by Cheryl Rickey

Created on: May 11, 2009

Overused business expressions are now bordering on stupidity. I find it hard to believe that intelligent business people cannot just speak using real words instead of turning every conversation into an expression festival. I heard 'Spot On' twice today (once in conversation, once in an email). Spot on? Is that supposed to mean something more than spilling something on my clean blouse?

I've compiled some annoying phrases/words that seem to be circulating and I'll attempt to define what they mean. It is no wonder people cannot communicate anymore....even my strong hatred for LOL is nothing compared to these foolishly overused mutterings.

UNDER THE BUS: Who iis the super genius that thought this up? I can't even think of a moment when I'd use a phrase like that. Supposedly it means being blamed for something they didn't do. How about saying "It wasn't me!" Just wondering when someone saying something negative became the same as a mob hit. I can hear it now: I will ask my son who spilled the juice on the floor, he'll blame his sister and she'll proclaim "He threw me under the bus". He's so literal that he'll respond with "there are no buses in this neighborhood". So, let's throw that phrase...under the...in the garbage.

SPOT ON: This one is new to me. I guess I don't get out much but in my life I've been trying to get the SPOT OFF (with five children I've done a lot of laundry in my lifetime). I assume SPOT ON means "correct" in some strange way. So now I guess teachers across the country are shouting "SPOT ON" when a child gets a question correct in class. How about "Great job! You are correct". SPOT ON? I'm pretty sure that was the issue with the blue dress that Bill Clinton messed up.

SWEET: I assume we are not talking about me here. Lately I hear word so much it's becoming sour. "Sweet ride" "Sweet shirt you have on" "That movie was sweet" Too many sweets make you sick.

IT IS WHAT IT IS: This one makes me borderline nauseous. It means absolutely nothing and is mostly a cop out or a way to avoid answering a question in a way that might require genuine thought. Is this the new way to get out of answering why an "A" went to a "B" on a report card? "It is what it is, Mom" Well, I know what "it" is...more studying and less flapping the jaw on a cell phone.

PAY IT FORWARD: I guess we're all on the help thy neighbor bandwagon. I saw a report that there was a man at a Starbucks drive-through several weeks ago who decided to "pay it forward" and pay for a cup of coffee for

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