Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[oddoneout]

Why is a preview almost always a 'sneak preview'?

Journalists seem to write this even, say, when they have been invited to preview the thing.

Yes, it does give me the feeling of something rather underhand, not positive, but the advertising/promotional world from which it presumably came evidently doesn't see it that way.

[Bryn]

Why is a preview almost always a 'sneak preview'?

Journalists seem to write this even, say, when they have been invited to preview the thing.

Self-criticism by the previewer?

[french frank]

Why is a preview almost always a 'sneak preview'?

Gives the reader the impression that they're sharing a rare privilege?

[Serial_Apologist]

Gives the reader the impression that they're sharing a rare privilege?

Yes: I was just about to write, "To let the listener or viewer in on it".

[Padraig]

Self-criticism by the previewer?

Acquisition of the cachet of investigative journalist.

[Serial_Apologist]

Acquisition of the cachet of investigative journalist.

The cash cow.

[Ein Heldenleben]

“Sneak preview “ is a real journalist cliché. What it means is there wasn’t much news around today so we pulled this press release out of the diary …

Like the phrase “early start” as in

“ It was an early start for these two plucky swimmers as they braved the dawn waters of the English Channel .”

When a journo once wrote “it was an early start for these two otters from the xxxx otter sanctuary” the editor asked “ what do you mean by ‘ early start?’ Do you know what time otters generally get up ? “

[Stanfordian]

Stated so often currently by interviewees during tv and radio interviews:

'That's a really excellent question'.

[Sir Velo]

Self-criticism by the previewer?

Like it!

[Serial_Apologist]

“Sneak preview “ is a real journalist cliché. What it means is there wasn’t much news around today so we pulled this press release out of the diary …

Like the phrase “early start” as in

“ It was an early start for these two plucky swimmers as they braved the dawn waters of the English Channel .”

When a journo once wrote “it was an early start for these two otters from the xxxx otter sanctuary” the editor asked “ what do you mean by ‘ early start?’ Do you know what time otters generally get up ? “

To which I would have replied, "Ooh I dunno - probably at some otterly ridiculous early hour"!

[french frank]

'That's a really excellent question'.

'And I'm glad you asked it.'

[Sir Velo]

Some others for your consideration:

"The planet" as opposed to "Earth" , as in "the fastest human on..."

"Sat" instead of "sitting" as in "I've been sat here". Oh yes, who sat you there then?

"Town hall meeting" as in "We've arranged a town hall meeting for all colleagues". You've booked the town hall for this? Seems like a huge expense to go to for something which could have been done in the office.

[Sir Velo]

I see the BBC continues to use "to kick off" as in to inaugurate for almost every event it covers. Used again to announce the commencement of the Proms season, thereby showing the corporation's contempt for the arts, if further proof were ever needed, by such an ugly, demotic turn of phrase. If a metaphor must be used how much more appropriate to say "Raise the curtain" or "lift the baton".

[Serial_Apologist]

I see the BBC continues to use "to kick off" as in to inaugurate for almost every event it covers. Used again to announce the commencement of the Proms season, thereby showing the corporation's contempt for the arts, if further proof were ever needed, by such an ugly, demotic turn of phrase. If a metaphor must be used how much more appropriate to say "Raise the curtain" or "lift the baton".

I think the term is fine when appropriately applied, as for example: "Charlie Parker kicks off with his Cherokee solo, in no doubt of the direction he intends to take", to give an idea of the energy his is putting into his backing band at that point in the performance. As for "I am sat", it seems to be a common colloquialism over large parts of the country - no one has ever picked me up on it! I wouldn't use it in writing, other than in quoting, however.

[kernelbogey]

Another relatively new journalistic cliche is 'It is not clear...'. As in, 'It is not clear whether the cabinet is agreed on this'. I.e. - we don't know!

It has become very common for reports included in the news to end (e.g.) 'Whether this situation will continue is not clear'. This seems to be a regretful avowal that the journalist concerned is unable to predict the future (something that, as a profession, they seem to feel obliged to do.)