She Literally Exploded

Book excerpt: What phrase enrages you most? "How are you spelling that?" perhaps, or, "issues around"?When the question came up in the Letters page of The Daily Telegraph, hundreds of readers nominated the ones they loathed,and thousands more were posted on line. Provoked beyond endurance, Christopher Howse and Richard Preston compiled She Literally Exploded, drawing on written and spoken insults to the intelligence from television, radio and the press. Infuriating and entertaining, this A-Z lexicon covers politicians' clichés, business jargon; shop assistants' rudenesses; publicservice padding; menu madness and idiotic innovations. She Literally Exploded is sharply illustrated by the Telegraph's award-winning cartoonist Matt.Includes: Blue-sky thinking. Species of daydreaming for which businesses are usually billed by the hour. Enjoy! An order issued by waiters or baristas [qv] after they have delivered yours.First invented by. The second inventor is deservedly less well known. Jus. Gravy. Pan-fried, instead of being fried in an old dustbin-lid. Serving suggestion. On the label of a prepared meal, a warning that the plate, tablecloth, and accompanying boar's head shown in the picture are not included in the small plastic container. You're a star. Excessive and therefore patronising term of thanks for the performance of a routine duty. See also: legend, hero.