Word list: Scrap the term 'fiscal cliff'

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Word-minders at Lake Superior State University say "fiscal cliff" should disappear as the term used for the U.S. budget crisis.

As the country headed toward the so-called cliff, contributors threw the phrase over the usage cliff in the school's 38th annual List of Words to be Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness, the university in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., said in a release.

The political realm contributed to the list.

The terms job creator/creation, double-down and kick the can down the road also made the list, which is released on the last day of each year.

University officials said this year's list was culled from nominations received mostly through its website.

Among the comments the university published about the fiscal cliff and the need to clip it from the lexicon, Donna in Johnstown, N.Y., wrote, "Makes me want to throw someone over a real cliff."

Kicking the can down the road was another term that should be axed.

"I'm surprised it wasn't on your 2012 list -- were you just kicking the, um, phrase down the road to 2013?" said T. Jones of Ann Arbor, Mich.