Dismaycation

Of course nobody of importance goes on holidays anymore. They take annual leave instead.

If you were dealing with a professional on, say for example, a legal matter and you rang for an update you would be thoroughly dismayed to hear the voicemail declare that they had gone on holidays. Such frivolity you might think would be an indication that you were dealing with a flippant, flaky individual and you might consider taking your business elsewhere. On the other hand to hear the message announce that the person was enjoying annual leave would give ample reassurance that you were in fact dealing with a serious minded individual and that your fate is in good hands.

Going on holidays is not behaviour appropriate to the calibre of individual you would want looking out for your interests conjuring up, as it does, squalid images of shallow pursuits such as sunbathing, feeding slot machines and eating candy floss. Taking annual leave with its connotations of guided tours of vineyards and modern art museums is a more palatable proposition entirely.

Your stature, character, morality, background, education and socio economic standing can now be succinctly articulated in how you describe your time off. Handy.