I know you'll know some examples
NPR's "On the Media" will be covering the McJob news next week.
n his 1991 novel Generation X, Douglas Coupland coined the term "McJob," to denote – as the OED now defines it – "an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects." Now McDonald's is waging a battle to get dictionaries to redefine the term. Of course, McDonald's isn't the only trademarked name to be co-opted in an unflattering way. There's Spam. And Muzak. We'll talk about the phenomenon on the show this weekend, but we'd like your help. Can you think of other examples?Share them in the comments here and with "On the Media."
Labels: dictionaries, language
7 Comments:
There's McMansion, of course.
Mickey Mouse
Astroturfing.
bozo (?)
twinkie (which came first?)
Edsel
Oreo
Pablum
Day-Glo
"drink the Kool-Aid"
Paint By Number
Walmartization
Barbie-doll
Chatty Cathy
Styrofoam (as in the much-decried "Styrofoam cup," which doesn't exist.)
I'm sure I could think of more.
I'll bet every hometown newspaper has been given a derogatory nickname by its readers.
I can think of quite a few phrases that should be eliminated:
eye-catching design
... will make readers drop their cereal bowls
entry points
visual journalism
presentation "editor"
informative ACES seminar
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