These Are Phrases Who Died, Died!
Joelle said in the early morning on June 23, 2008
There are several terms and phrases that I feel should be dead and buried. In fact, I sometimes say these phrases and when I do, it’s like the proverbial record scratch in my head. I cringe when I hear them, even moreso when they come out of my own mouth.
- Each and Every
Ok, so it’s a bit pedantic of me, considering that anyone who knows me would not say I’m the Queen of Word Economy, but for some reason, this term just bugs. Why each and every. If it’s each, then it’s every, is it not? Pick one. - At the end of the day...
I’m guilty of this from time to time and yet, it bugs me still. - I don’t have the bandwidth...
Oh, this one sends me to the moon! It said it yesterday and nearly flogged myself because it irks me that much. “Do you have the bandwidth to take on this project?” “Let’s see if my schedule has the bandwidth...” It’s called time, people. Time. You don’t have time, you don’t have room in your schedule, you’re booked. Your ISP has bandwidth, but you? You’ve just got time, dude. Get over yourself. - Ping me!
When someone says this to me, I won’t lie. I want to throw canned goods at them. PING me? As in “I’ll be out of the office this afternoon, but I’ll ping you when I get back!” or “Ping me later and we’ll meet up!” No. No, stop that. Shoosh! I’m not determining if your IP is accessible, I’m not alerting you to a new blog entry, I’m just talking to you. I will not ping you, but I will email or call you if you like. - Out of pocket
This has been a subject of great debate. When I was living in Texas, people used “out of pocket” to mean “I am busy or otherwise unavailable”. As in, “I’m out of pocket until Thursday at a conference in Boise. Please leave a message.” What? What does your pocket have to do with anything? It is my belief that “out of pocket” applies to cash-money having to come out of your own pocket, as in, “My boss was supposed to cover my trip to the strip club, but they caught it on my expense report and now I’m out of pocket.” But at least now we know why you weren’t available. - Make it pop!
This you get a lot in design fields, especially within marketing companies. Every client wants their stuff to “pop!” Well… duh, right? Except unfortunately their idea of making it “pop!” usually includes some kind of starburst or animated aardvark or something. That pops alright... - Going viral
Do I really need to explain why this is irritating? I don’t care of it’s an accurate term or inaccurate term… it’s just annoying. - You feel me?
No, I don’t feel you. Shut up. And if you add “Dawg” or “Yo” at the end without any hint of irony, everything you said before that was completely negated and you’ll have to start impressing me all over again. Only this time… well, you won’t. But you can try.
You feel me? 
Moxie Design Studios™
from Tampa, FL
Yo, I feel ya, dawg.
*snort*
from CLE,OH
Buzzwords are such a crutch and are really out of control with some people.
The brits are hopping mad about ‘em too:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/World/2008/06/22/5952181-sun.html
I agree! Here is my input (I don’t think they need any explanation - the phrases speak for themselves):
Back in the day
Whole “nother” story (or anything with the word (not really a word) “nother” in it)
Actually… or Basically…
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Cath: I over-actually. haha. It’s a bad habit!
I can’t stand “You feel me?” It just sounds… I dunno, sleazy.
You know what I hate? When people say (when they’re about to have a big life-changing event) “Everything in my life has lead to this moment...” Well, yeah. Generally, every moment in your life leads up to the next moment. It’s of the basics of the concept of “time.”
I also hate “Pay it forward.” And yes, I realize that I’m nitpicking here, but hear me out: paying it forward kinda implies payment, like you wouldn’t do it if you didn’t have to. I much prefer the concept of random acts of kindness, because there isn’t an implication of “oh, because I have to,” or because you feel you “owe.” A random act of kindness? “Well, I did it because I wanted to.”
And, of course, I hate “same difference.” Grrr. They’re either “the same” or there’s “no difference,” but please, for the love of Bob, it’s not “same difference.”
from Santa Barbara, CA
I go crazy when people use phrases, but use the WRONG words because they sound similar but they just never really thought about what the phrase is.
For example: Instead of “I would just as soon do xyz...” they say “I would just assume do xyz...” um, that makes NO sense!
Or instead of “for all intents and purposes” they say “for all intensive purposes”.
For some reason too, people saying “now and again” drives me CRAAAAZY. I prefer “now and then”. Maybe because the first one seems like it makes less sense?
Oh and another one I’ve DESPISED since childhood is...Put on your thinking cap....which when in school, had a gesture accompanying it, whereby you would pretend to put on an actual cap. Which I thought was stupid, because the cap didn’t exist! Did no one else know this??
I’m gonna stop here before I start getting all angry or something.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@mikey: I’m not wild about ‘same difference’ either. I usually just say ‘same-same’. And I prefer thinking of it as putting out good Karma or good energy into the world instead of paying it forward. I’m with you on that one.
@Jennifer: omg, “for all intentive purposes” hahahaha! I HATE that. “Flustrated” and “supposably” are others that irk, too.
from Crazy, USA
I can’t tell you how much I love this post! I’m totally guilty on the “At the end of the day...” phrase - - I use and abuse it and you’re right, it’s a tad ick.
I’ve always hated “It’s a win-win” - - for some reason, when someone says to me “Lisa - it’s a win-win, for both of us” - it automatically makes me start looking at their angle and agenda… like, just because you said that, I’m not feeling like it’s so much of a ‘win’ for me, as it is a ‘win’ for you and you’re trying really hard to make me FEEL like it’s a ‘win’ for me, as well. Make sense? haha
It very well might BE a win-win.... but I associate that phrase with smarmy used car sales people (no offense to the smarmy among us!)
from Pasadena, CA
Noted. Many of these haven’t worked their way into my vocabulary yet, and now you’ve made sure they won’t. Thank you.
from Monroe, OH • Cocktail: Espresso Martini
Being one of those annoying people that often corrects the grammar of others (and I even know it’s annoying, but I can’t stop myself sometimes), I am loving this post. I work with a lady that says “not too for sure” all the time and it kills me. Even something small, such as “I have no ideal” instead of “idea.” My inner English major comes out with a vengeance occasionally.
I say “at the end of the day” all. the. time. EVERY DAY PROBABLY! And I hate myself, I do.
I also hate myself for saying the same things over and over again such as:
- Let’s touch base
- Keep me posted
- Let me know what you think
- If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask
- I look forward to hearing from you
And hundreds more like these!! HELP!
Oooh, “touch base”. *cringe*
Another one I hate is “It is what it is.” Well, fucking DUH! It it wasn’t what it is, it’d be something else, and we’d still say “It is what it is”. That’s as stupid as saying, “It’s always in the last place you look.” Why the FUCK would you keep looking in more places once you’ve found what you’re looking for??!!
Or another, “I could care less.” Well then, that must mean you care a bit, right? You mean to say, I believe, “I COULDN’T care less.” Idiot.
from Colorado
I’m tired of the word ‘literally’.
I literally say it 5309458034958 times a day, and I’ve got to find a way to stop it. I’m literally driving myself crazy.
from Los Angeles
I can’t let this post slip by without mention of the all-time most heinous and annoying habit of all—“irregardless.” I know it’s a cliche. It’s the one everybody says they hate. Call me uncreative, but it’s truly like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. And I realize it doesn’t really fit the theme here—it’s a grammatical thing rather than an overused phrase. But still…
You smelling what I’m cooking?
Oh, and I’m trying to break myself of the habit, “What’s crackin’?” I don’t even know what that means and I say it entirely too much. I tried a variation on the theme and went with “What’s crack-a-lackin?” and just felt like a complete loser.
from Canada
Oh! Oh! Has anyone mentioned “viola” yet? Or “wa-la”? I’ve seen it spelled both ways and each time makes me want to choke a bitch.
“Oh, we just did X, Y, and Z, and VIOLA! We had our own wallabee”
“Seven hours later, wa-la! Cake!”
It’s not a musical instrument. It’s not… whatever wa-la is.
It’s french.
It’s “voila”
It means “look (or see) there”
It’s pronounced “vwah-lah”.
Pet peeve. Pet peeve.
from Chicago
I had no idea that Chicagoians are famous for ending sentences with “with.”
“I’m going to the store, wanna go with?”
“Howz it hangin’” is another one. “Probly” gets on my nerves and someone mentioned “irregardless”. In fact, most of the ones listed here grate, except I’m not getting “at the end of the day.” Why the hate?
from heartburn hell
I wish the word “strategic” would die. It’s the catch phrase of the 21st corporate century and no plan gets heard unless you throw that word around 9 billion times.
Die strategy, die.
Yo dawg, you feel me? Werd.
Personally my catch phrases are usually involving “shizzy” and “peeps”.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@girlplease: Yeah, see I have no problem with cheesy catchphrases as long as your tongue is firmly planted in your cheek. How many times have I misappropriated some gangster turn-of-phrase? LOL. I know you feel me, yo. For rizzle. Or something.
@Louise: I use voila! from time to time, but I hope always appropriately. “wa-la” is just… well, that’s just flat out stupidity right there.
@Darren: I am, indeed, smelling what you’re cooking. lol.
@Soapchix Tiff: I “just” too much, I’ve noticed. I just want to do this, just want to do that. I’m not sure where I’ve developed that over-justing, but it undermines my authority. It sounds defensive or desperate or something. I just need to stop doing that.
hehe! Literally.
@Deltus: yeah, the whole could/couldn’t thing just drives me nuts. “I could care less” has become acceptable now, like supposably and irregardless. WHY? WHY WHY WHY? It doesn’t make any sense. If you *could* care less, then whomever you’re dismissing can’t possibly be that bad. Maroons, the lot of them!
@chepooka: you know I feel you, dawg, yo, mcshizzle. on alllllllll that. haha! Let’s touch base next week and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. *faints*
Ohhh I feel you, dawg! (Kidding, don’t hurt me:)
I have to agree with the “same difference”, and add that I don’t think any of the terms mentioned bugs me nearly as much as “anyways”. Ugh, just typing that made me cringe!
from Columbia City, IN
The one that really bugs me is “orientated”. I just want to strangle people when they say that. It should be “oriented”. Absolutely drives me batty.
from columbia, mo
I was just “complimented” today because a project of mine “popped”. Well, it is, by request, hot pink and big as heck, of course it pops. How about mentioning whether or not it is any good?
from Buffalo, NY
If one more person says “Can you reach out to so-and-so,” or “It is what it is,” my brain just might implode. Trite and overused phrases really get to me.
from Chicago
“Should’ve” is NOT a contraction of “should of”!!!! I can turn an educated blind eye away from all the “your/re” “they/re’eir” stuff, but “should of” does not simplify down to “should’ve”! And we are not even going to touch “shoulda, coulda, woulda”
ARRRGH!
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Manic Witch: people think it’s a contraction of “should of”? Isn’t it a contraction of “should have” as in “I should’ve gone to the gym, but instead I sat my fat ass on the couch.”? Please tell me that’s correct. LOL Because i use should’ve from time to time, but I certainly didn’t think it mean “should of”. that seems vexing.
from Chicago
Yup. And I would’ve fit into my smaller jeans by now if I had gone to the gym, but instead I sat my fat ass on the couch next to Joelle.
I actually corrected someone on that and she got all pissed off at me telling me that I had it wrong. She actually sounded it out “shouldve, should of” saying its the same thing. Idiot.
Oh, another one that sets my fucking teeth on edge: heighth. I understand it’s a little confusing when you have length, width, bredth, and depth, but the word is HEIGHT. Sharp T sound at the end. I didn’t invent the word, I just fucking USE IT CORRECTLY.
from Las Vegas
I’m totally with Deltus on the anti - “I could care less” boat. That’s got to be my second biggest phrase pet peeve, right after “behind the 8 ball”. My old boss used to use that phrase several times a day. It made me want o scream.
from Los Angeles
If we’re going to get all grammatical here, I have a question to pose and could use some validation for my wounded confidence. I was proofing something at work yesterday that read, “The most exciting part are the free webinars and seminars that . . . “
I edited it to read, “The most exciting part is the free webinars and seminars . . .”
I was told I’m wrong. ?? It’s my belief that the verb should agree with the subject, not the object, of the sentence.
What say you? Did my H.S. English teacher fail me? Let the debate commence.
from Chicago
Ok, last one...don’t be afraid of “does”. I can’t stand when someone says “do” when they should say “does”.
“It looks like rain today.” “Yeah it do.” I’m ok with “yeah”, but the rest drives me crazy.
@Darren: Sorry, but “are” is correct. “There are two things that are exciting”, not “there is two things that is exciting”. The same thing works with “I” and “Me”. “Who went to the movies? Mikey, Joelle and I” works as if you said “I went to the movies” not “Me....” BUT *damn* too early to think of a “me” example, but if you can change up a sentance to make “me” the subject instead of the object, then that is the correct word to use.
Make sense?
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Manic Witch and @Darren: I concur… it’s “are”. Multiple articles are exciting, despite whether or not it’s the most exciting thing.
Technically, it should read, “The most exciting parts are the free webinars and seminars...”
Props for asking!!
@Deltus: “Heighth” makes me insane along with “acks”, as in “Hey, I need to acks you a question.”
Well, it actually depends on if you are considering “the free webinars and seminars” to be all grouped together to be one thing, or if each of them is considered seperate (either the individual webinars/seminars, or all webinars is one thing and all seminars is another).
It really depends on the context in which it’s used, which would require examining the text around it. It’s either “parts are” or “part is”, in any case.
And Manic Witch: when determining if you use “I” or “me”, just take everyone else out of the sentence. That is how you determine which to use (it’s a question of if the case calls for a subjective or objective pronoun). So if they question is “Who went to the movie?”:
“I went to the movie.” - “Johnny and I went to the movie.”
“The movie was attended by me.” - “The movie was attended by Johnny and me.”
That’s a peeve of mine, too: people who think it’s always “I”. That’s an oft-misquoted grammar rule.
^ Good to know, thanks Deltus. Darren’s question made my brain hurt a little. lol
Now that we’re on grammar, can we talk about “seen”? As in, “I seen this guy one time ... “
This cute, nice guy asked me out on a date this summer and I was REALLY excited about it until he misused the word “seen”. That? Is a deal-breaker. :/
Sometimes I will purposefully misuse “seen” just for sort of comedic effect. In the same manner that I’ll say “laters” to people. I know how to use it properly, but the misuse of it sounds funny to me.
I couldn’t agree more on the bandwidth and ping me ones. I work for a software company and I hear them all freaking day.
from Los Angeles
Wow. Thanks for all the feedback and input on the dilemma I had posited. I stand humbly corrected. Although I curse the firstborn of each of you that contradicted me and sided with the enemy.
I’m happy I could provide us grammar geeks with a puzzle that seemed to elicit some interest and response. (Now should that read “us grammar geeks” or “we grammar geeks?”
Ok… ok… I’ll stop.....
from Florida
Wow. I never heard “ping” or “bandwidth” used in that manner. I must live under a rock. “Out of pocket” however, does make me nuts.
from Dallas
Apostrophe abuse. God help us all.
I am typically a lurker here but this post has finally broken me. I MUST KNOW what has happened in the education system, since my departure from it at least, that causes people to use apostrophes to indicate a plural situation. This abomination is EVERYWHERE. Billboards, storefront signs, ads - you name it. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t see a sign for “Park Center Salon’s” or “Balloon’s and More” - AAARRGGHH. Makes me want to stab my own eyes out with a couple of fork’s. Yuk.
Thanks Joelle for giving me a forum to finally express my disgust about this