Translate

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Trump Speak



Donald J. Trump and his minions have introduced a whole new set of words and phrases. They have also brought some older words to the forefront as well as changing their meaning. Here is a list of some of the new Trump lexicon. 
  • Bigly - While technically not a new word, it never saw much use until Trump began using it. The word big is perfectly adequate as an adjective or adverb. No "ly" required. 
  • Bing, bing, bong, bong... - I have no idea.
  • Covfefe - another mystery.
  • Youuuuuge - huge.
  • Alternate or alternative facts - This is a Kellyanne Conway invention. The phrase is used in place of the word lies
  • Fake - The real definition refers to something fraudulent or deceptive, In Trump's world, it describes anything he doesn't agree with or like, particularly news. 
  • Rigged - One official definition is to manipulate fraudulently. Similar to fake, Trump uses this word to describe any process or results he disagrees with. He believes all voting is rigged despite the fact he won the presidential election. 
  • Hoax - what you call a situation when 90+% of the experts in the field have facts and analysis that contradict your beliefs. As in climate change is a hoax.
  • Witch Hunt - any investigation or inquiry into Trump or those associated with him. So far, Mueller has indicted more witches than they ever did in Salem.
  • Believe me - prefix or suffix which means everything I just said or am about to say is a lie.
  • Everybody is talking about it - means the issue is barely a blip on anybody's radar.
  • Everybody thinks so or everybody knows - means almost nobody thinks so and nobody knows. 
  • Lots of people are talking about it - someone in his administration or on Fox news mentioned it.
  • More and more people are saying (suggesting) - see above.
  • Fantastic, tremendous, incredible, beautiful, unbelievable, awesome, fabulous, terrific, best or best ever, etc. - None of these words have any meaning. They are tossed around without any regard to what they are describing.
  • Almost any superlative adjective or adverb - see above.
  • First, last, never, worst, only, etc. - same deal with almost any definitive declarative statement. First means the first Trump can remember or someone told him. No need to check or take any responsibility for incorrect statements.
  • Very, very, very - same as one very for normal people.
  • Really, really, really - same as one really for normal people.
  • I was just joking or it was a joke - When something Trump says turns out to be objectionable to the majority of people. As in, I was just joking about encouraging police brutality.
  • Priming the pump - apparently an economic term that Trump invented. Or maybe not. Seems the term has been in general use since at least the Great Depression. That occurred several years before Trump was born. This mistake by a man who graduated from the Warton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Guess he slept through the classes about the Depression or economics.
  • Who knew or nobody knew - as in "Nobody knew health care could be so complicated." It actually means everybody knew except Trump. 
  • Poorly-rated or rating challenged - as in "poorly rated @Morning_Joe..." actually describes a show or network with very good ratings. 
  • The likes of which the world has never seen - bluster that is inconsequential and/or an outright lie.
  • Never in the history of our Country... - more bluster. Always inaccurate. As if Trump actually knows our country's history. 
  • That I can/will tell you - The preceding statement was a complete lie.
  • People should look into it - Trump just made a ridiculous statement and he wants others to talk it up.
  • ... and lots of other things - Said after he names one specific thing because he can't think of any others. As in, "We're going to  build the wall and lots of other things." Also, ...many, many other things.
  • Diversary - unsure, but we think Trump meant diversity but then again, we never know what Trump meant. I have not had any luck finding information on "diversary". Probably fake news or at least a fake word. 
  • modern-day presidential - how Trump describes his tweets or boorish behavior.
  • Rocket Man - Trump's nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. And you thought it was an Elton John song. This nickname has fallen by the wayside now that Trump loves Kim Jong Un. 
  • By all accounts - actually means by my account or by only my supporters' account.
  • Not in a braggadocious way or non-braggadocious -Trump is bragging so much that even he realizes it.
  • Treasonous - anyone who doesn't applaud and stand during Trump's SOTU.
  • Unrelated but still related - this one is a mystery.
  • Great reviews by everyone - that's everyone who agrees with Trump. Not even close to everyone.
  • Everyone knows it - Actually, hardly anyone knows it.
  • Like never before - Actually done many times before.
  • I could name (many, 15 or 20, several) of something - usually means the one or no example of his point is the only one he can think of. He never names any other, even when pressed to provide examples.
  • It's very popular - Actually means very controversial and almost universally unpopular.
  • Great Energy - Trump's definition of chaos.
  • Not much political support - Means the NRA and their controlled GOP members in Congress are against it. That's despite overwhelming public support.
  • Tremendous pressure is building, like never before, for... - Means Trump wants the issue done and assumes everyone else does too. Not substantiated by any polls, demonstrations, or groundswell.
  • Like nothing else we’ve seen in our history - Some normal minor event or a completely made up or overblown issue. 
  • Truth is not truth - A Rudy Giuliani gem in reference to Trump being interviewed by Mueller.
  • No one understands - Everybody understands the issue but Trump is trying to foster a different, false interpretation.
  • Almost everyone agrees - Probably not even close to everyone or even a majority.
  • People have no idea... - Almost everybody knows it, but Trump just figured it out.
  • They say - The infamous THEY. We never do find out who THEY are because even when pushed, Trump can't name any THEYs. 
  • I know it and so do you - Not so fast Donny. Assuming that we agree with what you "know" is bogus. What you "know" is usually just an opinion or wish, not fact. 
  • National Emergy - may have meant national emergency although there really wasn't one.
  • Just so you understand - Here comes a whopper.
  • Totally out of control - Any person, organization, or institution not in full agreement with Trump.
  • Smocking gun - Who knows what the J for jenius president meant. Maybe smoking gun, maybe a gun wearing a smock. 
  • Boarder Security - Was Trump trying to refer to our southern border with Mexico or the guy who rents your spare bedroom? 
Words, like the truth or facts or science, have little or no meaning to Trump. I'm sure I missed a few and surely there will be more new words and phrases introduced into our language. There will also be the bastardization of established words and phrases to have completely new meanings, usually the exact opposite. My guess is that there will be a Trump Speak II post in the future. 
It has been said that we should take what Trump says seriously, but not literally. I have no idea what that BS means. How would you even go about doing that? This president and his administration is an affront to our nation, the world, and the English language. 

wjh

No comments:

Post a Comment