Words I Won’t Live By
Language peeves, pet and otherwise
There are words that make me want to punch puppies and kick cupcakes. Most of these words are either new usages of old words or portmanteaus (words created by melding two other words together). Don’t get me wrong, plenty of these words have quietly made themselves at home in our lexicon. The word meld itself is a blend of the words “melt” and “weld.” It’s just that some seem incredibly forced and annoying; or even worse, foisted on us by finger-gunning business types who want to appear hip to the latest management lingo.
To date, my least favorite example has been “webinar,” although “blogosphere” runs a close second. I get tight chested and angry just typing the word. This changed earlier today, however, when I read a CNN article introducing the word “weisure” to the world. As you’ve probably guessed, it’s a blend of the words “work” and “leisure.” It’s also the biggest asshat of a word I’ve encountered in a long time. I’m currently considering driving to Atlanta to kick someone’s ass.
The word isn’t necessary; it’s stupid and superfluous, and it makes me think that some douche who “recontextualizes his corporate paradigm by thinking outside the box” from his sailboat probably made it up after a couple of gin and tonics and thought he was hilarious, then spent the next six months regaling people with his genius at cocktail parties until the word started to stick. Of course, I could be overreacting, but that doesn’t make me hate this word any less.
What about you? Love? Hate? Indifferent? What words do you hate?