Oxford compiles list of top ten irritating phrases

Telegraph UK ^ | 11-7-08 | Charlotte Bailey

[edzo4]

Heading the list was the expression 'at the end of the day', which was followed in second place by the phrase 'fairly unique'.

The tautological statement "I personally" made third place – an expression that BBC Radio 4 presenter John Humphreys has described as "the linguistic equivalent of having chips with rice."

Also making the top 10 is the grammatically incorrect "shouldn't of", instead of "shouldn't have".

The phrases appear in a book called Damp Squid, named after the mistake of confusing a squid with a squib, a type of firework.

The researchers who compiled the list monitor the use of phrases in a database called the Oxford University Corpus, which comprises books, papers, magazines, broadcast, the internet and other sources.

The top ten most irritating phrases:

1 - At the end of the day

2 - Fairly unique

3 - I personally

4 - At this moment in time

5 - With all due respect

6 - Absolutely

7 - It's a nightmare

8 - Shouldn't of

9 - 24/7

10 - It's not rocket science

[agere_contra]

What does this mean, in real terms?

[Nabber]

Number one has to be “No problem”.

The proper response is “you’re welcome”, DUDE !!!

[Red Badger]

Let’s think outside the box and be proactive with that seac change and paradigm shift...............

[savedbygrace]

11) Top Ten

[LimaLimaMikeFoxtrot]

“Look”. Every time a pundit on TV begins to answer a question he/she will invariably use the word “Look” at the beginning of the first or second sentence. Mara Liasson is the worst but they all do it.

[RckyRaCoCo]

having said that

(grrrrr)

[Frank Sheed]

As this is British, "Manchester United are defeating Liverpool, 2-nil.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Baby Daddy and Baby Momma

[Cicero]

I personally think these guys should get a life.

[frogjerk]

Not for nuthin’ but this list is lame

[oneolcop]

Wow! That's INCREDIBLE

[MarDav]

Mine is:
“We, as_______________,” as in the phrase, “We, as Republicans, need to...”

Drives me nuts.

[AnnGora]

CorpSpeak is really the culprit. I hear it everyday, all day.

“I wanted to touch base with you...”

“talking points”

“issues” (instead of problems)

Also, living in the South, I hear all the hackneyed sports phrases:

“take the ball and run with it...”

“whole nine yards” (whoever thought of that one ought to be skinned!)

“fumble on the ten yard line...”

[Frank Sheed]

Everyone knows that it is “By virtue of the fact that...”

;-o)

[headsonpikes]

All this, of course, begs the question,”Why is this being reported in a newspaper?”

It’s just more “towing the party line”, as they say.

;^)

[metesky]

“As a single mom (insert name of identity/grievance group here)....”

[dfwgator]

“You betcha”

j/k - I don’t want to face the wrath of the Sarahbots. ;)

[Tax-chick]

2. Fairly unique

Any use of "unique" with a qualifier - most unique, quite unique, very unique, absolutely unique - drives me nuts.

[Frank Sheed]

They’re $4.98 at Wal Mart this week!