Subprime

According to a Jan. 5 AP (Sophia Tareen) article in the Tucson Citizen, the American Dialect Society, a long-established group of linguists, grammarians, historians and scholars, has chosen the word 'Subprime' as their Word of the Year for 2007.

Now, we bankers have been using the term 'subprime' for ages, but thanks to 2007's economic downturn, particularly in the mortgage industry, most of the rest of the population has become familiar with the word. According to the article, some students have adopted its use in reference to their tests, "I'm going to subprime this; mess it up."

As a banker, AND a wannabe grammarian, I thought it only prudent that I suggest some possible 'subprime' uses of my very own:

1. There's some subprime milk living in the upper left quadrant of the fridge.
2. Dog towels are chewed. "That's it; I'm subpriming the pink wedding bathtowels."
3. Mr. Megatron Decepticon, better watch your back; Optimus Subprime to the rescue!
4. Q: "Do you watch Celebrity Apprentice?" A: "Nah - not really into subprime-time."
5. Sittin' next to Chewy: "...think I'll subprime these Altoids into my nostrils before it gets any worse."
6. "Did you get a flu shot? You're looking a little subprime today..."

Got any good ones? What's YOUR 'Word of the Year'?

P.S. Apparently, the American Dialect Society was founded in 1889 and began choosing 'Word of the Year' JUST FOR FUN! Not in an official capacity to induct words into the English language. Where can I sign up folks!? 'Dem's MY kinda people...