Ack ack ack! 150%

[EyeballsintheSky]

How the blazes can you give 150% when 100% is the absolute maximum? Even 101% is impossible.

I know it's crept into the language and maybe I should just accept it but it hurts my ears, like fingernails on a blackboard every time I hear it.

[No1ErmaBombeckfan]

Well mathematically you can .... I think...

It is just how overused the expression is by team captains???

[MaryAnnSmotheredinchocolate]

I seethe at this...

[claricebeansmum]

yes you can...

If the value of my house was 50K and is now value at 200K what is the % increase?

[hifi]

of course you can if theres an increase in something.

[EyeballsintheSky]

OK, but in terms of putting in effort or the like. I stand corrected on increases etc.

[tearinghairout]

It made me laugh on 'I'm a Celebrity' when Christopher Biggins said 'We're behind you 40%!'

[claricebeansmum]

Ah yes Eyeballs there you are right. 'Tis annoying and incorrect.

[IorekByrnison]

It is silly hyperbole, but it the meaning is easily understood and reasonably logical (ie whatever you think you can give is 100% and the team captain type person is urging you to exceed your own expectations of what is possible). I'm sure it's a useful shorthand for people who are keen on competitive sports and the like.

I don't particularly like it, but I don't think it's wrong.

[UnquietDad]

Oh, all those idiots on "The Apprentice" are always giving Sralan "110%". I'm just waiting for him to say "well, you carn even do maffs, sunshine, so I ain't gonna be employin' you!"

[IorekByrnison]

You're right. It's not nice.

[PuppyMonkey]

Funny, cos where I work, they're always going on about giving 120%. So that's a bit better than Alan Sugar's lot but not quite as good as the OP's bunch. Oh what to say for the best.

[GoForFairTradeEggs]

love the impression unquiet dad. think you should've sneaked a "balluddy" in there too though....

[LarryVeest]

Eyeballs - I totally agree with you. It's such a farking stupid thing to say, and it IS wrong. What they are trying to say (in a piteously ineloquent manner) is that they will give their all. All of themselves = 100%

If you're going to break the laws of mathematics, why not go for something a bit more impressive than 110% FGS??? I want to see them give 678368713491394410%

[LarryVeest]

piteously? I meant pitifully. I think...I'm not 110% sure.