Phrases that like really bug us all, basically

The Telegraph ^ | 5/29/2007 | Johanna Leggatt

[bruinbirdman]

Readers have responded in their thousands to The Daily Telegraph's call to select the worst phrases in the English language.

Since our invitation was issued in February, more than 3,000 of you have submitted personal inventories of the damned, containing the phrases, aphorisms and clichés that irritate the most.

High on the list of grievances was the increasing use of slang, poor grammar and the incorporation of Americanisms into everyday speech.

Many of you shared frustrations over the misuse of "forensic" and "literally", while management jargon such as "downsizing", "brainstorming" and "thinking outside the box" also received plenty of nominations.

The Daily Telegraph has responded with its own compilation of annoying phrases, and She Literally Exploded: The Daily Telegraph Infuriating Phrasebook is now available on Amazon.

Here is a selection of your comments so far:

"It's not rocket science". Rocketry is engineering, not a science. - Tony

The phrase "up close and personal" was irritating to start with and has become hackneyed and meaningless e.g. I went on a river trip and was thrilled to get up close and personal with a crocodile - Margot Lang

I can't stand "to die for". Nothing's that good and even if it was, you'd be dead and wouldn't be able to enjoy whatever it was. - Vivsy

"Pushing the envelope" always conjures up for me some ridiculous scene in a mailing room or post office. - Nigel Brown

Why, when someone famous dies, do tributes always "pour" in? Also, when a plane crashes in the sea, the media is quick to remind us that the waters are always "shark-infested". - S.Winrad

Only £1,999.99. - P.H.Heilbron

"This door is alarmed". Is it really frightened? - Alan Lawrence

The infuriating rising inflections at the end of sentences that make everything sound like a question? - Steve Grant

I hate being addressed as "hallo there". My name is not "there". And why have all the cookery books and frying pans disappeared? What is a "cook" book and a "fry" pan? - Susan Byers

When the waitress plonks the plate in front of you and says, "there you go". Where do I go? Where's there? - Ken Clarke

"It will be in the last place you look". Well of course I'm not going to continue to look for it when I have found it. - Tom Batt

[Ditter]

I hate when I hear that some action is “wrongheaded”. Isn’t it just “wrong”? I guess I hate it so much because liberals are usually the ones to say it, and they just p*ss me off!

[two23]

"Save BIG..."

(printed advertising and commericals)

[andy58-in-nh]

Ending sentences with prepositions is something with which I simply will not put. After all, language is not something around with which to fool.

[mc5cents]

Ending sentences with prepositions,

This fellow agreed with you...

From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put. -Sir Winston Churchill

[LucyJo]

My son took a Spanish class last Spring. On the syllabus, the teacher had written, " First we will take a placement test, so I can find out where each student is at."

Oh, that must have boosted his confidence about the Spanish lessons!!

[Just another Joe]

“Me luv you long time, GI.”

Or, as the local children used to tell me after I crossed sh*t river in Olongapo and pulled them all down the street with false promises of pesos, "You just another Joe".

And you all wondered where I got my screen name. :^)

[Proud2BeRight]

Hey, like, she goes, hey dude, like, I like totally, like know that like dude.

[Sloth]

Many of you shared frustrations over the misuse of "forensic"

OK, somebody help me out -- what on Earth is this referring to?

[Cymbaline]

I hate when people ask me to “show them the ropes”. I don’t know where they are. Maybe I could pull some strings and find out.

[Ditter]

Someone told me yesterday that I was “stuck on stupid”. That was great the day the general said it but it quickly became trite.

My other pet peeve is for a news reader to say “after he raped and murdered Girl Scout Troop #33, the “GENTELMAN” was apprehended on 1st street”.

THE MONSTER IS NOT A *GENTELMAN*, YOU STUPID NEWS READER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry about the yelling but I always yell at the TV when I hear that.

[HIDEK6]

When I was a youngster, and doing dictionary exercises, we were never allowed to define a word by using the root of the word, or any form of the word in the definition. For example, we could not use “important” to define “importantly.”

We must have gone to the same school. Were you allowed to say, "(Word to be defined) is where," or "(Word to be defined) is when"?

Each of those phrasings was prohibited, along with using the root of the word to be defined in the definition.

[uncitizen]

The saying that bugs me most occurs when i’m shopping, looking at some item and a saleslady comes over and says “that’s our most popular (purse) this year”.

Big turn off. This says they’ve judged me as someone that would want the same purse that everyone else has.

Altho my daughter, who used to work in retail says that is what they tell you to say when you see a customer looking at something.

[HIDEK6]

“No problem,” seems to be the new, “You’re welcome.”

[LucyJo]

A "suspect" broke into the house, raped the women, killed the men, tore the place up and burned it down. Victims say they can identify the "gentleman" who did it all.

Yes!..., and, I have the same reaction when the word "lady" is misused.

[Cymbaline]

Sum(n)=n/2(A1+An)

Any system that won't take THAT as a password needs to be reprogrammed!

[LimaLimaMikeFoxtrot]

Armed gunman (as opposed to an unarmed gunman)

Hot water heater

[Roscoe Karns]

“Allah Akbar.”

[Roscoe Karns]

Ditto the ‘stuck on stupid’. Catch phrases like that one should come with an expiration date.

[Cymbaline]

Actually, we say "I think we oughta"

I'm fixin' ta

[JB in Whitefish]

“”“At this point in time.” Means the EXACT SAME THING as “At this time” yet takes longer to say.”

The fleeting quality of time means that by the time you say “At this time” it is already another time.”

....actually, TIME is just nature’s way of keeping everything from happening at once...!!!