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Wishing upon a trope...
Wishing upon a trope...
6 June 2012 by James Hayes
What causes old adages like 'Be careful what you wish for' to suddenly become popular with media commentators? The phrase bears some relation to the well-worn 'Beware of what you wish for in youth, because
you will get it in middle life' (JW von Goethe, James Joyce), but in its purer form probably has its origins in Chinese proverbs. It's perfect for modern day punditry, because it sounds impressively like it has one foot in ancient profundity, and another in modern-day post-ironical wryness, with the added ring of a classic movie quote. Ditto 'trope', which is often used incorrectly by the media as a synonym for 'plank', as in a stated principle or objective comprising the political platform of a campaigning party. Both examples join the latest update of E&T's Buzzword Barometer.
1. Trope
2. Be careful what you wish for
3. Direction of travel
4. Transparency
5. Game-changer
6. Thought leadership
7. Box ticking exercise
8. Outcomes (especially 'patient outcomes' in any NHS story)
9. Passionate / passionately
10. Cluster
11. All of the above
12. Sustainable / sustainability
you will get it in middle life' (JW von Goethe, James Joyce), but in its purer form probably has its origins in Chinese proverbs. It's perfect for modern day punditry, because it sounds impressively like it has one foot in ancient profundity, and another in modern-day post-ironical wryness, with the added ring of a classic movie quote. Ditto 'trope', which is often used incorrectly by the media as a synonym for 'plank', as in a stated principle or objective comprising the political platform of a campaigning party. Both examples join the latest update of E&T's Buzzword Barometer.
1. Trope
2. Be careful what you wish for
3. Direction of travel
4. Transparency
5. Game-changer
6. Thought leadership
7. Box ticking exercise
8. Outcomes (especially 'patient outcomes' in any NHS story)
9. Passionate / passionately
10. Cluster
11. All of the above
12. Sustainable / sustainability
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