Oxford compiles list of top ten irritating phrases

telegraph UK ^ | 10/7/2008 | Charlotte Bailey

[Dysart]

You ever been to Utar?

[astyanax]

"...the appropriate use of then vs than. It's not that hard."

Harder then what?! ;o)

[Sword_of_Gideon]

Okay, I’ll step on our southern brothers toes here (including my wife’s), so I’ll apologize in advance. “Fixin To”.

[Senator Goldwater]

“Narrative”

Getting tired of that one. Like everything has to have a ‘narrative’ now?

[dearolddad]

Whatever.

What about "You have taken me out of context"?

[eleni121]

Work to rule...when commie unionists do as little as possible - which is hardly nothing at all to begin with these days..to destroy their employers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work-to-rule

[Dysart]

ohhhh Wise guy, eh?

[EternalVigilance]

Darn. I find “with all due respect” to be quite useful in addressing those who are due no respect.

[lastchance]

I nominate

“full stop”
“totally surrounded”
12 PM or 12 AM
writing or saying someone “pleaded innocent”

[Hegemony Cricket]

Utar? Hmmm. Not that I’m aware of. Where be Utar?

[VRWCtaz]

“Honestly” or “to be honest with you” tops my list. Every time I hear it I have to wonder about anything that was said without the admonition.

[astyanax]

“Full stop” is nautical. Need that one.
“Totally surrounded” LOL! Never thought of that.
And Iron Maiden’s “2 Minutes to 12 AM”
Truly a classic!

[LS]

“frankly.” Whenever anyone says that, I know he/she is lying.

[woollyone]

“from the get-go”, “up the wazoo” has really been irritating.

[Califreak]

Yes we can.

Fundamental.

[Califreak]

Comprehensive.

[alexander_busek]

I agree that many of the above phrases, but “you need to” tops the irritant list for me.

I heartily agree with you. I believe the use of "need to" in this manner must have arisen relatively recently. At least, I first noticed it during a brief return to the States in the 1990s. (Living abroad makes one more sensitive to changes in the language.)

I find it irritating because it represents a phony kind of politeness. I'd much rather have someone bark "You must..." or "It is prohibited..." or "I order you..." at me in an authoritative voice than whine "Uh, sir: You NEED TO..." and pretend that it is a request.

Regards,

[Dysart]

[Intolerant in NJ]

“My friends”......

[Cementjungle]

Mine is “went missing”.