Before you use these crutch phrases, you should know their etymology.
1. Drink the Kool-Aid. It used to just be a drink that was “cheaper than soda” (so said the commercials) and had a large anthropomorphic pitcher of the beverage as its spokes-thing.
Then, tragedy in the form of the Jonestown murder-suicide – one of the largest losses of American civilian life before 9/11. Since most of the members of the People’s Temple who died drank a mixture of cyanide and a drink mix similar to Kool-Aid, the phrase “Drink the Kool-Aid” eventually became synonymous with those who will nod their head in agreement – even if they don’t really believe you.
Irony: the drink mix used in Jonestown was something called “Flavor Aid” and not Kool-Aid.
2. Going Postal. Between 1986 and 1997, more than 40 people died in 20 separate violent incidents at the hands of United States Postal Workers. The phrase became synonymous with those who would become uncontrollably angry – even if they were not postal workers.
3. “Grammar Nazi, Word Nazi.” A popular Seinfeld episode called “The Soup Nazi” led to communicators using phrases such as these often enough to get an Urban Dictionary reference.
Just remember next time you use one of these phrases – they’re often reminders of horrible, tragic events. There’s a better way to say whatever it is you want to say.
