<p>How about “a win-win for everyone” which we hear often at our company?</p>
<p>“zero sum gain” - I’m not even sure what it means but I know a lot of people use it who don’t know either.</p>
<p>arrrrgggggggg!!! (running from the rooom)</p>
<p>I hate ALL OF THESE!</p>
<p>Do you mean zero sum game?</p>
<p>garland – yes, that’s exactly it!</p>
<p>Yes, it is “zero sum game” but used incorrectly as “zero sum gain.” That is why I said it was clear people don’t know what it means.</p>
<p>What it means, if anyone cares, is that not everyone can win; not everyone can get what they want; some will be winners and some will be losers. For example, when the average merit raise budget must average 4%, it’s a zero sum game – some people will get the average of 4%, some will get 10%, but since it must average 4%, some will get a crappy 1% or even none. “Zero sum” is when it all has to total zero – or, in my example, 4%.</p>
<p>[Zero-sum</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum]Zero-sum”>Zero-sum game - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>How about “net-net”? I’ve never figured that one out!!</p>
<p>This thread is getting dangerously close to economics, which means it may get dangerously close to math and I will have to run away.</p>
<p>A net-net lease means the tenant pays property taxes and insurance in addition to the rent.</p>
<p>I think that some people who are not in real estate say, “net-net” and mean that they are taking all the discussd variables into account.</p>
<p>Silly.</p>
<p>^^ You mean a “realator”?</p>
<p>Ohh Ohh you reminded me of one -</p>
<p>jewlery</p>
<p>I just heard something on NPR that irritated me – debate about. Why can’t they just debate?</p>
<p>I hate being asked “are you serious” and the British term “gob-smacked”; to mean shocked.</p>
<p>Other British usages (to be found usually in the tabloid press) that I don’t care much for:</p>
<p>“loved up,” “gutted.”</p>
<p>He’s an alumni of Michigan State.</p>
<p>Ex cetera. </p>
<p>When I was in middle school (and Latin was required), I was always annoyed that people pronounce the word “alumni” as if it were the Latin form “alumnae.” I was more confused than annoyed, I guess.</p>
<p>corranged:</p>
<p>It depends which pronunciation you were brought up on. I’d say alumnee and alumnay. And I cringe when I hear Americans say vie-va voce. We were told that ours was the “correct” “restored” pronunciation. I’m also told that despite the uniform use of Latin, Vatican conclaves can sound like Towers of Babel.</p>
<p>“It fell between the cracks.” but not through them, so it must still be sitting there!</p>