The New Catalogue of Cliche

Eerhardt · Post by **Eerhardt** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 4:19 am

Well, this one is not a cliché, but still annoying: how come the "money is in the kitty" - Anne Robinson(?) in The Weakest Link?

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 6:17 pm

Originally posted by Gruntboy
Cliche: "we don't make the news, we just report it"
And: "We don't mould public opinion, we inform it"

When will the media stop believing its own propaganda and just pup its hands up and say "yes, we are merely another tool of mass population control, we admit it".

I don't know the exact wording in English, but I hate the "We only give the market what it wants" and "We only give people what they want" from media, the entertainment business, advertising etc

People rarely die - they buy it, pass away, are gone or at rest or peace, etc.

Yes, and in many countries people don't go to the toilet either, they go to "wash their hands" or "refreshen". And @you Americans: why the $%*@ is it called "restroom", are you supposed to take a nap while in there?

posted by BGfan
Speaking of cliches, I guess when we enter the rate race, climb the greasy pole, scale the corporate ladder, we need to be more politically correct, specifically our choice of words.

It sometimes work the other way around, too. The higher you climb on the status ladder, the more people accept that you use non PC choices of words.

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 6:24 pm

Yes, and in many countries people don't go to the toilet either, they go to "wash their hands" or "refreshen". And @you Americans: why the $%*@ is it called "restroom", are you supposed to take a nap while in there?

Oh, and I suppose Europe is leading us forward in a great rush towards blunt honesty with WC, Water Closet?

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 6:38 pm

Originally posted by fable
Oh, and I suppose Europe is leading us forward in a great rush towards blunt honesty with WC, Water Closet?

I'm too ignorant about the many other European languages, but the highly cultivated, subtile Swedish people just say "toilet". Which of course originally was an euphemism, it derived from the French "toilette", ie to beautiful yourself. Nowadays the original meaning is lost, most people in Sweden have no idea why perfumes are called "eau de toilette".

First time I was in the US and saw restroom signs at the airport, I actually thought they were meant for ill people or people who needed to lie down for some reason. When I noticed they were in all restaurants and shopping centra, I remember thinking "gee, the Americans must be a very tired people"

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 6:43 pm

Originally posted by fable
Yes, and in many countries people don't go to the toilet either, they go to "wash their hands" or "refreshen". And @you Americans: why the $%*@ is it called "restroom", are you supposed to take a nap while in there?

Oh, and I suppose Europe is leading us forward in a great rush towards blunt honesty with WC, Water Closet?

Can you image the look on someone's face if you went in and asked. "Where's the $#@! room"

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 2:36 am

In the more "rough" areas of England

, we say bog, crapper, sh*tter, sh*thouse, p*sser or just plain old toilet.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 3:18 am

'the rougher areas of england'? if by that you mean anyone under 60, then yes, those words are pretty much standard

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 3:45 am

@Robnark. Remember, we have an international audience who may no be aware that all English people do not reside in London and drink tea with the Queen with their little pinkies in the air.

You're not one of these people who calls it a "Loo" are you?

If so, go back to France, Pinko!

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 3:52 am

i have better things to do with my life than use euphemisms.

'loo', pah!

oh, and i would like to apologize to any stereotypes thoughtlessly crushed in the last few posts. if it would help, i'll start drinking tea on the lawn with my pinky in the air

Jace · Post by **Jace** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 4:40 am

I quite like the old Australian version - Thunderbox.

Origin : On Aus farms, you used to have a movable box (7' high by 4' wide by 4' deep) made out of corrigated iron. It had a door and, usually a seat with a hole. You dug a hole and put the box over the top (was very smelly). The usual trick was to wait until someone was inside and pelt it with stones. The noise is amazing. (and yes I am speaking from experience).

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 4:43 am

We usually refer to it as the bogetry, or the lavatory

Actually i usually say Bathroom out of habit

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 4:57 am

"Bathroom"? Wellllllllll excuuuuuuuuuuuse meeeeeeee!!! Mr Lah-dee-dah Sleep goes to the Baaaaarth Raaaaaum, while the rest of us go to the "shed out back", Outhouse, Dunny or p*ss-tube.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 5:06 am

no-one in the history of the world has ever used the 'p*ss-tube'.

except maybe astronauts...

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 6:43 am

On the contrary, my dear Robnark. P*ss-tube is a commonly used expression in the US military to describe a makeshift urinal.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 6:54 am

Originally posted by Gruntboy
"Bathroom"? Wellllllllll excuuuuuuuuuuuse meeeeeeee!!! Mr Lah-dee-dah Sleep goes to the Baaaaarth Raaaaaum, while the rest of us go to the "shed out back", Outhouse, Dunny or p*ss-tube.

We're ****ney's don't you know?

I guess it is my English ancestry.... it makes me part of the upper crust

My relatives played harp in front of Queen Victoria wouldn't you know

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 6:55 am

@grunt

yes, well, americans...

not to mention the american military's imaginative use of english...

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 7:26 am

Re: @grunt

Originally posted by Robnark
yes, well, americans...

Oh, go use that wonderful device invented by John Crapper.

frogus · Post by **frogus** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 9:40 am

Noxious gasses, musty odours and pungent aromas are going on the list...

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 9:53 am

LMAO

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 9:59 am

As for us Filipinos...

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
We usually refer to it as the bogetry, or the lavatory Actually i usually say Bathroom out of habit

...we call it the COMFORT ROOM...

C.R., for short. Problem is, C.R. is actually my initals!