We Need a New Action Verb

No, no, no, Star Tribune:


What is this, the Hunger Games?

Though it's not really the headline writer's fault in this case. What other verb of a similar length could have been substituted? "Focuses on" is wimpy and long. "Addresses" is wimpy and unclear.

Sometimes it seems as though all of our metaphors come from war and sports, at least the ones that have to do with carrying out a plan in a concerted fashion.

From war

Campaign
Regroup
Collateral damage
Battle plan
Plan of attack
Target (and target market)
Defend (your market share)
Win (your business)
Gaining ground
Joining forces
Rallying the troops

From sports

Kickoff (meetings)
Huddle
Slam dunk
We're in the ninth inning
Keep your eye on the ball
Game plan
Fumble
Touch base (somehow this came to mean "communicate")
Level playing field
Come out swinging
The ball is in your court (I use this one all the time at work!)
Run interference
Play hardball

I'm sure there are a lot more of each.