Just stop saying that. Just stop.
SURREAL - One part opiate of the masses, 13 parts overuse. Oddly, news anchor and television small talk is becoming more surreal.
HUNKER DOWN - To brace oneself, in anticipation of media onslaught.
Trotted out in reports about everything from politics to hurricanes. I have a hankering to ban all of this hunkering.
PERSON OF INTEREST - Found within the context of legal commentary, but seldom encountered at cocktail parties. Pardon me, but people with guns want to talk with you.
COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS - A five-dollar phrase on a nickel-errand. Value-added into many higher education mission statements.
Not to be confused with 'school.'
UP OR DOWN VOTE - A casualty of today's partisanship. No discussion on this one; the committee just tossed a coin.
BREAKING NEWS - Once it stopped presses. Now it's a lower-intestinal condition brought about by eating dinner during newscasts. So now they have to interrupt my supper to tell me that Katie Holmes is pregnant?
DESIGNER BREED - Many nominators consider this a bastardization of dog breeding. It may be a good line to use on angry neighbors when an un-neutered dog escapes. When you mate a miniature schnauzer to a toy poodle, it's not a 'Schnoodle,' it's a mongrel.
FEMA - Dedicated to the memory of a great federal agency consigned to the ash heap of parody.
FIRST-TIME CALLER - Preamble often heard on talk radio.
PASS THE SAVINGS ON TO YOU! - Marketing catch phrase that became a lost-leader long ago.
97% FAT FREE - Adventures in delusion. Still has 3% fat . . . accept it.
AN ACCIDENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN - Best-laid mayhem. This means some accidents need to happen, for whatever reason, I can't figure.
JUNK SCIENCE - Banished from the Marketplace of Ideas.
Have you noticed, it's not scientists who are using this phrase so much as the people who practice junk politics?
GIT-ER-DONE - (Any of its variations) It's ove-r-done!
DAWG - No designer breed here. Someone should wash out this Spot.
TALKING POINTS - Cover your ears!
HOLIDAY TREE - Many salvoes were fired during this past season's "war on Christmas." At the risk of jumping into the breach, the committee feels that "Holiday tree" is a silly name for what most folks hold as a Christmas tree, no matter your preference of religion. Thank goodness we all agree on the first day of winter.
Any additions to this voluminous list?