Every year I'm amused by a certain catch phrase that sweeps the media. Last year it was "cold snap" -- at least here in the Northeast United States. Everyone was using this phrase. Predictably, every weatherman found a way to work in the hip term, but hearing it being used in normal conversation was the real true sign that "cold snap" had made the big time.
At the grocery store: "that'll be $29.54. Can't wait till this cold snap ends. It's been brutal."
Previous to last year I had never heard these two words used in conjunction. And this last winter it disappeared and was never uttered again. It had reached its Tipping Point, and people moved on to other ways of describing how cold the weather was.
This year, it's "reveal". Specifically when used as a noun. This word is everywhere, and we can blame reality television for it. Any makeover show -- or one with a surprise ending will use this to describe the portion of the program that you just can't miss.
"The big reveal is coming up... right after the break."
I'm guessing that "reveal" has almost reached its tipping point. And I'm wondering if that moment will be obvious to us all. Perhaps this coming November, Tom Brokaw will tease the announcement of the next US president, by stating that the "big reveal" is moments away. Then we'll be looking to what next year's catch phrase will be.