erniefreeman's Blog

One of my favorite phrases is "it is what it is." Now, thanks to the word police at Lake Superior State University in Michigan, I can't use that phrase in 2008. The school's annual list of words banished from the Queen's English for mis-use, over-use or general uselessness, contains my favorite phrase. To that I ask, are you kidding me? That one didn't make it, thankfully. If you've ever talked to me and tried to tie a conclusive bow on a particular topic by saying something like, "that's really good news for them," you've probably heard me say, "it is what it is." "That's a big win." "It is what it is." Someone in the AP article about this banned list said my signature phrase is phonetically and thematically redundant. God, I wish I could say "it is what it is" right now. With this development, my first challenge of 2008 will be trying to figure out a way to get through a casual conversation with members of my family, my friends and my co-workers. You might be in the same predicament. A couple of other words or phrases you might use made the list. "Back in the day" is out. I hear that one all the time. "Sweet" is gone. University of Memphis Basketball Coach John Calipari has been known to drop an "under the bus" reference. Coach Cal, you're going to need to come up with something else. Under the bus is out the window for 2008. There are a few phrases I'd like to submit for consideration to the folks up in Michigan. Those of us here in the midsouth often hear these phrases from government types. Here they are, in no particular order..."blue crush", "feasability study", "blue ribbon panel", and "subprime mortgages." And then there's one I'd like to see banned, and made a felony if sportscasters ever use it again when referencing teams that play professional football..."physical football team." Now if ever there was a thematically redundant phrase, it's physical football team.
There are a couple of other phrases I would like to hear a lot more of this year, especially if the phrases aren't directed toward me..."tap, tap, tap", and "array of evil." The folks in Michigan probably won't be banning either of these phrases. It's a midsouth thing, they wouldn't understand. Freeman, out.