Can We Talk? A Brief List of Annoying Expressions and Verbal Fumbles

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 01-18-18 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

Video

[OKSooner]

This is a no brainer, on steroids.

[Salvation]

Monsignor Pope Ping!

[alexander_busek]

4. Not unlike – This strange expression, in a way, cancels itself out as a double negative. For example, someone may say, “This car is not unlike that one.” If you put a few of those sorts of expressions into a sentence, trying to figure out exactly what the sentence means can make your head explode. In fact, it strains the meaning of the word “sentence,” which refers to a string of words that makes sense. Unless the person misspoke, this seems to just be a fancy way of saying, “This car is like that one.” Try to avoid making heads explode by not using the expression, “not unlike.”

In his essay Politics and the English Language, George Orwell lambasted the "not un-" formation. "A not unblack dog chased a not unsmall rabbit across a not ungreen field."

My most hated neologism is "You need to..." or "I need you to..." in the sense of "I want you to..."

Regards,

[caligatrux]

Using “so” as an interjection

I seem to recall someone (Scott Adams, perhaps?) suggesting that using "so" as an interjection was a fairly reliable tell for cognitive dissonance.

[Salvation]

When people interject “You know what I mean.” in a sentence — usually at the end of a sentence.

[Bob]

For all intensive purposes....

[grobdriver]

Alas, trying to recover the original meaning of this word may be a lost cause at this point.

Goes for many words.

Try packing a picnic lunch and inviting a friend out saying, "I'm just feeling gay today". (watch friend run the other way)

[Fiji Hill]

“Decimate” has long been one of my pet peeves. Sadly, even President Trump has used it to mean “to annihilate” or “to destroy.”

Another pet peeve is “apocalypse,” which means “disclosure” or “revelation”—not “catastrophe.”

[Salvation]

Good example of how a word now means nearly the opposite of what it originally meant.

[Gamecock]

Statue of limitations

He’s like a Svenjolly.

[Salvation]

Good examples.

[glennaro]

To me, “so” at the beginning of a response is merely a substitute for “uh” ... either way, it’s a stall tactic.

[BitWielder1]

“You know what I mean.”

Or "you know" for short, is either a meaningless time filler or the speaker is unable or too lazy to express himself properly.
The listener is expected to fill in the blanks.

[ASOC]

My usual Buzzword Bingo winner

Viable Alternative.

also in the running

Just because

Would you care...as in “Would you care to repeat that?”

[MeganC]

I hate when someone says to me, “Look...” as they’re trying to make a point or explain something.

It makes me feel like they’re exasperated with me or that they think I’m stupid. In any case, when someone says this to me I’m pretty much done listening to anything they have to say.

[bar sin·is·ter]

“I hear you but....”

[alexander_busek]

When people interject “You know what I mean.” in a sentence — usually at the end of a sentence.

I find that merely sloppy.

"I need you to go over there and be quiet" is much more insidious, since it disguises a demand as a gentle request.

Regards,

[Fiji Hill]

Your verbing is weirding me out.

During the church service last Sunday, the minister preached a sermon about the faithing evangelist Barnabas. Afterwards, we spent about an hour fellowshipping.

[DadOfFive]

“I’ve half the mind to...” vs. “I have the mind to...”, which one?