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Most annoying phrases

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 11:35 am
by ALUmnus
We had a thread on this a while back, so I thought it was funny that there's a book out there for the same thing. It's British, so some of it may be :?: , but interesting.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... rases.html
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 database alerts them to new words and phrases and can tell them which expressions are disappearing. It also shows how words are being misused.

As well as the above expressions, the book's author Jeremy Butterfield says that many annoyingly over-used expressions actually began as office lingo, such as 24/7 and "synergy".

Other phrases to irritate people are "literally" and "ironically", when they are used out of context.

Mr Butterfield said: "We grow tired of anything that is repeated too often – an anecdote, a joke, a mannerism – and the same seems to happen with some language."

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
I remember "literally" and "ironic" being on our list.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 11:39 am
by ATrain
I have a new number 1:
Change

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 11:50 am
by thepostman
creeper

most annoying non-word ever

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 11:59 am
by JDUB
"let me tell you about.."

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 12:19 pm
by sweetnahmah1
I just heard Colin Cowherd list these like 10 minutes ago.

I can't think of any right now, but I know there are more annoying phrases then some of these.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 12:43 pm
by Purple Haize
Funny I saw this topic and "At the end of the day" was the first phrase that came to mind!!

Also, "I, myself"

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 1:05 pm
by SuperJon
thepostman wrote:creeper

most annoying non-word ever
Hater is on that list too.


Other annoying non-words:

Preggers
Prego
Whatevs
BFF

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 2:41 pm
by ALUmnus
One that my wife uses, as does RubberMallet, and I've noticed is becoming more prevalent, is using the word 'anymore' in a positive. Like saying "He's just too partisan anymore for me to want to listen...". Growing up, 'anymore' was always used in the negative, like "we've decided not to do that anymore". It's not all too annoying, just doesn't sound right to me.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 2:45 pm
by LUconn
ALUmnus wrote:One that my wife uses, as does RubberMallet, and I've noticed is becoming more prevalent, is using the word 'anymore' in a positive. Like saying "He's just too partisan anymore for me to want to listen...". Growing up, 'anymore' was always used in the negative, like "we've decided not to do that anymore". It's not all too annoying, just doesn't sound right to me.
I've noticed this too. I used to tell people that you can't use it in that way. Not only do I hear it, I read it more and more. It's got me second guessing myself.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 2:47 pm
by cheerbren
'It's so funny you should say that..' as they go on and tell you story about themself about anything you say.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 2:50 pm
by SuperJon
Ok, tell me something...

Are we saved by Jesus blood?

or

Are we saved by Jesuses blood?

In other words, how do you pronounce: Jesus'

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 2:51 pm
by justagirl
SuperJon wrote:
thepostman wrote:creeper

most annoying non-word ever
Hater is on that list too.


Other annoying non-words:

Preggers
Prego
Whatevs
BFF
Creeper

Creep"er\ (kr[=e]p"[~e]r), n. 1. One who, or that which, creeps; any creeping thing.

Hater

Hat"er\, n. One who hates.

An enemy to God, and a hater of all good. --Sir T. Browne.


I mean, just sayin!!!

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 2:53 pm
by LUconn
I think words ending in S that show possession are pronounced the same as they are without the possession but I normally throw in an extra "es" just for emphasis and less confusion.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 2:57 pm
by Kolzilla41
And such as us US Americans...

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 3:11 pm
by justagirl
flamerbob wrote:And such as us US Americans...
huh?

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 3:14 pm
by sweetnahmah1
and like such as

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 3:39 pm
by Kolzilla41
justagirl wrote:
flamerbob wrote:And such as us US Americans...
huh?
Miss South Carolina. Just trying to be funny

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 3:51 pm
by justagirl
Oooooo...jokes on me. I get it now. haha.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 4:06 pm
by blwall1416
Wal Marts

Krogers


Please, show where the extra "S" comes from. I can't stand that.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 4:09 pm
by Cider Jim
And don't forget my former pastor's favorite store: Barnes & Nobles.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 4:23 pm
by tinytim
My grandpa was from Oregon and he always called Fred Meyer "Fred Meyers" I always wondered why the s.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 4:27 pm
by Kolzilla41
Deers...... Local people around here say it. I cannot stand preggers or we're pregnant.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 4:30 pm
by tinytim
flamerbob wrote:Deers...... Local people around here say it. I cannot stand preggers or we're pregnant.
Deers sounds like an incorrect plural of deer. It has nothing to do with being pregnant.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 4:45 pm
by Realist
It is what it is.

Posted: November 7th, 2008, 8:28 pm
by kel varson
Don't forget "Sheetzes."