Posted on 05/29/2007 2:17:17 AM PDT by 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
Haha ! That's cool...thanks !
My Philosophy Prof would end every explanation with “Do you understand?” How should we know? That is what he will decide after reading our final tests.
One of the most deeply ironic aspects of American English is that "the truth of the matter is" has NEVER been followed by a statement of truth.
If you hear "the truth of the matter is," prepare for a lie, usually one that is astonishingly brash and shameless.
I’ve got an idea, let’s “tee it up” and “drill down to the details”.
I've never heard it that way. ??
My faith instructs that “giving something back” is something that should be a part of the daily walk, not having to be reminded about it...
There is a local Public Service spot on the media here (Western NY) about the importance of organ donation and making your wishes known — the theme of the ad is “You’ve been Given the Gift of Life”, and then at the end is the rather brusque phrase, “Give It Back”.
It sounds so ridiculous and whiney, I have to shake my head whenever I hear it. It also tends to denigrate those who, for whatever reason, decide that organ donation is not for them.
Americans are losing the distinction between “take” (applicable from the starting point) and “bring” (to be used in transit or at the destination).
One should not say he is going to “bring it back to where he got it,” but rather one will “take it back to where he got it,” and once in transit can say he has undertaken to “bring it back to where he got it.”
No.
Not being able to use any form of a word to define it often forced us to get very creative. That rule makes sense, and it really helped me to understand what words mean.
It's intersting that English doesn't have a formal, plural, present tense form of you, other than just "you".
We have they or them for describing groups of people in a general sense; but no way to address groups of people personally. Hence all the forms of "you guys; you all, you people, and youse".
This is real language development, as opposed to a lot of slang terms, which people like to claim are language development, but are really just popular usages which will soon fade.
“Don’t be a hater.”
Unnnggh.
*This message approved by the Department of Redundancy Department, which approved this message.
Gross income is all revenue.
Net income is gross income less expenses.
Net-net is Net income less taxes, or sometimes “net income less everything else.”
Net-net is the true bottom line.
How do you avoid bursting into laughter?
“Also, if you ever catch me “dialoguing,” just shoot me dead.”
LOL. Okay, but only if you promise to do the same if I ever use the words “network or networking.”
"No problem"
yitbos
"Give back to your COMMUNEity."
yitbos
In Alabama the plural of "y'all" is "all y'all."
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