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
Here’s a Wall Street one that means absolutely nothing:
“...NET NET...”
I think its supposed to mean roughly the same as:
“At the end of the day...”
I literally thought of you when I read this, literally.
If you want to blow him off, that's OK, but to criticize him for doing his job indicates you lack the understanding of what is occurring.
I saw that and it does not surprise me that it came from a teacher. I have a visual image of a graying child of the 60's who is still wistfully trying to figure out "where it's at".
I think there must be a Brit etymology to the bare naked “seen” without its “have” - lots of Brits, Aussies and Irish use it who seldom make other grammar faux pas which are that egregious.
“Heh, I had an ex who used to talk about the puppy dog close. Just take it home with you for 2 days - 3 days - a week ...”
What I find aggravating about this whole “method” is that it presumes that everyone is just too STUPID to realize they’re being manipulated. It’s very condescending and yet it is TAUGHT to salesmen as “customer service”....which, of course, could not be farther from the truth....!!!
Sooner rather than later
incorrect useage of done/did, was/were, your/you're, there/their/they're
... “and everybody’s getting fat except Mama Cass” ... (in L.A., you know where that’s at!)
***But they think it makes them sound SOOOOOOOOOOO
intelligent.***
There was a woman preacher on TV some years ago who said, “He invited I and my children to dinner.” Guess she thought it sounded better than, “he invited my children and me to dinner.” Then there was the teacher who responded to complaints about the teacher’s entrance exam being too easy by starting her letter to the newspaper with, “I and my colleagues...”
“Where you at?”
This is hugh
Don’t loose it
I’m series
“Back in the day” and “Good times. Good times.” So overused.
I'm rat cheer.
Dialect is a whole differnt ball of wax (kettle of fish? can of worms??)
Did any one mention:
“My Bad” and
“It’s all good”
Yuk!!!!!
Oh my Gaw-od. Like you are so totally correct.
A few days back, Fox News described the getaway attempt of a home invader in the victim’s SUV as “valiant”.
Where’s the valor in robbery and flight from the law?
Vast majority shreds my nerves.
Thousand times smaller?
Take it to the next level.
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