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

[Rightfootforward]

“I hate it when i ask my nephews “Would you like something to eat?” and they answer “I’m good”.”

My response would be, “You’re good at what?”

[P8riot]

I saw a sign once that said "No Admittance Past This Point For Anyone Who Says "Nukuler".

As a former Naval Nuclear Propulsion guy, I suggested that we put signs to the same effect on the access to both of our reactor plants, and it almost flew until the skipper announced that "the Nukyular plant guys were gonna be running tests over the next few days and to not be alarmed." I just about busted a gut.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Okay, that makes sense.

[camle]

sorry;-)

the thread is asking for terms overused by the media. pandemic is one that springs to my fertile mind. There’s pandemics of all sorts of stuff. there’s a pandemic of pandemics.

and perhaps a real one or two in there somewhere...

[Red Boots]

I forgot to mention a really big one that drives Mr. Ditter crazy. When every 3rd word that some people utter is “GUYS”. It is used to greet both men women and children of both sexes. It originally meant ‘males’ but now it is everyone and used almost as a filler word like “you know” in some peoples conversation.

I don't know the correct grammatical terms, but "you guys" has become the formal plural usage of you.

A waitress will come by the table and say, "Are you guys ready to order ?" .

In some languages, German for example, there are two forms of you; one to be used with people you know well; and one to be used with those you don't.

English doesn't have this, but it's needed, so people have substituted you guys. "You all" is used in the South, "you guys" in the West.

[mikrofon]

“Leverage” instead of “use”, esp. when the topic has nothing to do with finances.

[fish hawk]

I’ve never liked, “get a life”, although considering this thread, it fits well. LOL

[LucyJo]

LOL!

[Red Boots]

People that end most of their sentences with "... you know what I mean?" Drive me nuts! Of course I know what you mean! I speak English and am 10 times smarter than you or anyone in your gene pool.

LOL ! Do you actually say this? I'm impressed, if so.

[Ditter]

I know the store wants his sales person to be in charge but that doesn’t change the fact that they are not, it is my money, my choice. I know there are weak minded shoppers out there who can be talked into anything. Those are the people with the over loaded credit cards, I’m not one of those.

[dighton]

.
“To Be Perfectly Honest, At This Point in Time We Are Eight”

[LucyJo]

My nephew said that very thing this past weekend.

“I’m good.” “I’m fine.”

Perhaps, but, are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?

Whatever happened to “No, thank you”, and “Yes, please”. Ha.

[Ditter]

I think you are correct but I hear it in Texas all the time where I used to hear ya’ll. I think it has come from the north east and began as ‘youse guys’. (How they ever started saying ‘youse guys’ instead of the correct term, ya’ll, I’ll never understand.) >>/smirk>///

[Red Boots]

I hate it when my children answer a question with "huh?".

I then deliver the same lecture my 6th grade teacher did: "Huh is not a word. Huh is a grunt ! Animals grunt, people use words ! "

Thanks, Mr Tiddle !

[mikrofon]

That reminds me of a supervisor who liked to use the word “cogitate” when he just meant to think about something.

It would always conjure the concept of sitting in a comfy chair with a cognac and cigar while mulling over the topic...

[martin_fierro]

Marketing-Speak that I hear all day:

“My ask of you...”
“reach out”
“leverage”
“At the end of the day...”
“It is what it is”
“Have visibility into...”
“I’m out-of-pocket on {date}”

[Non-Sequitur]

I can’t stand it when they use ‘disrespect’ as a verb.

[JB in Whitefish]

I don’t know the correct grammatical terms, but “you guys” has become the formal plural usage of you.

~~~~~~~~

It’s derived from the New jersese “Youse Guys”

[Petronski]

The one that absolutely makes me scream is "a gutty performance." No athlete wants to be told he has gut.

More likely, the idiot ESPN guy was referring to "a gutsy performance," one that exhibited a lot of guts.

Also, if you ever catch me "dialoguing," just shoot me dead.

[Red Boots]

I think you are correct but I hear it in Texas all the time where I used to hear ya’ll. I think it has come from the north east and began as ‘youse guys’. (How they ever started saying ‘youse guys’ instead of the correct term, ya’ll, I’ll never understand.) >>/smirk>///

I wonder if the youse is an attempt to pluralize you, as in adding an s.

I also find it annoying, so I used to reply, "Do I look like a man to you ?", but my family has gotten tired of my smart remarks, so I stopped.

I still think it, though.