impactful, below-the-line, etc.

Joel S. Berson Berson at ATT.NET
Wed Jan 15 01:43:18 UTC 2014


At 1/14/2014 04:54 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> > Am I too tolerant?
>
>Of course - unless you're trying to make bug bucks as a motivational guru.
>  In that case, the suc - I mean, your clients, will admire you for
>expressing yourself this way.  But the point is only that these senses and
>constructions are not in the OED, regardless of how familiar they may be in
>certain circles.

Aha -- you're not criticizing current usage, just the OED.  But you
didn't say what your point was.


>BTW, the cited "attach" might be defined more precisely as 'to bind one's
>hopes or beliefs to.'
>
>BONUS: CNN reports today that the company that released pollutants into the
>WV water supply is not granting any more live interviews.
>
>The phrase used was "They are radio-silent."

That's what one of Chris Christie's minions texed or tweeted or
emailed or said about other of his minions' not replying to someone's
complaints or a reporter's request for comment or something.  I
suspect it's in the 1,000-message disclosure.

Joel



>JL
>
>
>On Tue, Jan 14, 2014 at 4:23 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> > Subject:      Re: impactful, below-the-line, etc.
> >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Some of these I don't find repugnant -- impactful; attach
> > ("individuals attach to fantasies" seems clearly enough reflexive in
> > the absence of a direct object); power ("ability and influence" are
> > at least kinds of power); gut (common in casual speech?).
> >
> > Am I too tolerant?
> >
> > Joel
> >
> > At 1/14/2014 11:56 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> > >Impactful, adj.  'effective and influential'
> > >
> > >"In my work, I've been fortunate to learn from amazingly successful,
> > >impactful professionals and entrepreneurs."
> > >
> > >Share, v. 'to say sincerely or in confidence':
> > >
> > >"I've heard from corporate professionals who share, 'Kathy, I really hate
> > >my job and desperately want to leave.  I've been wanting to write a book
> > >and become a motivational speaker for several years now.  What's your
> > >advice?'  I'll respond, 'OK, great. '"
> > >
> > >Below-the-line, adj.  'insufficiently ambitious or optimistic':
> > >"'Below the line' thinking refers to a particular mindset that shapes how
> > >you view the world in a limiting way."
> > >
> > >Attach, v. 'to attach oneself'
> > >"Unsuccessful individuals attach to fantasies that may relieve them
> > >momentarily of their situational pain but have no basis in reality."
> > >
> > >Power, n. 'ability and influence.'
> > >"Successful people are in touch with their power, and are not afraid to
> > use
> > >it and express it.  They advocate and negotiate strongly...."
> > >
> > >Gut, n. 'innermost feelings'
> > >"Those who doubt themselves, lack trust in their own gut or instincts...."
> > >
> > >Power gap, n. 'area of weakness or ineffectuality, as in business or
> > >personal relationships'
> > >
> > >"Sure, they acknowledge they have 'power gaps' or blind spots, and areas
> > >that need deep development."
> > >
> > >Deep, adj. special
> > >
> > >[See "power gap"]
> > >
> > >Thought for the day:
> > >"Successful people ...go with the flow.  They follow the trends, and
> > >embrace them... make bold moves...and won't be waylaid by the priorities
> > >and values of others."
> > >
> > >All of the above (unfortunately not all of it new) is in one handy  place
> > >at
> > >
> >
> http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/successful-people--the-8-self-limiting-behaviors-they-avoid-184436770.html
> > >
> > >JL
> > >
> > >--
> > >"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> > truth."
> > >
> > >------------------------------------------------------------
> > >The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
>
>
>
>--
>"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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