Monday, May. 02, 1994

Roadblock That Metaphor!

A number of proposed high-tech business ventures have recently gone bust or been postponed. The vexing question: How many droll ways are there to say "trouble on the information superhighway"? Journalists are working hard to exhaust the metaphoric possibilities:

Wall Street Journal -- hurdles

New York Post -- obstacles

-- potholes

Washington Post -- roadblocks

CNN's Moneyline -- construction delays

-- detours

New York Times -- ruts

-- bottlenecks

-- traffic mishaps

-- speed traps

-- lingering roadbed damage

Computer Shopper -- hitting the brakes

CNN Moneyweek -- casualties

Los Angeles Times -- stalled in the break-down lane

-- road kill

Network World -- ditch

-- side street

-- dead end

Houston Chronicle -- pileups

-- jackknifing