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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Annoying buzzwords/phrases.

144 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:
TulipCat · 02/08/2026 12:13

PistachioTiramisu · 02/08/2026 11:27

'Look at these pieces which M&S have dropped recently' - made me think they were discontinued items rather than new ones. Stupid expression.

'Friendship group' - what is wrong with 'my friends'?

'Curated' for a pretty ordinary selection of items.

'Cohort' instead of fellow pupils or colleagues.

Oh yes l agree, and raise you "edit" as in "the Spring edit". Bonus points if a shop has "dropped their spring edit....

luckylavender · 02/08/2026 12:14

BarbarianBabs · 01/08/2026 11:22

In a zoom or teams meeting when someone says “let’s take this off line” when what they really mean is let’s talk about this later. The later conversation will also need to be online 😂

i guess it doesn’t annoy me, but I do always think in my head that it will still be online 😃

Doesn’t it mean discuss it with a smaller audience?

luckylavender · 02/08/2026 12:18

Criminality - crime

preparedness- preparation

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 12:18

Language evolves. Words and phrases take on new meanings

The language that you use now annoyed someone else back in the day.

You can't expect language to evolve over thousands of years and stop evolving at precisely the point you arrived on earth.

(Yes, I said "back in the day" just to annoy someone.)

HelpMeGetThrough · 02/08/2026 12:19

luckylavender · 02/08/2026 12:14

Doesn’t it mean discuss it with a smaller audience?

Show quote history

I always thought it meant to discuss it further outside of that specific meeting.

Culpeper · 02/08/2026 12:19

It’s petty, but mis-use of ‘less’ and ‘fewer’.

I also hate all the unimaginative phrases and words influencers collectively latch on to.

Currently, the ‘nervous system reset/disregulation/healing’ silly sheep are irritating the heck out of me.

PistachioTiramisu · 02/08/2026 12:20

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 12:18

Language evolves. Words and phrases take on new meanings

The language that you use now annoyed someone else back in the day.

You can't expect language to evolve over thousands of years and stop evolving at precisely the point you arrived on earth.

(Yes, I said "back in the day" just to annoy someone.)

It worked!!

LaMarschallin · 02/08/2026 12:22

MasterBeth

(Yes, I said "back in the day" just to annoy someone.)

How would this does that add to the total of human happiness, exactly?

StressyMcStressFace · 02/08/2026 12:22

"It made me feel a certain kind of way"

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 12:23

luckylavender · 02/08/2026 12:18

Criminality - crime

preparedness- preparation

These words all mean different things:

Crime is the actual illegal act. Criminality is the tendency to commit it.

Preparation is the active process of doing tasks. Preparedness is the capacity of being ready to handle an event.

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 12:23

LaMarschallin · 02/08/2026 12:22

MasterBeth

(Yes, I said "back in the day" just to annoy someone.)

How would this does that add to the total of human happiness, exactly?

It's a little joke.

StressyMcStressFace · 02/08/2026 12:24

luckylavender · 02/08/2026 12:18

Criminality - crime

preparedness- preparation

See also "functionality" = "function". No need to elongate a perfectly usable word!!

Manhattanman · 02/08/2026 12:29

Lemonorzo · 01/08/2026 12:14

Picky bits

Yep. Even turning up in adverts now.

Liverpool66 · 02/08/2026 12:33

I’ve always hated “can I get” this a passion.

Also:

”reach out”/ “lean into” - sounds like something that should get you into trouble with HR for being a little too handsy.

“from the get go” creeping into British usage - look, it’s “start”. We’ve managed perfectly well for centuries with “start” and it’s literally quicker to say.

“jump on a call” or on here “didn’t want to read and run” - sound like you’ve took time out from your incredibly hectic and very important day to parachute through the window and save the day.

Honorable mention goes to beginning every sentence with “so”. Also “just that really”, “gifted”, “authentic self”, and “living my best life”.

luckylavender · 02/08/2026 12:38

Guard rails - they’re everywhere

LightningTree · 02/08/2026 12:40

LaMarschallin · 01/08/2026 17:39

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

This, and even worse when some telesales person says ‘I’ve got a great deal for yourself’. No it’s ‘you’ and by the way I will never buy anything from your illiterate self.

dreamingofgoodhair · 02/08/2026 12:46

Tinkly laugh
hubby

LaMarschallin · 02/08/2026 13:08

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 12:23

It's a little joke.

Show quote history

WheresThatCatGoneNow
probably thought she was making a "little joke" too when she said:
I'd love to be behind the counter in a shop when a customer comes in and says, "Can I get a whatever-it-is, please?"
I would reply, "No, you can't get it, but I am happy to get it for you."

You asked:
How would this add to the total of human happiness, exactly?
Well, at least she didn't say her intent was to make anyone angry

And nobody has fantasised that your "little joke" would be accompanied you sitting there with a smug, sour expression on your face as you suggested about WTCGN.
Can't see that adding to the sum of human happiness or achieving anything either.

ClarkeandNewman · 02/08/2026 13:14

Wait list/wait staff

Swim instructor - do you mean swimming instructor /teacher/coach?

Getting up in my business - someone is interfering or being nosy!

The random insertion of the word ass into sentences - eg that was a crazy ass thing to happen. Sounds like a mad donkey has run riot.

The word ass when you mean arse. Again - what have donkeys got to do with anything?

An oldie but I was amazed to hear someone use it while they were sitting next to me on a train - holibobs!

ClarkeandNewman · 02/08/2026 13:16

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

Speaks to! It doesn't even make sense!

ClarkeandNewman · 02/08/2026 13:21

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 12:18

Language evolves. Words and phrases take on new meanings

The language that you use now annoyed someone else back in the day.

You can't expect language to evolve over thousands of years and stop evolving at precisely the point you arrived on earth.

(Yes, I said "back in the day" just to annoy someone.)

Surely evolving suggests improvement? How is asking about someone's crazy ass holibobs an improvement?

Cosyblankets · 02/08/2026 13:27

Shop staff saying are you OK instead of who is next or next please

LeavingAtLast · 02/08/2026 13:37

“Speaks to” instead of “is similar to”

Mokel · 02/08/2026 14:07

Influencers.

People who copy them are sad people

HelpMeGetThrough · 02/08/2026 14:17

Leaning in and Pivoting. Our Chief Exec is constantly doing this on our “town hall meetings”.

Its like an episode of Strictly sodding Come Dancing.