Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Annoying buzzwords/phrases.

155 replies

WheresThatCatGoneNow · 01/08/2026 11:15

I keep hearing people say that they "reached out" to a another person or a company/ business/organisation etc.

Why don't they just say that they contacted them? Which is what they actually mean!

It really sets my teeth on edge.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
SerendipityCat · 01/08/2026 18:12

I hate “reach out” as well. I’d also add “living your best life”, and the YouTube influencers’ perpetual favourite, “I didn’t love it…”

Flowchart added for clarity.

Annoying buzzwords/phrases.
Shinyandnew1 · 01/08/2026 18:05

I actually don’t mind, ‘use your words’! It is quite appropriate for some posters on here who seem to struggle through their miserable life because they are utterly unable to use the words, ‘no, I don’t want to’.

Others that I don’t like are
gifted (gave)
sourced (looked around for until I found)
Colourway (colour)
literally (figuratively)

oh and another one that seems to be said a lot on documentaries..
speaks to

NeededANameChangeAnyway · 01/08/2026 18:00

I hear 'hot mess' as in 'she's a hot mess' and I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

I also hate most Americanisms which have crept into everyday usage particularly 'go ahead and...' usually with regards to cooking instructions 'go ahead and add the onions' rather than 'add the onions'. There are many more but annoyingly I can't think of them at the moment.

Edited to say, snap!! With two PP!!

Didimum · 01/08/2026 17:54

Why is MN so obsessed with being annoyed by everything? It’s absolutely bizarre.

Amandatelly · 01/08/2026 17:52

At the end of the day
I I turned around and said…
give your head a wobble

LaMarschallin · 01/08/2026 17:39

"Myself" when it should be "me" (or occasionally "I").
"Send it to myself" - arghh!

Original poster
WheresThatCatGoneNow · 01/08/2026 16:47

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 01/08/2026 15:31

'Lean in'. Yuck.
Also every American youtuber prefaces what they are about to do with 'I'm gonna go ahead and...'. Cooking videos especially.

Oh heck, yes!

I'm going to "go ahead and ..." really makes me cringe.

It's an Americanism, I know, but it's really irritating.

Just say that you're going to do whatever-it-is!

No need for those extra words FFS!

OP posts:
HangingOver · 01/08/2026 15:31

Not really a buzzword but I hate it when adults on here call/refer to others as "silly". To me it's so infantilising and patronising.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 01/08/2026 15:31

'Lean in'. Yuck.
Also every American youtuber prefaces what they are about to do with 'I'm gonna go ahead and...'. Cooking videos especially.

Diamondsareforever72 · 01/08/2026 15:27

Friendlygingercat · 01/08/2026 11:21

Yes phrases like📧

Gives me the ick
Suck it up
Use your words
Boils my piss
No is a complete sentence

Use your words really annoys me 🤣

daisychain01 · 01/08/2026 15:26

WheresThatCatGoneNow · 01/08/2026 12:07

Yes!

It really does matter - at least it does to me.

And I wish people would stop tacking "to be fair" onto the end of every sentence.

Nine times out of ten it makes no sense!

Edited
Show quote history

added to which ... "if that makes sense?".... said with slight head-tilt and pointless upward intonation?

ETA yeah no

Original poster
WheresThatCatGoneNow · 01/08/2026 14:57

BarrelofBeer · 01/08/2026 14:54

Yes/No.......everyone says this all the time and it means nothing.
E.g.
"Did you have a good weekend?"
"Yes no we just pottered about at home."

Yes No!
Which is it FFS?
Just say what you mean! It's not difficult.

OP posts:
BarrelofBeer · 01/08/2026 14:54

Yes/No.......everyone says this all the time and it means nothing.
E.g.
"Did you have a good weekend?"
"Yes no we just pottered about at home."

CeliaCanth · 01/08/2026 14:51

“Kicked off”, “rocked up” and “swap out” all irritate me. I also loathe “gifted”.

At work the obsession seems to be with “building out” things - usually lists of content, which in the past were developed, compiled or even pulled together - we’re nothing to do with construction.

LaMarschallin · 01/08/2026 14:40

PotatoRasta · 01/08/2026 13:07

“Pouring into” . For example, my teacher poured into me!
It sounds disgusting but I keep seeing it on social media!

It's the first time I've seen that so had to Google it.
It does not sound like the good thing it's meant to be!

Stressedandeffedoff · 01/08/2026 14:39

Agree with quite a few of these.
I’m also a “gifted” hater.

Mathair2 · 01/08/2026 14:36

Thehop · 01/08/2026 13:06

Famalam, holibobs and #makingmemories

everything is making bloody memories

I would also like to add the word "jolly".

Mokel · 01/08/2026 14:06

Lemonorzo · 01/08/2026 12:14

Picky bits

I’m sorry that is a term a 4 year old uses.

Hollibobs sounds like a word that a 2 year old would say instead of holidays

Original poster
WheresThatCatGoneNow · 01/08/2026 13:16

InterestedDad37 · 01/08/2026 13:09

The only people entitled to "reach out" are the original members of The Four Tops

Great comment!

Motown rocks! 👊

OP posts:
InterestedDad37 · 01/08/2026 13:09

The only people entitled to "reach out" are the original members of The Four Tops

shaleand · 01/08/2026 13:08

I hate (mostly seen on MN) “our mantra is…”

PotatoRasta · 01/08/2026 13:07

“Pouring into” . For example, my teacher poured into me!
It sounds disgusting but I keep seeing it on social media!

Thehop · 01/08/2026 13:06

Famalam, holibobs and #makingmemories

everything is making bloody memories

iloveanearlynight · 01/08/2026 13:03

AvogadrosNumber · 01/08/2026 13:00

'Back in the day'

Oh I like that one.

AvogadrosNumber · 01/08/2026 13:00

'Back in the day'