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

[Tax-chick]

They’re $4.98 at Wal Mart this week!

In the aisle with the teenage mutant tortilla chips and mole in cans. Go armed.

[time4good]

'Unconciously' instead of 'subconsciously' did or said this or that - ARGH!!!

I've heard so many elite media (KParker, BOR, etc.) incorrectly use this. Ok, I looked it up in Oxford - technically it says they're synonymous but I must disagree - when I think of of someone unconcious, I picture them out cold, unable to think(dreaming aside) or speak.

[EnnisExile]

Meme.

I know it's not a phrase but suddenly it's everywhere and I haven't even had time to look up what it means. Sometimes it appears to be a synonym for 'theme'.

[Old North State]

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

Are you kidding? The only thing better is “Manchester United are defeating Liverpool 4-nil”.

[Paine in the Neck]

You know that’s “toeing”, don’t you? ;-}

[Walmartian]

Some say not if but when

[Frank Sheed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_change

Take your pick

[PfromHoGro]

“or what-have-you”

As expressed in technical presentations. Always make me San Kinison- agh-agh-aghu-aaaaaaaaggghghhghgghh!

[Tax-chick]

And the audience are tearing down the bleachers and throwing beer bottles ...

[No.6]

“Is this what our major Universitys do all day?”

No, this is Oxford, which is in England; don’t worry, this is not our tax dollars at work. :)

Anyway, since they are in the business of composing THE definitive dictionary of English, complete with phrases exemplifying usage at different points in time, this is their job.

See also http://www.oed.com/

Similarly, “Universities” is spelled as such and not “Universitys.” (ducking)

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Anyways

[Abigail Adams]

“Try and ___...”

[The_Reader_David]

Related to number 2, one of my pet peeves: “very unique”.

[Tax-chick]

Decomposition.

[Psalm 73]

“My Friends”

HA - reason #987 Freepers have the best sense of humor!

[Crawdad]

They left out “War Eagle”.

[KarlInOhio]

My choices for this list are "list of top ten" or "top ten list". Not everything comes in groups of ten, even major sports colleges around the Great Lakes :-).

[Deb]

And the #1 most annoying word in the 2008 lexicon of mind-numbing phrases....

FRANKLY...

[metesky]

pristine