Words and Phrases You’ve Come to Hate

[pappymac]

As a former magazine editor, I used to go nuts with a red pen on practically all of the phrases already mentioned. For example, "At this point in time" would always get crossed out. Why? I was taught to be concise and to the point. Why use five words to do the job of one. This has lead me to believe that people use over-used phrases and are "wordy" in an effort to sound more intelligent or educated then they are.

 

[mso489]

Cokie Roberts got some good mileage out of the commentary opener "Look ..." but it was soon picked up by too many others, and now it just sounds pretentious.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Geez, now I feel like I need to make a list of all the words and phrases listed here so I don't piss off anyone when I post something. But then, I probably already have.... :nana:

 

[gtrhtr]

The Pentegon has little catch phrases which spread like wildfire after som 3 or 4 star says them. A couple of years ago you couldn't sit through a meeting without the word holistic used. Prior to that it was enterprise which is pretty funny since we are now in the efficiencies phase of our lingo and all those who grabbed ownership of an enterprise can't even begin to pay for the added responsibilities they added to their organization.
Another one that drives me nuts is Im a professional... Do you get paid for what you do? Then you're a professional.

 

[mso489]

Orley, most of this is just banter. I think some awareness of language is a good thing, one tool in thought processes. Sometimes we all lapse into the cliches and verbosity. Boy, do I ever. But if you can avoid some of the stinkers, that's good. And if you throw in a few, you'll be right in step.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Thanks mso. I do realize that it's just banter. But let me be clear, it's all good. Now I feel like I have some closure on the subject. (heh, heh, too much?)

 

[dcrguns]

Whatever :roll:

 

[ravkesef]

Another one that drives me nuts is Im a professional... Do you get paid for what you do? Then you're a professional.

Now there's an expression that has been downgraded in its meaning. A hardware store clerk or a trash collector are both engaged in noble and necessary work, and no one should ever be put down because of the work they do. However, the term "professional" in its original sense referred to work that entailed a specific body of knowledge acquired after some degree of study, e.g., medicine, as well as a sense of confraternity amongst those engaged in the profession, as well as the ability to impose standards and discipline amongst those engaged in the profession.

 

[brian64]

Geez, now I feel like I need to make a list of all the words and phrases listed here so I don't piss off anyone when I post something. But then, I probably already have....

Beginning a statement with "Geez". Now there's one that really irks me. (j/k...sorry Orley...couldn't resist)

I have to tell you. I have the best words. They're YUUGE.

LOL

 

[brian64]

A gesture rather than a word or phrase, but this is something I loathe. You see it all the time. Everyone got the same corporate culture public speaking training apparently. Not sure if Clinton was the first to do it, but I guess it's now named after him.

 

[perdurabo]

Fist bump...shake a mans hand, idiot.

 

[deathmetal]

Burned down to a fine white ash.

I missed this one but, ten thousand times YES.

 

[derfatdutchman]

"Politically Correct" I clench my teeth every time I hear thoese words mentioned

 

[brian64]

"Politically Correct" I clench my teeth every time I hear thoese words mentioned

This should make you feel better:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkhUivqzWv0

 

[phil67]

"Politically Correct"

Yep, an absolute two thumbs on that. Does anyone know where and when that f'ing, sorry, fucking term started from?

Burned down to a fine white ash.

One more two thumbs up on that one. Just another term that is copied and repeatedly used by morons in reviews that wouldn't know a briar pipe from an exhaust pipe.

 

[jefff]

"Challenges" They aren't challenges... they are god damn PROBLEMS.....usually because someone screwed up BIG TIME.

 

[mso489]

"Pivot." This was used first, I think, in foreign policy discussions to say that U.S. foreign policy was going to pivot to the Pacific rim. Okay. But it caught on like the measles, and soon any change of any kind was described as a pivot. We're pivoting to this, and then we're pivoting to that, and next maybe we'll pivot to lunch.

 

[weezell]

'Who's the baby daddy'

I could puke on that one. Idiots... :twisted:

 

[foggymountain]

It is irritating that so many things are referred to as Mecca. It would be nice if Mecca were used only to refer to Mecca. The same thing about Icon. Everything is an icon now, The language is being reduced to baby talk.

 

[warren]

Decimate. When used correctly it is very descriptive. Used incorrectly it is worthless. I realize dictionaries do not agree with me. The word has come to mean whatever the user wishes.