I will be the pattern of all patience; I will say nothing.

KF found a sneaky phrase today
Sneaky phrases are just that – sneaky phrases. They’re not your run-of-the-mill, straight tootin, hip-shooting descriptions. No.

Sneaky phrases are like the ingratiating kinda people – they sound normal, not bombastic, not too complicated, but their sum is meant to be more than their parts. Most times, in a sickening, obsequious way.

So today’s sneaky phrase of the day is over and above and it’s clone, above and beyond. At first, it sounds innocuous enough. But then when you deconstruct it, it’s superfluous. So it’s an exaggeration to begin with. What’s sneaky about it is that it’s a mild exaggeration, simply just over & beyond. It’s sneaky because it’s one of those falsely modest type of exaggerations, which is in my books, kinda the worst kind.

It’s worse than something blatantly base as low hanging fruit.

I didn’t really find over and above AKA above and beyondthat offensive until I heard it in use – when someone described how it would do something for someone else over and above their regular duties as a favour. Maybe my view of over and above is tainted by that, because to me, it was really no value added, it was just a bunch of hot air. But that the person whipped out the whole over and above song and dance made me think about the phrase as a whole, and I grew to loathe it.

And today, KF reminded me of it. He hates it too. We have so much in common

So it’s official. Over and above and above and beyond is now on my sneakiest phrase list, and it’s right on top.

Don’t say it to me. Don’t even breath it near me. Unless you’re looking for trouble.

Thanks!