Chinas, Indias, Brazils

In describing the G-20, a financial reporter explained that, unlike the G-8, it includes "the Brazils, the Indias, the Chinas." This is synecdoche gone wild. Each of these countries has a distinct economy and is not really representative of a class of similar countries.

I hear this figure of speech in other contexts where it might be more appropriate. For example, referring to the giants of Hollywood, someone might talk about the Clark Gables, the Humphrey Bogarts, the Greta Garbos. I don't care for it in any context, but in some it's more palatable than in others.