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AIBU?

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Original poster

to absolutely hate the how people are speaking English!

539 replies

exse24Londoner · 03/02/2026 16:35

I really hate how we have "suddenly" starting gifting presents rather than giving them as we did only a couple of years ago. Vacations - when did we start having vacations instead of holidays?????? The other day I saw an advert for pants - turned out to be trousers. Apparently when I speak to someone it is now liaising & if I call or text, I am reaching out..... the other day someone was talking about the front end, or as I prefer to call it - the beginning!!🙄

Dont get me wrong, I love the evolution of language & that generations make it their own but this isn't that this is not teenagers or cultures developing own language its...... weird management/pop psychology speak

is it just me??

OP posts:
ChurchWindows · 03/02/2026 17:00

RedToothBrush · 03/02/2026 16:58

Plop!

(Toilet bowl sound).

Show quote history

Colours pop now.

Like boils.

Cosyblankets · 03/02/2026 17:00

exse24Londoner · 03/02/2026 16:42

in the NW?? North West?? Lancaster or Cumbria?

Show quote history

I say pants in Merseyside
Tbf I say both

Talipesmum · 03/02/2026 16:59

I don’t especially like it either, but it is evolution and language fashion - it’s a workplace culture thing, some picked up from online, more international
world etc. I reckon any generation would get annoyed by the language changes and fashions - some of it may stick and some will disappear. Can’t police it - just use what you prefer and don’t let it bother you!

ChurchWindows · 03/02/2026 16:59

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 03/02/2026 16:53

Hot pants were the thing fashionable young women wore in the early 70's although they were actually shorts.

Given our climate in the UK they were rarely hot either.

RedToothBrush · 03/02/2026 16:58

TheTortiePuffinNeedsHerBreakfast · 03/02/2026 16:57

I don't like talk of things "dropping", like the latest episode of X TV programme has dropped, or our new season jackets have dropped. Always makes me think of a sack of potatoes or a turd! 😂

Plop!

(Toilet bowl sound).

TeflonMom · 03/02/2026 16:58

There’s a lot of talk about “engaging” in my job and it just reminds me of where a baby’s head is positioned at a certain point in labour

RedToothBrush · 03/02/2026 16:58

Badatmostthings · 03/02/2026 16:39

Always been pants for trousers in the NW

NW where? England?!

Never ever heard that! Ever!

TheTortiePuffinNeedsHerBreakfast · 03/02/2026 16:57

I don't like talk of things "dropping", like the latest episode of X TV programme has dropped, or our new season jackets have dropped. Always makes me think of a sack of potatoes or a turd! 😂

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 03/02/2026 16:53

Hot pants were the thing fashionable young women wore in the early 70's although they were actually shorts.

BerryTwister · 03/02/2026 16:53

I agree OP.
I understand that language evolves, and of course the words my Gran used would make no sense today eg "gay" meaning happy rather than homosexual.

But it's the sudden and rapid influx of Americanisms that irritate me. It doesn't feel like gradual and natural evolution. It seems that adults who've said "pissed off", "got" and "holiday" all their lives, are suddenly saying "pissed", "gotten" and "vacation".

There's always been a perception that America is "cool", so I assume people think they sound cooler and better if they use American words.

If we have to change our language, can't we make our own changes, rather than trying to talk like Americans?

Millindugu · 03/02/2026 16:53

I’m in Lancashire and have always called trousers/leggings/jeans pants. As did my mother and grandmother before me as do all the other families I grew up around

Original poster
exse24Londoner · 03/02/2026 16:52

MrsPenelopeBridgerton · 03/02/2026 16:49

Is your title satire? Otherwise I’m embarrassed for you.

oh dear @MrsPenelopeBridgerton & @Hallywally , please don't be embarrassed for me. It was a typo, a simple error. They happen & we move on.

I am talking about the way English is spoken (or written if you like) not about how I hate people making mistakes & that they should be shamed for them

OP posts:
Hallywally · 03/02/2026 16:51

What you’re talking about IS the evolution of language. Terminology, meaning and word usage do change and evolve.

Your post is quite poorly written and very rambling. You aren’t really in a position to criticise others.

Member869894 · 03/02/2026 16:51

'Reach out' gives me THE RAGE

tiredlazydoesntmatter · 03/02/2026 16:51

Hard agree/ disagree irritates me ,only on MN .

BitOutOfPractice · 03/02/2026 16:50

JamesClyman · 03/02/2026 16:45

YANBU. There is no such word in English as "gotten". It's "got"!

I await your right royal flaming from lots of Scottish MNers as gotten is in common parlance there.

5128gap · 03/02/2026 16:50

I think when new phrases enter our orbit they sound strange and irritating. Then if they stick, rather than being a passing trend, we become accustomed to them. I remember finding give someone 'a call' affected when it first started replacing giving someone 'a ring', but now its just normal.

MrsPenelopeBridgerton · 03/02/2026 16:49

Is your title satire? Otherwise I’m embarrassed for you.

Lovelynames123 · 03/02/2026 16:48

Definitely been using pants in the NE for trousers for years, jogging pants, ski pants, pyjama pants...my pet peeve is " can I get...." when ordering, although do sometimes hear myself say it!

Rayburn · 03/02/2026 16:48

JamesClyman · 03/02/2026 16:45

YANBU. There is no such word in English as "gotten". It's "got"!

Tell that to Shakespeare.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/02/2026 16:48

One of my colleagues says ‘elevator’ and ‘vit-a-mins, she also pronounces the letter Z as Zee. It makes my teeth itch.

Mithral · 03/02/2026 16:47

JamesClyman · 03/02/2026 16:45

YANBU. There is no such word in English as "gotten". It's "got"!

It's just fallen out of fashion, we used to use it. It's funny we retained forgotten.

NimbleMoose · 03/02/2026 16:47

My DB uses a lot of Americanisms and it does really annoy me. Sidewalk, store, gotten, trash bag, vacation.. so many!

Astra53 · 03/02/2026 16:47

The use of the word 'homicide' has crept in. I thought we had 'murders' in the UK!

OvernightBloats · 03/02/2026 16:47

Saying 'pissed' instead of 'pissed off' is something that grates. More and more people are using it and I get confused with what they mean. Pissed will always mean drunk to me.