THE HALL OF OVERUSED (AND OUGHT TO BE RETIRED) WORDS (AND EXPRESSIONS)

2/19/20

In my 2/17/10 post, I stated:

“Out of the stories of Toyota’s problems with accelerators, brakes, steering, etc. come two words that have joined such tripe as “actually,” “awesome,” “whatever,” and countless others in the Hall of Overused (and Ought to Be Retired) Words, which should become a regular feature of the Pontificator.”

While I thought that it was highly likely, and advisable, that these reflections on the abuse of the language and the thought process become a regular feature of the Pontificator, I had no idea that the second edition, albeit with the addition of the modifier “(AND EXPRESSIONS), would arrive so quickly on the heels of the original suggestion. However, the President of the United States himself has given me occasion to produce the second edition of this now regular feature of the Pontificator.

Speaking in Las Vegas today, President Obama stated that “he will not rest until the nation is not only recovering but thriving.”

Oh really. So we’re supposed to believe that the president will not lie down and relax, let alone take a nap or retire for the night, until the economy is recovering. Of course we aren’t. But this “will not rest” business is one of those expressions, like the odious “never give up” (See my 2/14/10 post, ANOTHER ASININE PIECE OF MODERN “WISDOM”) that seems to have wormed its way into our speech and thought patterns simply by process of empty-headed repetition. Yes, I know it’s only an expression, but that doesn’t make it any less idiotic.

At least the President didn’t say that he “literally will not rest” until the economy is once again robust.