Hyperbole and bonfire of banalities

Coverage of the IPL and ICC events has become tedious in the extreme, with banal, cliché-ridden, hyperbolic commentary. More reason why we ought to treasure the likes of David Lloyd

via Rob Steen: Wanted – a few good commentators | Opinion | Cricinfo Magazine | Cricinfo.com.

Coverage of both ICC-sanctioned tournaments and the IPL is, with an exceedingly few precious exceptions, anodyne in the extreme. In order to land such a gig, commentators do not merely require a famous name but a degree in hyperbole, an MA in clichés and a PhD in the Blindingly Obvious mind you, when it comes to overkill, even the commentators lag behind Shane Warne’s  touting of Yusuf Pathan’s  37-ball ton for Rajasthan against Mumbai as the greatest innings he’s ever seen, relegating, merely to name the most obvious, Brian Lara’s;s Bridgetown masterpiece in 1999. A boundary is almost invariably the consequence of a “great” or “fantastic” shot. Here burns the bonfire of the banalities and inanities. While one sympathies with those to whom commentating is solely a way of earning a crust rather than a means of self-expression, there is a happy medium.

via Rob Steen: Wanted – a few good commentators | Opinion | Cricinfo Magazine | Cricinfo.com.

anodyne
adjective
not likely to provoke dissent or offense; uncontentious or inoffensive, often deliberately so : anodyne new age music | I attempted to keep the conversation as anodyne as possible.
noun
a pain-killing drug or medicine.
• figurative something that alleviates a person’s mental distress : an anodyne to the misery she had put him through.

cliché
noun
1 a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought : the old cliché “one man’s meat is another man’s poison.”
• a very predictable or unoriginal thing or person : each building is a mishmash of tired clichés.
2 Printing chiefly Brit. a stereotype or electrotype.

banal
adjective
so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring : songs with banal, repeated words.

hyperbole

noun
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

inane
adjective
silly; stupid : don’t constantly badger people with inane questions.

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8 Responses to Hyperbole and bonfire of banalities

  1. komalsaboo says:

    anodyne-i read an anodyne novel about country life.
    banal-banal realities of the film industry really do determine what we see on screen.
    hyperbole-some press statements are usually a hyperbole.
    inane-i am angry with my inane room mate.

  2. sagarsheopuri says:

    anodyne:- Carla’s company acted as an anodyne against the loneliness which Peter experienced.

    hyperbole:- His statements were hyperbole of actual facts.

    banal:- There is no place for banality in Roger’s speech.

    inane:- The question asked seemed to be inane, however a second thought to it helped us make sense.

    cliche:- Sanam has cliched views about marriage.

  3. Rishika says:

    hyperbole:“enough food to feed a whole army” is a common example of hyperbole
    banal: they were engaged in conversations about the most banal subjects
    inane: I quickly got tired of their inane comments.
    cliche:the speech was filled with cliches about “finding your way” and “keeping the faith”

  4. saylee says:

    Anodyne: the debate between two tycoons was kept as anodyne as possible.

    Banal: the people are dog-tired of the banal reporting of the media.

    Inane: his inane theories annoyed ad nauseum.

    Hyperbole: the hyperbole assertions of his research were discarded immediately.

  5. raju.verma says:

    anodyne- the topic of argument was kept anodyne.

    cliche- the students cliched their opinion.

    banal- the songs are banal from the old songs.

    hyperbole- Kalmadi’s statement was hyperbole the truth.

    inane- my friends are inane.

  6. govind2406 says:

    anodyne- if lokpal bill would make,than it will be being anodyne in nation progress.

    cliche- the lecture taken by Prof.Singh is very new innovation cliche for student.

    banal- Singh is king is very banal picture done by Actor Akshay.

    innane- who spit on public places,i think they are very innane person.

  7. nikitesh says:

    Anodyne- How ever being anodyne in his motives, is difficult to surmise the end of Hazare’s fast.

    Cliche- Being tritest for his remarks, Amit shows sort of cliche personality.

    Banal- No point in allurement when its not original even gold has no value.

    Hyperbole- No gimmicks and no hyperbole, hard work is the only key for true success.

    Inane- Being inane and demented, Roark needs a special care.

  8. viveksharma says:

    anodyne: Tarahumara use there various natural anodyne to cure pain.
    inane : The inane behaviour of his can result in loss to all.

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