Things you're sick of hearing: Single words, cliches, and tired phrases. Don't read if you hate pedantry.

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Pwnd

lukey (Lukey G), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 09:32 (nineteen years ago) link

bling
chav

koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 10:05 (nineteen years ago) link

"The real issue here is"

Sarah C, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 10:08 (nineteen years ago) link

"We trust this meets with your approval"

NO IT DOES NOT!

Sarah C, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 10:09 (nineteen years ago) link

Is there a word for when the likes of Apple capitalize a word halfway through eg all that AirPort QuickTime FireWire BullShit? I hate that!

NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 10:11 (nineteen years ago) link

go-to

go-to, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 10:34 (nineteen years ago) link

I say "as it were" a lot :( I am very very sorry.

Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 10:37 (nineteen years ago) link

"Think outside the box." (Actually, honey, I'm thinking about your box).

my, how charming.

Miles Finch, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 10:38 (nineteen years ago) link

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwords/medial

(InterCapitalisation or Medial Capitalisation if you're posh. it's not an apple thing - at the very least it was a Java programming thing before then)

koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 10:44 (nineteen years ago) link

Currently I am sick of the following words: ambiguous, epiphany and hegemony/ hegemonic.
Yes I run with a nasty group of word wielding thugs....but whatever.

danielle g. (danielle g.), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 11:29 (nineteen years ago) link

those are all good words. you spend too much time with well-educated people.

Miles Finch, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 11:30 (nineteen years ago) link

Gamelan.

hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 11:32 (nineteen years ago) link

"Have stocks and shares become shocks and scares?"

Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 12:08 (nineteen years ago) link

"Shrek is a great film"

Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 12:11 (nineteen years ago) link

"impacted" or "impacted on"

This bugs me because unless what you're referring to is a clogged colon, you should use "affected" instead, since that would be simpler and correct.

sgs (sgs), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 12:13 (nineteen years ago) link

(It's use, fucktard).

"Fucktard", that's one.

David Merryweather (DavidM), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 12:29 (nineteen years ago) link

teh

Stevem On X (blueski), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 12:29 (nineteen years ago) link

hstencil

David Merryweather (DavidM), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 12:38 (nineteen years ago) link

haha

Stevem On X (blueski), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 12:51 (nineteen years ago) link

"As it happens"

lovebug starski (lovebug starski), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 13:12 (nineteen years ago) link

Re the 'think outside the box' one at the start of this. Since I do suffer that phrase in my office at times, and people also talk about 'putting ticks in boxes', I did at one time suggest we go for an ambitious combination, and strive to put ticks outside of boxes. Sadly it didn't catch on.

I once worked this into an email as a joke that I'm not sure the recipients got: "...the bottom line is that I don't think it would be best practice to launch it at the end of the day, so my game plan is...". Four phrases from the bullshit bingo thing you see around.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 13:36 (nineteen years ago) link

thanks for touching base

Stevem On X (blueski), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 13:44 (nineteen years ago) link

"that is wrong on so many levels"

Cathy (Cathy), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:03 (nineteen years ago) link

"Get over it"/"Snap out of it"

The Phantom of the Operating System (kate), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:04 (nineteen years ago) link

perfect storm

Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:13 (nineteen years ago) link

"Begs the question" when "raises the question" is meant.

"i.e." when "e.g." is meant, and vice versa.

"Addy" for address.

The Mad Puffin, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:14 (nineteen years ago) link

"get a grip"

Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:15 (nineteen years ago) link

"below zero"

Huk-L, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:16 (nineteen years ago) link

"literally", when it clearly isn't.

aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:19 (nineteen years ago) link

"it's a french irregular verb."

cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:20 (nineteen years ago) link

"... European countries are so much more *civilized* in their drinking habits..."

Miles Finch, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:43 (nineteen years ago) link

"taking things to a whole `nother level" or "next level"

"dawg"

"tony" as an adjective

McDonald's referred to as "Mickey D's". This was old in 1986.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:45 (nineteen years ago) link

(on phone) "What can I do you for"

unbelievably this is still in regular use in my office.

Bidurd, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:48 (nineteen years ago) link

"socialist"

("Mickey D's" is acceptable in the context of being rhymed with "licky these" in a song by the Coup)

What's this place, Biblevania? (natepatrin), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 15:53 (nineteen years ago) link

"random"
most things you describe are not random.

dewey, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 21:32 (nineteen years ago) link

adding to sgs: 'impactful' wtf is that supposed to mean?

DESTROY: RED STATE/BLUE STATE

Dude, are you a 15 year old asian chick? (jingleberries), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 21:43 (nineteen years ago) link

also, "Ported" transported? deported?

jocelyn (Jocelyn), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 21:46 (nineteen years ago) link

"I just want to make sure we're on the same page"

jocelyn (Jocelyn), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 21:47 (nineteen years ago) link

bi-curious

phil-two (phil-two), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 21:58 (nineteen years ago) link

because they really mean bi-desperate

phil-two (phil-two), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 21:59 (nineteen years ago) link

"Clearly." I am getting angry just thinking about it.

aimurchie, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 22:28 (nineteen years ago) link

radical Shiite Muslim cleric
brand, branding, brand penetration, etc.
any substitute for 'their' as a singular pronoun ("his or her", etc)

Augustine (Augustine Bearse), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:13 (nineteen years ago) link

any substitute for 'their' as a singular pronoun ("his or her", etc)

Prithee explicate.

Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:18 (nineteen years ago) link

"Get over it"/"Snap out of it"

Add me to that one. GAHH. People who say 'get over it' are people for whom thinking is too difficult.

Autumn Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:21 (nineteen years ago) link

"wheelhouse"

as far as i know this may just be an LA phenomena, but everybody who thinks they're Somebody says wheelhouse all the fucking time and it drives me nuts. i'm pretty sure it started with agents.

firstworldman (firstworldman), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:21 (nineteen years ago) link

Wheelhouse! How's it used?

Stephen X (Stephen X), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:33 (nineteen years ago) link

red state, blue state

latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:37 (nineteen years ago) link

they say wheelhouse like... "Hey, we need to get this deal in the wheelhouse! What's up, bitch?! You're my dawg, right? Right? Take it to the fucking wheelhouse baby!"

firstworldman (firstworldman), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:44 (nineteen years ago) link

Or, "I wanna work with this guy so that I that I can have that in my wheelhouse. You know, just... for me."

firstworldman (firstworldman), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:50 (nineteen years ago) link

"my bad" is no apology

Snappy (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:55 (nineteen years ago) link

i hate it when you're reading a profile of a female actor/artist/activist/whatever and they start out by saying "X is funny, smart..." i seriously think i've seen that exact combination of words like 40 times.

J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 21:49 (eighteen years ago) link

Coldplay

dr lulu (dr lulu), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:00 (eighteen years ago) link

"the lovely and talented..."?

mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:02 (eighteen years ago) link

The guy who hosts the sports show here described a student-athelete as being "a thoughtful young man", and I automatically recalled Jack Nicholson's backhanded compliment during the reception scene of About Schmidt.

Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:07 (eighteen years ago) link

"tony" as an adjective

Can someone please explain that to me?

Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:13 (eighteen years ago) link

FACTOID

Safety First (pullapartgirl), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:16 (eighteen years ago) link

democracy, liberty, freedom

someone let this mitya out! (mitya), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:17 (eighteen years ago) link

"Tony" means kind of fancy pants and elegant, right?

Safety First (pullapartgirl), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:17 (eighteen years ago) link

This thread is getting really fucking tony!

Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:18 (eighteen years ago) link

haha xpost/1

Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:18 (eighteen years ago) link

Can someone please explain that to me?

What's to explain?

tony also toney adj (1877): marked by an aristocratic or high-toned manner or style

jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:18 (eighteen years ago) link

Well I'm not sick of hearing it, because I've never heard it before.

Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:18 (eighteen years ago) link

I hear it frequently in describing affluent suburbs, like "the tony suburb of Winnetka."

jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:26 (eighteen years ago) link

Yes. Whenever one is tempted to use toney as an adjective, one ought to say high-falutin' in its stead.

Aimless (Aimless), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:45 (eighteen years ago) link

I think this is one of those tony American things.

Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 22:45 (eighteen years ago) link

All token stand-ins for sarcasm, such as "whatever, "as if" and "not!"

"Centrist". Actually all political labels. Especially "third way" as it is used by those fools in the Democratic party.

"market-based solutions," because it is usually used by people who understand markets less than I do, which is scary.

I love the phrase, "Now we're cooking with gas!" I do.

I also like to say,"Somebody's got a case of the Mondays," but that's more of an act of agression than anything else. I think it's a fine way to say, "Fuck you!"

Fluffy Bear (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 23:46 (eighteen years ago) link

"curated" as applied to someone choosing bands for a concert.

joygoat (joygoat), Thursday, 4 May 2006 02:31 (eighteen years ago) link

schadenfraude

"the take home message is ..."

badg (badg), Thursday, 4 May 2006 04:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Also, "how embarrasment" ,but thats a specifically Australian one.

I was doing work for AAPT and was configuring some software that used an SMS gateway to send a message to subscribers, and the message they'd supplied me contained that expression. I pointed out what seemed to be an obvious typo and I was scorned for not being au fait with their bullshit advertising campaign!

Andrew (enneff), Thursday, 4 May 2006 04:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Hahahah. Didn't you ever see the Effie ads? I was so embarrased to be working for AAPT when they came out *cringe*. You should have seen the internal office promotions. My god. My bosses - male and female - dressed up in big hair wigs, faux wooly chests, gold medallions, white jumpsuits, the works. It was totally cringe-inducing :(

Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 4 May 2006 04:51 (eighteen years ago) link

kudos

You can just go and get fucked!

Andrew (enneff), Thursday, 4 May 2006 04:55 (eighteen years ago) link

wasn't how embarrassment a kylie mole thing anyway? i dunno how effie got mixed up with that..

electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Thursday, 4 May 2006 04:55 (eighteen years ago) link

Didn't you ever see the Effie ads?

Nope, never caught 'em. I didn't have a TV at the time... actually, I still don't. I feel sorry for you and that office situation, though.

Andrew (enneff), Thursday, 4 May 2006 04:56 (eighteen years ago) link

me too, though it would be worse to have someone painted silver who was pretending to be a statue in your office.

estela (estela), Thursday, 4 May 2006 05:16 (eighteen years ago) link

fifteen years pass...

i love me some [x]

unknown or illegal user (doo rag), Friday, 1 April 2022 08:29 (two years ago) link

made-up compound insult words like asshat, fucktard, cockwomble, etc

takes one to know one pal

unknown or illegal user (doo rag), Friday, 1 April 2022 08:31 (two years ago) link

& all facebook tag group type witticisms should be punishable by ducking stool/tank of cat poo

unknown or illegal user (doo rag), Friday, 1 April 2022 08:33 (two years ago) link

of course i dislike shit like "the conversation(/issues) around [x]" etc but surely this has been said at least once (thread's too long to read the whole thing)

unknown or illegal user (doo rag), Friday, 1 April 2022 08:36 (two years ago) link

"I think it's time we begin to surface some of these issues"

Luna Schlosser, Friday, 1 April 2022 11:49 (two years ago) link


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