Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[Serial_Apologist]

The meaningless phrase "Lessons will be learned" should be banned from public apologies for institutional failings, unless amplified thus: "Lessons will be learned, and acted upon". Of course, this would be too much to hope for, as a pledge to action would render the apologists hostages to fortune.
(BTW, apologies if this has been mentioned in previous posts. Theres are rather too many for me to check ! )

[Old Grumpy]

Similar to "make sure it never happens again"...

...which really means "minimise the risk of it happening again"

[oddoneout]

Similar to "make sure it never happens again"...

...which really means "minimise the risk of it happening again"

Or "make sure no-one finds out". It's all words, and when they have no meaning or value, let alone power to force action, as is the case with establishments these days, then tinkering with the form of the words is a waste of time. "Lessons will be learned" is a lie, so adding "and will be acted on" simply compounds the untruth and adds to the insult inflicted on those affected by the dereliction of duty.

[Maclintick]

Or "make sure no-one finds out". It's all words, and when they have no meaning or value, let alone power to force action, as is the case with establishments these days, then tinkering with the form of the words is a waste of time. "Lessons will be learned" is a lie, so adding "and will be acted on" simply compounds the untruth and adds to the insult inflicted on those affected by the dereliction of duty.

I fear you're correct, Odders. When I was involved in union action during the '70s there was an unassailable mantra "Don't listen to what they say, just watch what they do". Why this sage advice has never filtered through to the general population is I suppose a tribute to mass communication by our overlords & the media.

[smittims]

How appropriate your sage advice is when applied to the 'partygate' government!

[oddoneout]

I fear you're correct, Odders. When I was involved in union action during the '70s there was an unassailable mantra "Don't listen to what they say, just watch what they do". Why this sage advice has never filtered through to the general population is I suppose a tribute to mass communication by our overlords & the media.

Yes it's a pity that the masses seem happy to belong to the 11 disciples gang and accept/believe what they are told, rather than follow doubting Thomas's approach of wanting to "see it for real" before believing.

[french frank]

Yes it's a pity that the masses seem happy to belong to the 11 disciples gang and accept/believe what they are told, rather than follow doubting Thomas's approach of wanting to "see it for real" before believing.

The eleven discples are made up of the 'want to believes' and the 'not overly bothered one way or the others'. "Could you explain to the court why you think the 2020 election was stolen?" "I just do."

[Serial_Apologist]

"The opportunities of Brexit have been utterly squandered" - Isabel Oakeshott just now on Channel 5.

[Bryn]

The report calls for "radical decarbonisation" with a fast phase out of fossil fuels without carbon capture.

From BBC Main Headlines on the Red Button at the moment. (Why the large quotation marks do not get closed is a mystery to me.)

[french frank]

Just heard it again: "We are focused on ...." as a way of saying "the issue your question is about is not important: we are focused on these other important matters''.

[JasonPalmer]

Earlier today someone said to me "see you later" when we have no plans to meet again later.

[kernelbogey]

Just heard it again: "We are focused on ...." as a way of saying "the issue your question is about is not important: we are focused on these other important matters''.

Confermus[?*]: Your call is important to us - [although within the next 15 seconds you will already be doubting that as we tell you that the queue you are in is 30 minutes' long].

* Sorry - it's 63 years since I studied Latin grammar already.

[french frank]

Confermus[?*]:

* Sorry - it's 63 years since I studied Latin grammar already.

Google Translate says Confirmamus, if that's what you mean.

[Serial_Apologist]

"But at least it has made people take notice" is a poor defense increasingly used in self-justification, especially by campaigners. Just because something which one has done has made people sit up represents no measure whatever of its validity or otherwise, surely?

[smittims]

Quite so, witness the Duchess of Sussex' interview with Oprah Winfrey!