Two phrases I won’t be able to use
It’s great to sound cool, but that won’t happen if you’re just going to get blank stares. Here are two phrases I love but just won’t be able to drop casually into conversation.
- Reverse ferret. If used in context people will probably understand what you mean, but I’m not sure the meaning is well-known. It seems to be documented well in this except from Neil Chenoweth’s book about Rupert Murdoch, dealing with Kelvin McKenzie’s days at The Sun. You’ll have to search on the page for the word “ferret”. Via Charles Arthur.
- Jump the shark. It’s even got its own entry in Wikipedia. But it’s just too obscure to be of much use, and even used in context won’t necessarily enlighten people.
Oh well, I’ll just have to talk normally.
