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Think it was just after "touching base".
I'm more worried about when "reaching out" turns into a "reach around"
Well a quick search reveals a Quora page asking the same thing dating back 10 years and a bit further down the page is a Grammarphobia page from 2008. 16 years at the very least, and it's still bugging you!
It’s a phrase that irritates the shit out of me
Same. As does "heads up". **** off and stick your head up your arse where it belongs.
Didn't "reaching out" originate from a US telecoms commercial back in the 80's or 90's?
As is usually the way, it then makes it across the pond to us.
I think it started around the same time as "film" morphed into "edit".
I think it started around the same time as “film” morphed into “edit”.
But probably after 'film' morphed into 'movie'.
As said above, many of these things start in 'merca, and (sadly) find their way over here.
It really summons up a murderous rage in me. Not as much as "going forward" (next time, in future...).
How about "switch up" or "part out" or "swap out" or any of the many other similarly pointless additional words that the Yanks like to shove into their version of our language?
We probably need to do a deep dive on this subject. Maybe some blue sky thinking, it could be a game changer.
We need to think outside the box, let's take it offline and touch base later.
Etc...!
It really summons up a murderous rage in me. Not as much as “going forward” (next time, in future…).
The announcements on my commuter train use "going forward" a lot.
"The next station is .... After that, the train will be going forward to...."
Of course it'll be going forward. We're on rails, it's hardly going to move ****ing sideways. Argh.
It’s a phrase that irritates the shit out of me
Think it was just after “touching base”.
don't you mean "touching cloth"
I first heard "reaching out to..." used by that weasely ginger cop in an episode of NYPD Blue back in the 90s. I've hated it from that moment on but it's now pervasive - the last time I contacted Octopus about some of their billing nonsense the reply started " thank you for reaching out to us". Very nearly enough to make me move providers except I expect they're all at it now!
first heard “reaching out to…” used by that weasely ginger cop in an episode of NYPD Blue back in the 90s
Yes... And wasn't that programme (oh, now, now it's a SHOW!) responsible for the first time "Sorry for your loss" was heard over here? Now everyone uses that drivel too!
It is what it is
Shall we have a sweepstake for what time tomorrow my boss uses that phrase when they explain why I'm being asked to pick up a case I was specifically told would be staying with a colleague....
I first heard “reaching out to…” used by that weasely ginger cop in an episode of NYPD Blue back in the 90s
Yes but I think it was from the US AT&T telephone ad that said "reach out and touch someone"
It’s a phrase that irritates the shit out of me
Same. As does “heads up”. **** off and stick your head up your arse where it belongs
It really summons up a murderous rage in me. Not as much as “going forward” (next time, in future…).
Have you three considered seeing somebody about your anger issues. Its just a bloody turn of phrase. You know what it means. Is your vocabulary full and unable to contemplate any "new" ways of wording something?
Four Tops innit
Earlier this year I took over the leadership of a small software team in a large consultancy business. I was extremely tempted to send out a Jacob Rees Mogg style diktat banning phrases like 'reach out', 'lean in' and 'circle back' but I realised it would probably offend all the young whippersnappers who speak fluent bullshit (or Corporanto as I call it). Instead I jokingly request in meetings that everyone speaks plain English to aid in the effort for greater inclusivity and equality.
happened about the same time as the unicorn was ringfenced....
Pfft. You know that 'getting in touch' is also a euphemistic buzz word don't you? Unless you're playing rugby.
I think some of us need to drill down into our anger issues.
"You! Yes you over there! Can you go and talk to that bloke over there? Cheers!"
Fixed it.
(Although you might get reported to HR for bullying these days.)
All this nonsense comes from America. All of it.
If only we spoke french. We had our chance and blew it after 1066. It's all been downhill since then really.
Plus we'd all dress better and have nicer trains
back in the 90s
If you're new school but think you're old school you'd have said back in the day.
I’m more worried about when “reaching out” turns into a “reach around”
Name suggests it may be overdue.
Yes but I think it was from the US AT&T telephone ad that said “reach out and touch someone”
You sure? Depeche Mode might have got there first.
You’ll have to ‘lean in’ to help soon
Ive got a four tops joke.....or is it Peter Gabriel, I don't remember
I'd say about 8 years ago. That's when it seemed to be on the lips of every smug consultant and, of course, those in normal jobs who want to sound like they mix with 'players' then used it ad infinitum.
Like when they started calling everything a 'piece'. "Oh yah, I think we definitely need to reach out to Crispin on the due diligence piece".
You mean "I need to call Crispin about the due diligence"...
You ****ing PRAT.
See also:
"Make the boat go faster".
"Benefits and disbenefits".
Etc.
Have you three considered seeing somebody about your anger issues
How do you know I don’t, you £@&+^%\# ^@£&+*9 ¥€£€£)
"noodling" appeared at my work for a brief period. that really annoyed me. thankfully its buggered off now, along with the exec that introduced it
Have you three considered seeing somebody about your anger issues. Its just a bloody turn of phrase. You know what it means. Is your vocabulary full and unable to contemplate any “new” ways of wording something?
You sound inordinately cross about some other people being inordinately cross tbh.
back in the 90s
If you’re new school but think you’re old school you’d have said back in the day.
I'm sorry to say that even back in the 90s I was a long way away from any kind of school.
Let me revert on this, whilst I take a through investigation. Taking in all macros and analsing on a macro level.
Unfortunatley i dont have the bandwith available to advise on this till the end of this current sprint
KR
Mr bullshit
Old man shouts at cloud?
“Lean in” seems to be contagious at work at the moment. As does “holding the pen”. Bullshit bingo.
I’m going to have to ‘decompress’ after reading this thread!
I don't care, far too busy right-sizing my value proposition.
You sound inordinately cross about some other people being inordinately cross tbh.
I am glad to see the irony was not lost on you 😉
We probably need to do a deep dive on this subject. Maybe some blue sky thinking, it could be a game changer.
We need to think outside the box, let’s take it offline and touch base later.
While my memory isn’t what it used to be, I’m pretty certain that a search by someone who knows how to do such things will probably turn up a number of threads on this very topic, the conclusion is, inevitably, that language changes, has done for as long as there’s been language, so fighting against it is like putting lipstick on a pig - it wastes your time, and annoys the pig.
I read somewhere that there were loud complaints being made in government circles in Washington, about the number of English terms being used in American speech - some time in the late 18th, early 19th century. Accept the fact that language changes, and get over it, you will lead a happier, less stressful life.
I’ve happily left the workplace where these phrases flourish, though I still do point out my wife’s “opportunities for improvement “. Which she greatly appreciates as I’m sure you can imagine.
It has acquired a kind of knowing, snide edge though. So not the Four Tops meaning, but to send a communication to someone who hates you (probably you hate them also) and who you do not expect to reply. As in the journalist who has just done a complete hatchet job on someone saying "we reached out to President Assad for comment but have not had a reply". The better class of journalist just says "contacted" of course, but to me the phrase does have this edge of knowing insincerity about it. Which means that it is now useless when the Four Tops meaning is in fact intended.
ETA maybe "reach out for" and "reach out to" are different in this respect
right-sizing
This was used during redundancy announcement at my work yesterday.
Far more irksome than "reach out".
It's not just language change, it's a lazy degradation of the language. 'I was like..., he was like...', 'can I get...', 'I'm good' just projects the speaker as not very bright, doesn't read much and is unable to put together an interesting or funny sequence of sentences. Language is political, as reflected by all the euphemisms around eg redundancy or warfare, and being inarticulate reduces your chances of fighting your corner. Just think of all the linguistic mumbo-jumbo that helped Trump get elected.
+1
Anyone who puts 'like' 'out' 'so' etc in a sentence where its not needed - bellends
It’s not just language change, it’s a lazy degradation of the language. ‘I was like…, he was like…’, ‘can I get…’, ‘I’m good’ just projects the speaker as not very bright, doesn’t read much and is unable to put together an interesting or funny sequence of sentences. Language is political, as reflected by all the euphemisms around eg redundancy or warfare, and being inarticulate reduces your chances of fighting your corner. Just think of all the linguistic mumbo-jumbo that helped Trump get elected.
Whereas you come across as a pompous arse that can't recognise a contradiction in his own argument.
as reflected by all the euphemisms around eg redundancy
I got in trouble a while back when replying to my boss saying 'there's going to be a consultation on headcount' I said 'you mean redundancies?' I was told I was not to use that phrase because it would upset and distract the rest of the team, especially the younger members. To which I replied 'do you think they're idiots?' which got me in even more trouble.
You sure? Depeche Mode might have got there first.
Ha ha, I was about to erroneously correct you that Johnny Cash was the originator of the song, but fortunately I googled before making a complete arse of myself on t'internet. For once.
'Pompous arse'? Someone taught you to write a celebration of inarticulacy and illiteracy in complete sentences in standard English. Now there's a contradiction, innit!
Any email communications that start "Hi team......" and people using the word "share" all the f****** time. Stabbing is too good for them.
Yes, username definitely checks out!
All this nonsense comes from America. All of it.
In every other Teams meeting I'm in, someone either asks "who's got a starter for 10?" or states "here's a starter for 10."
Pretty sure we can't blame that on America, but I could be wrong
Theres a load of phrases like this in the workplace. Sweeping generalisation but they tend to come from the people I have pretty low opinions of who float around and never seem to do much actual work...
In every other Teams meeting I’m in, someone either asks “who’s got a starter for 10?” or states “here’s a starter for 10.”
Guilty as charged.
But people know what it means and it's much quicker than saying "I've written a first draft but it's a bit rough and will need refining with input from others".
IT bods went through a phase of calling impromptu working groups 'scrums'.
Nope, I've no idea either.
As long as they don't say or write 'tis, or of this parish, then they can do what they want.
I've just been informed at work that this year we are not having a christmas party. Instead we are having an end of year party. The world has gone mad.
"Mind Blown"
This is beginning to irk...!
IT bods went through a phase of calling impromptu working groups ‘scrums’.
Didn't that arise from the "agile" fad ?
People started using "reach out" rather than contact or get in touch with when it became acceptable to just wang across an email or teams message and hope that it gets picked up in the mass of others that are received at any point in time rather than actually speaking to people.
Bane of my working life, staff starting now (and for a good while actually) are so averse to just picking up a phone and calling someone. Passive communication doesn't get a response.
I'd gladly just give people a ring, but they'd likely be horrified.
Office etiquette demands these things be arranged in advance, and some do everything they can to just send teams messages instead
Reminds me, when the frig did a departmental meeting at work become a sodding "Town Hall"? My last 2 companies have used this stupid description. I bet its another ****y Americanism
Nope, I’ve no idea either.
Scrum - it's figurative. And I thought us IT workers were meant to be the literal minded ones.
It’s not just language change, it’s a lazy degradation of the language
Language evolves, get used to it Gramps. The language you use is what you acquired as a young person which is different to that which your elders used, and so on. Ever wonder why we aren't all speaking Old English? Did you really think there was always one official standard English from the distant past and only now it's being 'degraded'?
You can't call it illiteracy when it's adding new stuff all the time. If you want to be a smart arse, they're neologisms. You know who's credited with the most neologisms in the English language? John Milton, and he died in 1674.
It’s not just language change, it’s a lazy degradation of the language. ‘I was like…, he was like…’, ‘can I get…’, ‘I’m good’ just projects the speaker as not very bright, doesn’t read much and is unable to put together an interesting or funny sequence of sentences. Language is political, as reflected by all the euphemisms around eg redundancy or warfare, and being inarticulate reduces your chances of fighting your corner. Just think of all the linguistic mumbo-jumbo that helped Trump get elected.
See my post a little way back up the page. Then get over yourself. Language, like life, the environment and a whole host of things, continually changes. Apart from the French, and the Quebec Governments obsession with the purity of their language, which is frankly like pissing into the wind.
Language, like life, the environment and a whole host of things, continually changes.
It does but a lot of BS bingo phrases in the workplace are fashionable to use for a few years and then they are no longer used. My example from earlier was "going forward". 10 years ago it was used all the time, now I never hear it.
A current one being used is to "double click" meaning the person is going to look into it a bit deeper. Within 5 years nobody will be saying that as just sounds cliched and old fashioned.
Not recent. It was used when I was in London new media in the mid-noughties.
Even the joke about the Four Tops has been around for years now.
Have fond memories of American colleagues using it then and giggling away with a similarly minded (female) colleague having cracked a Four Tops joke. GREAT times.
I’ve just been informed at work that this year we are not having a christmas party. Instead we are having an end of year party.
We do that. Or have one in Jan. It's a ton cheaper than in early Dec..
Apart from the French
Apparently the Dutch also have a language control board but they periodically review the language and change the grammar rules, so things you learned at school are no longer the case. No-one keeps up to date with changes though, a bit like the Highway Code.
Language evolves
You just KNOW that anyone who says this one of these threads orders a coffee by saying "Can I get..."