things we are not allowed to say in the band

I’ve long enjoyed the unpredictable music of They Might Be Giants.  I was surprised but heartened to see the following list featured in their most recent e-mail newsletter, which suggests the band members (or at least their current drummer, Marty Beller) are kindred spirits to buzzword skeptics and nitpickers the world over:

This is the update on “The List According to Marty Beller.”

These are all things we are not allowed to say within the band:

• too much information
  
• off the hook
  
• that’s what (s)he said
  
• my bad
  
• game changer
  
• crackberry
  
• that’s how we roll
  
• I can’t work under these conditions
  
• playing the (whatever) card
  
• throw under the bus
  
• drinking the kool-aid
  
• LOL
  
• phone tag
  
• don’t go there
  
• it’s all good
  
• it is what it is
  
• talk to the hand
  
• think outside the box
  
• off the reservation
  
• oh no you didn’t
  
• I threw up a little in my mouth
  
• one hundred and ten percent
  
• IMHO
  
• no worries*
  
• jumped the shark
  
• voted off the island
  
• (anything) on acid
  
• (anything) from hell
  
• (anything) on steroids
  
• literally (unless it’s actually used properly)

Of course the list itself is now on the list.

*No worries enjoys a unique “workplace dispensation” where it can be used with a co-worker to help decompress a work situation.