When did “getting in touch” morph into “reaching out”

It’s a phrase that irritates the shit out of me

Think it was just after “touching base”.

Not recent. It was used when I was in London new media in the mid-noughties.

Even the joke about the Four Tops has been around for years now.

I’m more worried about when “reaching out” turns into a “reach around”

Well a quick search reveals a Quora page asking the same thing dating back 10 years and a bit further down the page is a Grammarphobia page from 2008. 16 years at the very least, and it’s still bugging you!

It’s a phrase that irritates the shit out of me

Same. As does “heads up”. **** off and stick your head up your arse where it belongs.

Didn’t “reaching out” originate from a US telecoms commercial back in the 80’s or 90’s?

As is usually the way, it then makes it across the pond to us.

I think it started around the same time as “film” morphed into “edit”.

I think it started around the same time as “film” morphed into “edit”.

But probably after ‘film’ morphed into ‘movie’.
As said above, many of these things start in ‘merca, and (sadly) find their way over here.

@idlejon of course it is,

It really summons up a murderous rage in me. Not as much as “going forward” (next time, in future…).

When she started sleeping on the far edge of the king size bed….

How about “switch up” or “part out” or “swap out” or any of the many other similarly pointless additional words that the Yanks like to shove into their version of our language?

It is what it is

We probably need to do a deep dive on this subject.  Maybe some blue sky thinking, it could be a game changer.

We need to think outside the box, let’s take it offline and touch base later.

Etc…!

It really summons up a murderous rage in me. Not as much as “going forward” (next time, in future…).

The announcements on my commuter train use “going forward” a lot.

“The next station is …. After that, the train will be going forward to….”

Of course it’ll be going forward. We’re on rails, it’s hardly going to move **** sideways. Argh.

Wake up granddad ?

It’s a phrase that irritates the shit out of me

Think it was just after “touching base”.

don’t you mean “touching cloth”

Of course it’ll be going forward. We’re on rails, it’s hardly going to move **** sideways. Argh.

There is another alternative.

I first heard “reaching out to…” used by that weasely ginger cop in an episode of NYPD Blue back in the 90s. I’ve hated it from that moment on but it’s now pervasive – the last time I contacted Octopus about some of their billing nonsense the reply started ” thank you for reaching out to us”. Very nearly enough to make me move providers except I expect they’re all at it now!

 first heard “reaching out to…” used by that weasely ginger cop in an episode of NYPD Blue back in the 90s

Yes… And wasn’t that programme (oh, now, now it’s a SHOW!) responsible for the first time “Sorry for your loss” was heard over here? Now everyone uses that drivel too!

Anyone who wants to touch base with me by reaching out with a heads up gets a full Glasgow kiss in return.

It is what it is

Shall we have a sweepstake for what time tomorrow my boss uses that phrase when they explain why I’m being asked to pick up a case I was specifically told would be staying with a colleague….

I first heard “reaching out to…” used by that weasely ginger cop in an episode of NYPD Blue back in the 90s

Yes but I think it was from the US AT&T telephone ad that said “reach out and touch someone”

It’s a phrase that irritates the shit out of me

Same. As does “heads up”. **** off and stick your head up your arse where it belongs

It really summons up a murderous rage in me. Not as much as “going forward” (next time, in future…).

Have you three considered seeing somebody about your anger issues.  Its just a bloody turn of phrase.  You know what it means.  Is your vocabulary full and unable to contemplate any “new” ways of wording something?

Four Tops innit

Earlier this year I took over the leadership of a small software team in a large consultancy business. I was extremely tempted to send out a Jacob Rees Mogg style diktat banning phrases like ‘reach out’, ‘lean in’ and ‘circle back’ but I realised it would probably offend all the young whippersnappers who speak fluent bullshit (or Corporanto as I call it). Instead I jokingly request in meetings that everyone speaks plain English to aid in the effort for greater inclusivity and equality.

happened about the same time as the unicorn was ringfenced….

Pfft. You know that ‘getting in touch’ is also a euphemistic buzz word don’t you? Unless you’re playing rugby.

I think some of us need to drill down into our anger issues.

“You! Yes you over there! Can you go and talk to that bloke over there? Cheers!”

Fixed it.

(Although you might get reported to HR for bullying these days.)

All this nonsense comes from America. All of it.

If only we spoke french. We had our chance and blew it after 1066. It’s all been downhill since then really.

Plus we’d all dress better and have nicer trains

back in the 90s

If you’re new school but think you’re old school you’d have said back in the day.

I’m more worried about when “reaching out” turns into a “reach around”

Name suggests it may be overdue.

Yes but I think it was from the US AT&T telephone ad that said “reach out and touch someone”

You sure? Depeche Mode might have got there first.

You’ll have to ‘lean in’ to help soon

Ive got a four tops joke…..or is it Peter Gabriel, I don’t remember

Plus we’d all dress better and have nicer trains

Yeah, but I would have to practice a gallic ‘DILLIGAF’ shrug.

I’d say about 8 years ago. That’s when it seemed to be on the lips of every smug consultant and, of course, those in normal jobs who want to sound like they mix with ‘players’ then used it ad infinitum.

Like when they started calling everything a ‘piece’. “Oh yah, I think we definitely need to reach out to Crispin on the due diligence piece”.

You mean “I need to call Crispin about the due diligence”…

You ****ing PRAT.

See also:

“Make the boat go faster”.

“Benefits and disbenefits”.

Etc.

Have you three considered seeing somebody about your anger issues

How do you know I don’t, you £@&+^%\# ^@£&+*9 ¥€£€£)

“noodling” appeared at my work for a brief period. that really annoyed me. thankfully its buggered off now, along with the exec that introduced it