Comments on: Phrases That Make You Scream http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/ BCM's Blog on Advertising, Media, Technology + Everything In Between Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:47:10 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Claire http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2394 Claire Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:39:19 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2394 '...at the end of the day...' [...comes night but what about it?] 'It's our policy...' [which is usually followed by 'Good grief! It appears my policy and your policy are at odds. We'll go with mine then because I have the money, I am the consumer and the Fair Trading Act prefers mine.'] 'Happy Holidays.' [FFS! It's a celebration of Jesus' birthday is it not?] 'Are you busy?' 'Mummy, I definitely told you I have to have the full uniform of an 1894 Captain of the Imperial Japanese Army* for English tomorrow.' [* insert any obscure item that has never been previously mentioned and without which the child will either pass/fail the subject or become a social pariah]. 'Can I just show you this?' [...While deliberating on the thinking throne.] 'Hi. How are you?' 'What are you thinking?' [Particularly in a romantic context but at all. Ever.] 'I'm sure I gave it to you...'. '...do not hesitate to contact me.' [WTF? Presumptuous & redundant that one.] 'Who stole my lunch/chocolate/drink from the fridge?' ;-) ‘…at the end of the day…’

[...comes night but what about it?]

‘It’s our policy…’

[which is usually followed by 'Good grief! It appears my policy and your policy are at odds. We'll go with mine then because I have the money, I am the consumer and the Fair Trading Act prefers mine.']

‘Happy Holidays.’

[FFS! It's a celebration of Jesus' birthday is it not?]

‘Are you busy?’

‘Mummy, I definitely told you I have to have the full uniform of an 1894 Captain of the Imperial Japanese Army* for English tomorrow.’

[* insert any obscure item that has never been previously mentioned and without which the child will either pass/fail the subject or become a social pariah].

‘Can I just show you this?’

[...While deliberating on the thinking throne.]

‘Hi. How are you?’

‘What are you thinking?’

[Particularly in a romantic context but at all. Ever.]

‘I’m sure I gave it to you…’.

‘…do not hesitate to contact me.’

[WTF? Presumptuous & redundant that one.]

‘Who stole my lunch/chocolate/drink from the fridge?’ ;-)

]]> By: Deb http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2341 Deb Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:26:10 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2341 Just reading most of the phrases in these responses gives me the willies, though I have to admit there are two of Aaron’s phrases that I really must respond to. “Down the tubes” is a variation of ”down the toilet” (the “tubes” being a slang term for the pipework in the plumbing). Personally, I find that a rather useful and aptly descriptive phrase at times! “Take the cake” is one of those phrases that, to me, keep a little piece of history alive. My understanding is that it comes from an old custom in USA slavery states where slaves would walk in pairs around a cake at a party, and the most graceful pair would be awarded the cake as a prize. The expressions “cake walk” and “a piece of cake” probably come from the same custom. Here endeth the English lesson! Just reading most of the phrases in these responses gives me the willies, though I have to admit there are two of Aaron’s phrases that I really must respond to.
“Down the tubes” is a variation of ”down the toilet” (the “tubes” being a slang term for the pipework in the plumbing). Personally, I find that a rather useful and aptly descriptive phrase at times!
“Take the cake” is one of those phrases that, to me, keep a little piece of history alive. My understanding is that it comes from an old custom in USA slavery states where slaves would walk in pairs around a cake at a party, and the most graceful pair would be awarded the cake as a prize. The expressions “cake walk” and “a piece of cake” probably come from the same custom.

Here endeth the English lesson!

]]> By: Aaron's mate Louie http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2226 Aaron's mate Louie Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:57:56 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2226 Anyone who mentions Jesus more than three hundred times in a two-minute conversation. Anyone who mentions Jesus more than three hundred times in a two-minute conversation.

]]> By: Aaron http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2225 Aaron Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:44:31 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2225 "More than happy" How can you be more than happy? Sounds like a dangerous mental condition. "Takes the cake" Where? Where do you take the cake? The bakery? "Down the tubes" What tubes? Do you ever see any tubes? "In your own words" Do you seriously have your own words? Next time someone tells you to use your own words, shout "Nikk Beebo Flarney Quando Floooooo!" “More than happy”
How can you be more than happy? Sounds like a dangerous mental condition.

“Takes the cake”
Where? Where do you take the cake? The bakery?

“Down the tubes”
What tubes? Do you ever see any tubes?

“In your own words”
Do you seriously have your own words? Next time someone tells you to use your own words, shout “Nikk Beebo Flarney Quando Floooooo!”

]]> By: Just a girl http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2224 Just a girl Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:36:53 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2224 so essentially..... so essentially…..

]]> By: Jeff http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2210 Jeff Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:31:46 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2210 With all due respect .... some phrases that annoy me include: Moving forward Touching base Ticking all the boxes FYI 'Flagging' stuff With all due respect …. some phrases that annoy me include:

Moving forward
Touching base
Ticking all the boxes
FYI
‘Flagging’ stuff

]]> By: Sally Williams http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2209 Sally Williams Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:46:02 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2209 "Are you OK for sizes in there?" (annoying shop assistants hovering around clothing store fitting rooms) "Serving Suggestion" (e.g. accompanying a picture of a Salada biscuit dressed up as an hor d'oevre) "Two Eps Back-to-Back" (FTA TV's annoying shortening of the word 'episodes') “Are you OK for sizes in there?” (annoying shop assistants hovering around clothing store fitting rooms)
“Serving Suggestion” (e.g. accompanying a picture of a Salada biscuit dressed up as an hor d’oevre)
“Two Eps Back-to-Back” (FTA TV’s annoying shortening of the word ‘episodes’)

]]> By: Michele http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2208 Michele Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:45:26 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2208 "Is there anything else I can help you with today?" ... call centre operators (especially those offshore) who usually don't seem to be able to help you with anything! “Is there anything else I can help you with today?” … call centre operators (especially those offshore) who usually don’t seem to be able to help you with anything!

]]> By: Catherine http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2206 Catherine Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:46:09 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2206 This (obviously a peanut product, such as... oh I don't know... peanuts) may contain traces of nuts (!) This (obviously a peanut product, such as… oh I don’t know… peanuts) may contain traces of nuts (!)

]]> By: Ben http://blog.bcm.com.au/2009/consumer-behaviour/phrases-that-make-you-scream/#comment-2205 Ben Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:01 +0000 http://blog.bcm.com.au/?p=1389#comment-2205 Usually preceding the dreaded do-over, one of my favourites: "You guys really nailed this! But ..." Usually preceding the dreaded do-over, one of my favourites: “You guys really nailed this! But …”

]]>