WHY, OH WHY

I'm as guilty as anyone about pumping up stuff I've written with too-clever phraseology. For example, I've probably used "the fuzzy end of the lollipop" more times than I care to remember (in the context of someone getting screwed over), but I'll probably use it again. It's something I picked up from a college girlfriend who was a Marilyn Monroe fan and it just stuck. But one thing always gets me -- when people insist on calling Los Angeles El Lay. What, exactly, does this signify? When I see this in a story, the first thing I think about is what an asshole the writer must be. I mean, is that the best you can come up with? And you actually think you're being clever? Oy veigh.