around'

[Really ,really loathe and detest this one]

"at this moment in time"
"and so on and so forth"

random
blatant

ooh ooh can I add an (I think) newborn cliche? (say Aaah..)

I am trying (without much hope of success to sell my house, and the estate agent said "but what really gives your house the 'glitter factor'.."

He did the inverted commas action.

He was lying, also.