The Snark Handbook: Clichés Edition: Overused Buzzwords, Hackneyed Phrases, and Other Misuses of the English Language

by Lawrence Dorfman

Book Overview

CLICH noun
Etymology: French, literally, printer's stereotype, from past participle of clich r, to stereotype, of imitative origin
Date: 1892
1: a trite phrase or expression; also: the idea expressed by it
2: a hackneyed theme, characterization, or situation
3: something that has become overly familiar or commonplace

In the words of Stephen Fry, "It is a clich that most clich s are true, but then like most clich s, that clich is untrue." Clich s are like rationalizations: try going a week without using one. It can't be done They are the hobgoblin of little minds. For most of us, once you begin to take notice, they are fingernails on a chalkboard.

From Shakespeare to Shakira; in music, on television, at the movies; in the boardroom, on a conference call, online or in person, clich s have taken over the world. While some nitwits might say they're just misunderstood, they didn't start out that way. There was a time when they were new and vibrant, clever and pithy. Now they're just predictable--a vapid collection of much-too-familiar descriptions or metaphors that often replace smart conversation, speech, or writing.

This book is a collection of the most overused phrases of all time. Hopefully, it'll make you laugh. Hopefully, it'll make them think. And at the end of the day, if the early bird catches the worm and the slow and steady win the race . . .

Please . . . kill . . . me . . . now.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1616086351
• ISBN13: 9781616086350
• Release Date: November 2012
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.0"