COMMON CLICHES

28th December 2009

'At the end of the day' was yesterday unveiled as Britain's most common office cliché.

The annoying six-word phrase, a favourite of everyone from Premier League footballers to the office loudmouth, is uttered on average at least three times-a-day in every workplace.

'What goes around, comes around' was second while 'It's not rocket science' was third and 'Thinking outside the box' was fourth.

Fifth place was taken by 'flogging a dead horse'.

A string of animal-related phrases also made the top 20 including 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth' and There are no flies on me'.

Yesterday Dorcas Pratt, Director of International Development for charity The Brooke, which carried out the study to celebrate being named charity of the year at Olympia The International Horse Show, said: '"Everyone has got their pet hates when it comes to office clichés".

''When someone says 'at the end of the day', many people cringe, and this can mean they no longer listen to the rest of the conversation properly.

''However, clichés can be a great way of getting a point across and help people really understand what you mean.''

The study also found six out of ten employees hate it when their boss churns out cliché after cliché.

And six out of ten said they believed colleagues made a fool of themselves when they uttered the phrases.

Other clichés which made the top 20 list were 'Its not rocket science', 'Going forward' and 'Thinking outside the box'.

''Give you the heads up' also featured as did 'Live and learn' and 'C'est la vie'.

Also on the list were 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket', 'hit the ground running' and 'Always look on the bright side of life' - the phrase made famous by Monty Python.

The study also found one in three bosses have pulled an employee to one side to ask them not to use clichés in meetings with clients.

Dorcas Pratt continued, ''Office clichés can be very useful to highlight what you are saying and thank goodness these horse clichés are not meant literally! The Brooke has seen first hand people 'flogging horses' and our lifesaving work overseas helps ease animal suffering while supporting the owners who depend on them."

TOP 20 OFFICE CLICHES

1. 'At the end of the day'

2. 'What goes around, comes around'

3. 'It's not rocket science'

4. 'Thinking outside the box'

5. 'Flogging a dead horse'

6. 'Don't shoot the messenger'

7. 'Going forward'

8. 'By the close of play'

9. 'Give you the heads up'

10. 'Live and learn'

11. 'C'est la vie'

12. 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket'

13. 'Hit the ground running'

14. 'Always look on the bright side of life'

15. 'Suck it and see'

16. 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth'

17. 'Don't worry, be happy'

18. 'I know it's a big ask'

19. 'I'm out'

20. 'There are no flies on me'