MIND YOUR LANGUAGE

ROBERT B HAYES,

ROBERT B HAYES,

Sir, - As an old man (some would call me a senior citizen), I find myself perplexed and irritated by the many modern clichés which have become so fashionable. Newsreaders admonish us to "Take care" - as if we were behaving dangerously. Officials in public service areas punctuate their speech with "No problem", when there is no question of there being a problem.

And now - what may prove to be a new-born cliché on this evening's TV news bulletin. A serious drug trafficker claims he was "sucked into" the drugs scene in Amsterdam. Does this render him less guilty? - Yours, etc.,

ROBERT B HAYES,

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Baltray Village,

Drogheda,

Co Louth.