An acquaintance of mine lets out a hostile roar every time someone uses the phrase 'all of the above'. For him it epitomises
the current disinclination to show commitment to a specific course of thought or action, as well as smacking of a self-satisfied sense of socially-slick über-equanimity. It wouldn't be so bad if 'all of the above' had not become such a clichéd reaction fuelled by media interviewers' propensity to pose multi-part questions (due to limited timeslots and audience attention spans): they cram in multiple points in the hope that it will retain the interest of as many viewers/listeners as possible, and then their wormy subjects are able express an all-encompassing assent. It is also exceedingly annoying on the ear, because people are apt to say 'All of the above' with a smarmy chuckle, as if to say 'Aha - I have outwitted your clever line of enquiry!' Anyway, here's the latest Buzzword Barometer:

1. Cluster
2. Outcomes (especially 'patient outcomes' in any NHS debate/comment)
3. Game-changer
4. Transparency
5. All of the above
6. Thought leadership
7. Box ticking
8. One size fits all / no one size fits all / none size fits all
9. Passionate / passionately
10. Vigorous (e.g., 'this policy will be vigorously pursued')
11. Informed decisions
12. Sustainable / sustainability

Edited: 14 May 2012 at 04:35 PM by James Hayes