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Original poster

To be sick of pretentious use of “said”

135 replies

Driftingawaynow · 14/10/2025 15:17

Increasingly I notice people using the word “said” where “the” would do fine.

for example:

asked my husband to take out the washing, he left said washing in the dryer.

it’s really bizarrely irritating

OP posts:
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StrongLikeMamma · 21/10/2025 08:58

It’s unnecessary

RememberBeKindWithKaren · 21/10/2025 08:57

EllatrixB · 16/10/2025 07:57

This really annoys me. I used to have a primary school headteacher who described very minor infractions as "dizzzzgusting" and it took away the power of the word for me! Even at that's age we could see she was exaggerating.

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We used to say, and really overuse, the word "Disguzmoid" as kids, so I can't hear disgusting without an internal sneer that the person saying it is over- reacting.

Trebortints · 21/10/2025 08:55

I can't stand 'perfect' (or 'one hundred percent' when 'yes' or 'absolutely' would do).

RememberBeKindWithKaren · 21/10/2025 08:51

YANBU . I've just seen it on another thread. Totally OTT. Superfluous. Could be replaced by "the".

UnctuousUnicorns · 18/10/2025 14:51

"myself and my DH" - double whammy for using object instead of subject and not putting oneself at the end of the pair or group of subjects. Pedantic, moi? 😉

B1anche · 17/10/2025 19:10

StinkyCheeseMoose · 17/10/2025 17:37

A sure sign they're lying.

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Except its usually about something mundane that no one would lie about anyway. "That pizza tastes great. I'm not gonna lie"

StinkyCheeseMoose · 17/10/2025 17:37

1457bloom · 17/10/2025 16:41

what about when people say ‘not gonna lie’ at the end of every sentence.

A sure sign they're lying.

Cesarina · 17/10/2025 17:09

My pet hates?..........

So.....(😬).....myself (😠) and my DH arrived at a hotel not far from us for a much-anticipated spa day. We got to reception and the guy behind the desk had no record of my booking......that's because I hadn't made it. Thought I had, but I hadn't. Oops, my bad (😖), absolutely (😡......

CreativeGreen · 17/10/2025 16:45

I think of 'said washing' as the kind of thing people who would say 'I was relaxed as a newt' or 'he was extracting the urine, shall we say'
I don't think it's pretentious but it's a bit annoying when over-used or used unnecessarily

1457bloom · 17/10/2025 16:41

what about when people say ‘not gonna lie’ at the end of every sentence.

StinkyCheeseMoose · 17/10/2025 10:48

People who describe something they like as "to die for."

Ridiculous, pointless and pretentious.

WatchingTheDetective · 17/10/2025 07:50

"Reader, I..." drives me mad. Posters who do this think they are being so witty.

EllatrixB · 16/10/2025 23:19

logplant · 16/10/2025 15:40

While we’re at it - I hate food being called absolutely divine

I have the same problem with "fabulous".

As in "Oh Sandra, it was a fabulous spread" 🤮

RoseAndGeranium · 16/10/2025 18:57

Abitofalark · 16/10/2025 12:29

I don't know about social media but that looks as if they mean to use it to be dismissive or to convey contempt. So why would they stop?

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Because it’s really irritating and overused, and they think it sounds clever and well read but actually it sounds like they’ve feasted on Twitter outrage until they’ve started vomiting it back up?

mismomary · 16/10/2025 16:03

Hm I think that's normal usage. NW England.

logplant · 16/10/2025 15:40

While we’re at it - I hate food being called absolutely divine

Calliopespa · 16/10/2025 15:34

Wadadli · 16/10/2025 15:32

You might have heard it used playfully whereas people I’ve heard use it are not being ironic or sarcastic. Hideous 😶

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Perhaps they were and I just took it as a joke! 😂

Wadadli · 16/10/2025 15:32

Calliopespa · 16/10/2025 12:39

I've only ever heard this used light-heartedly. Nothing wrong in that?

Gotten is frightful.

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You might have heard it used playfully whereas people I’ve heard use it are not being ironic or sarcastic. Hideous 😶

FreddysFingers · 16/10/2025 15:05

Jujujudo · 14/10/2025 15:26

I’m irritated by the word “super”. It was super simple! Or I’m super busy! I don’t know why but it irritates me. I’m also starting to get annoyed with “gotten”. Maybe I’m menopausal..

Same!! Hate both 🤣🤣🤣

logplant · 16/10/2025 14:56

GreyCarpet · 16/10/2025 12:38

Firstly, I'm not a teenager anymore.

Secondly, I had no idea she wouldn't understand perfectly normal words until she said so.

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I think you are clear about one thing it was never your fault.

Abitofalark · 16/10/2025 14:28

B1anche · 16/10/2025 08:12

People who say "myself" in instead of "me". I see people do it all the time when I'm reviewing their work.

"Dear X Further to your meeting with Blanche and myself..." No! "...with me and Blanche"!

I love when people do that. The idea of wanting to soften communication in an email or letter or even in person, for fear it might come across as blunt or harsh to the recipient has a kind of old-fashioned charm about it but in a new short form, replacing older elaborations of courtesy.

mcmuffin22 · 16/10/2025 14:27

JacquesHarlow · 14/10/2025 15:34

Mine happens to be one which everyone else vociferously defends on here...

I do not like the word-inflation around the term "vile".

It used to be a very powerful word . The recently killed singer Ian Watkins committed crimes we could easily describe as "vile". A former TOTP presenter who liked cigars? Vile.

It used to mean extremely unpleasant. Morally repugnant.

Today, I see so many folk using the word "vile" deliberately in scenarios which do not deserve the word.

Someone phoned the Vanessa show recently to say how they thought a certain American duchess is "vile". Vanessa ( a very educated woman, lest we forget) was stunned and replied "why do you say this?!"

It's such an extraordinary leap to describe someone in this way.

Why do we over-use the word "vile"?

I hate this too and thought I was being weird. It's a horrible word. I also find 'livid' makes me suffer too. I wonder if it's the combination of letters....

B1anche · 16/10/2025 13:26

Calliopespa · 16/10/2025 12:59

I can't bear it - especially as it is normally used to ridicule something that is more a disagreement than actually ridiculous.

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Oh you mean like if I was to call you batshit for not liking the word? No, I only use it to describe acts of sheer lunacy, such as people washing their bedding on a daily basis, or putting their Christmas decorations up in November etc.

Todayismyfavouriteday · 16/10/2025 13:26

PollyBell · 16/10/2025 05:11

I think of it as a variety on tall poppy syndrome

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Absolutely!

Calliopespa · 16/10/2025 12:59

B1anche · 16/10/2025 12:56

Yes, "batshit" is one of the few MN expressions I like too.

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I can't bear it - especially as it is normally used to ridicule something that is more a disagreement than actually ridiculous.

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