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From: jeff@eng.umd.edu (Jeffrey Frey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: "Showstoppers", misue of the word
Message-ID: <1991Jun3.222317.25331@eng.umd.edu>
Date: 3 Jun 91 22:23:17 GMT
Sender: news@eng.umd.edu (C-News)
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Lines: 13


Please let us not join the Sematech types who are misusing the word

"showstopper".  

Something that STOPS THE SHOW is so great that the audience applauds
spontaneously, long, and loud, thus STOPPING THE SHOW.  A showstopper is
a great number, speech, or whatever.

Why not use "spoiler"?  Lots fewer letters, and a lot more class than
outright misuse.

Jeff