Reach out: Difference between revisions

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An expression confected by the Americans as a way of saying "speak to" while conveying an insincere tone of compassion and self-sacrifice on the part of the person uttering it, as if the act of “reaching out” will magically gladden the reachee’s working day, and not compound that person’s already significant existential despair.
An expression confected by the Americans as a way of saying “speak to” while conveying an insincere tone of compassion and self-sacrifice on the part of the person uttering it, as if the act of “reaching out” will magically gladden the reachee’s working day, and not compound {{sex|her}} already significant existential despair.


Fans of this kind of voguish business-speak should be careful: it is possible to over-extend the {{tag|metaphor}}. An unfortunate lady [[managing director]] at Goldman once offered to “[[reach around]]” a group of operations personnel in London, and was surprised with the enthusiasm with which her offer was taken up.
Fans of this expression should tread carefully: one can over-extend the {{tag|metaphor}}. An unfortunate lady [[managing director]] at Goldman once offered to “[[reach around]]” a group of operations personnel in London, and was surprised with the enthusiasm with which her offer was taken up.
 
Dismaying variations:
*“[[reach out]] and touch”
*“[[reach out]] and [[connect with]]”


{{c2|Egg|Buzzword}}
{{c2|Egg|Buzzword}}

Revision as of 20:37, 5 February 2017

An expression confected by the Americans as a way of saying “speak to” while conveying an insincere tone of compassion and self-sacrifice on the part of the person uttering it, as if the act of “reaching out” will magically gladden the reachee’s working day, and not compound her already significant existential despair.

Fans of this expression should tread carefully: one can over-extend the metaphor. An unfortunate lady managing director at Goldman once offered to “reach around” a group of operations personnel in London, and was surprised with the enthusiasm with which her offer was taken up.

Dismaying variations: