"AT THE END OF THE DAY" named most irritating cliche

Associated Press ^ | 3/24/2004

[sinkspur]

LONDON - At the end of the day, it's the most irritating cliche in the English language.

So says the Plain English Campaign which said the abused and overused phrase was first in a poll of most annoying cliches.

Second place went to "at this moment in time," and third to the constant use of "like," as if it were a form of punctuation. "With all due respect" came fourth.

"When readers or listeners come across these tired expressions, they start tuning out and completely miss the message -- assuming there is one," said Plain English Campaign spokesman John Lister.

"Using these terms in daily business is about as professional as wearing a novelty tie or having a wacky ring-tone on your phone."

Lister said people should follow the 1946 advice of writer George Orwell: "Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print."

The Plain English Campaign, which offers annual awards for good use of the language, surveyed its 5,000 supporters in more than 70 countries for the poll.

Other terms that received multiple nominations included: 24/7; absolutely; address the issue; around (in place of about); awesome; ballpark figure; basically; basis ("on a weekly basis" in place of "weekly" and so on); bear with me; between a rock and a hard place; bottom line; crack troops; glass half full (or half empty); I hear what you're saying; in terms of; it's not rocket science; literally; move the goal-posts; ongoing; prioritize; pushing the envelope; singing from the same hymn sheet; the fact of the matter is; thinking outside the box; to be honest/to be honest with you/to be perfectly honest and touch base.

Formed in 1979, the Plain English Campaign is an independent group that campaigns against cliches, jargon and obfuscation, particularly in official and public documents.

[Dante3]

A survey a year or two ago included "life is short," "you know," and "bottom line."

[Rummyfan]

Used to have a boss who we all referred to as Mr Metaphor after meetings....

"Peel back the onion"

"Put that in your job jar"

"If Mohammed can't come to the mountain ...." (pre 911)

But my all-time personal peeve is the use of 'irregardless". It's "regardless" not "IRregardless"!

[OXENinFLA]

"looks like you got a case of the Mondays"

[eXe]

It all comes down to this, At the "end of the day", people who "Think outside of the box" use these terms on a weekly "basis" and "absolutely", always address the issue. If I were to estimate a "ball park figure" I would guess that not using these terms "24/7" puts on "between a rock and a hard place" Now "bear with me here" "I hear what you're saying" but if you "literally" keep "moving the goal posts" in the english language no one is ever going to understand you. Its not "rocket science" and "to be honest with you" we are all going to have to "prioritize" the words we use and stop "pushing the envelope" with out words.

Lets "touch base" again and see where this leads us to shall we?

hahaha I think I used them all :)

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

I agree...we need to focus on the paradigm shift

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I think the most annoying one is when someone makes a request, and then follows it with, "Thanks in advance!". To me, this doesn't appear like a request then... it appears that the person ASSUMES you are going to do it for them. And that rings as being presumptuous, to me.

[clintonh8r]

"Absolutely!" When "yes" would do just fine.

[Agnes Heep]

What annoys me is people who say "and shit," in place of "et cetera."

[Mr. Mojo]

the constant use of "like," as if it were a form of punctuation

I'd have placed that one at the top of the list. ....Although it seems to be (mostly) limited to the under-30 crowd.

[clintonh8r]

"Religion of peace..."

[whattajoke]

I can't believe "like" didn't, "like," finish first. My wife and I are both 30 and we marvel at the now accepted use of this in the place of a comma, semi-colon, or ellipse.

When we hear our elders use it, it's akin to nails on chalkboard. When we hear it on TV, it's equally grating. But EVERYbody simply accepts it now! It's crazy... Yes, we have noticed that it has now become ok to use it across the pond as well.

(Note: I catch myself using it from time to time. Argh!)

[Mr. Buzzcut]

"It is what is is"

HATE that.

Also: "The fact of the matter is" -- local sports jockey uses that all the time.

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

Like, duh

[sinkspur]

The fact of the matter is that these cliche's are just common language used to make others feel comfortable and more at ease.

They're irritating, show laziness on the part of the user, and DO turn listeners off, especially when the cliche is as worn out as some of these are.

Or perhaps you were being sarcastic, and I'm clueless (there's another one).

[1Old Pro]

Good, they didn't nominate "Not exactly the sharpest tool in the tollshed" so we can continue to use it to describe Kerry.

Also, Kerry ain't exactly the brightest bulb on the tree.....

[Non-Sequitur]

By my way of thinking the most irritating current cliche is the current use of 'disrespect' as a verb.

[sinkspur]

"Uhm . . . you know what?"

"Yew know whut?" is also a fair gauge of how drunk someone is.

[ValerieUSA]

Needless to say .... so I'll shut up

[Igraine]

Also in this category: little signs that say "Thank you for not smoking."

[Khurkris]

I would add the use of..."actually."

As in..."Actually I have been ..."..."Actually I am doing that..."..."Since you have asked, I am actually doing that..."..."Actually we have that on..."

Actually I am ready to start bitch-slapping verbal offenders.