Watch Where You’re Flying
The misuse of common phrases is something of a pet peeve. I had a friend in high school who, when choosing between two equally attractive alternatives, used to say that it was “six and a half dozen of the other.” I managed to graduate without punching him in the neck, but only because he had a car.
Lately, I’ve notice a lot of people using the phrase “flying under the radar screen.” They take a perfectly good metaphor, jam an unnecessary word up its snout, and render it nonsensical.
“Flying under the radar” works as a metaphor because of the way radar works. Radar systems emit radio or microwave radiation, and use the reflected waves to detect objects. Below a certain elevation, natural and artificial structures prevent the waves from getting to and from the radar. A savvy (and skilled) pilot can fly close enough to the ground that the radar signal can’t get from the emitter to the plane and back to the detector. Thus, “flying under the radar” is an effective way of saying that someone was operating undetected.
On the other hand, “flying under the radar SCREEN” doesn’t mean the same thing. Under the radar screen is a plastic or metal console, a lot of electronics and (probably) the legs of the person monitoring the radar signal. If you’ve flown under the radar screen, you’ve just crashed through the control tower, most likely killing yourself and anyone in the building. Does that sound like “undetected” to you?
Careful use of language allows you to make your point in a colorful and interesting way. Messing up a simple metaphor makes you sound stupid, and puts you on the list for a serious neck-punching. Unless you’re willing to drive me to the beach.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I feel the same way about Yogi Berra’s (in)famous “deja vu all over again.” It’s seeped into everyday usage.
Talk about your Department of Redundancy Department.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I got into this with someone on the Livejournal feed. I feel like Yogi has done it enough to make it a thing. He’s got enough personality that he makes it seem kind of cool. Everybody else just sounds like an ass.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
It’s not Yogi’s usage that bothers me, it’s the schmucks who think they are s-m-r-t by belching it out. I hear it a lot with television commentators.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Exactly. Hence “Everybody else just sounds like an ass.” =)