Question about an expression

[Nordic Bill]

I just stumbled across a rather curious word relating to, I assume, tabu terminology.

Could someone please explain to me what a "knee-jerk buzz-word" is and how this expression came about?

This one really has me curious. :lol:

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Anglika]

"knee-jerk" - when you are surprised/shocked, your limbs may move with a jerk so by extension it implies a sense of surprise at something.

"buzz-word" = currently fashionable idiom/word/term, often specifically one that is work-related.

 

[buggles]

I just stumbled across a rather curious word relating to, I assume, tabu terminology.

Could someone please explain to me what a "knee-jerk buzz-word" is and how this expression came about?

This one really has me curious. :lol:

Thanks,
Bill

A knee-jerk reaction is one where no thought is given before providing your response.
Politicians are often accused of this. e.g. "There's a lot of knife crime so we'll lock up anyone caught with a knife"- forgetting that a carpet-fitter needs to have a knife.
A buzz-word is a meaningless word or phrase used to try to convince someone you are knowedgeable about something when you aren't really. They tend to be recent, up-to- the-minute words like "environmentally friendly"; ecologically unsound"; "logistically difficult" and similar "smart"-sounding words.
So someone using knee-jerk buzz-words is usually a shallow thinker who tries to sound erudite.
Hope this helps,
Buggles (not a teacher).