Multiple Choice: Bullshit Bingo

Ten years ago today I graduated from college.  Shortly after receiving my diploma I went to work for a small consulting firm in Manhattan--where I promptly realized that I knew absolutely nothing.  

As I worked my way up the learning curve, I took note of the language used by my peers.  Everyone sounded so smart! And confident! And I had no idea what they were saying!  Of course, in time I realized that on some level many of my colleagues had no idea what they were saying...that the fluffy language of business had overtaken the substance of their ideas.  And so, in honor of 10 years in the "real world" (minus two years of in b-school, but who's counting), let's circle back and close the loop on that.

Which of the following is the most egregious example of corporate speak:

1. Unlock growth 
• origin: indeterminate; perhaps this dates back to the infamous Al Gore "lock box"?
• usage: "this new initiative is sure to unlock growth in the category"
2. In Scope/Out of Scope 
• origin: requests for information, statements of work, and other formal consulting documents
• usage: "Dinner on Friday night is out of scope - I'll be exhausted."
3. That being said 
1. origin: tactic to feign interest in another's opinion, while forcing your own agenda
2. usage: "I really like your idea - great work.  That being said, we're going to go in a completely different direction."
4. Bogey 
1. origin: golf
2. usage: "The bogey in the plan is whether consumers will actually buy our product"
5. At the end of the day 
1. origin: a time when there actually was an end of the work day
2. usage "at the end of the day, we want the campaign to be memorable."