Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
InMySpareTime · 02/08/2026 15:50

“It’s giving…” when one thing is reminiscent of another.
”I’m not being funny/racist/mean/rude BUT “
Everything after the but exemplifies the attribute the speaker claims they weren’t expressing.
”Back in the 1900s” for pre-millennium events. It should mean things much farther back than 26+ years ago.
”The other half” for a partner. You’re both still entire people.

InMySpareTime · 02/08/2026 15:54

When a retail worker is called a “colleague”. The word is fine when used within a team to describe each other, but they are not colleagues to the public or even to management.

willowthecat · 02/08/2026 16:07

Calling time off/holidays 'annual leave' as if just back from military deployment

Everythingtidy · 02/08/2026 16:12

willowthecat · 02/08/2026 16:07

Calling time off/holidays 'annual leave' as if just back from military deployment

It’s called annual leave in employment law too though. It’s not just a military term.

OriginalSkang · 02/08/2026 16:13

I've never heard of it bright called anything but annual leave in any job I've ever worked

InMySpareTime · 02/08/2026 16:19

Calling every school holiday “half term”

LaMarschallin · 02/08/2026 16:40

The holiday/leave mention reminds me of another dislike: people who "love travelling" when they're mean going on holiday.
Yes, they may book a couple of excursions to some local antiquities but they're not backpacking up the Orinoco.

Usually.

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 16:41

ClarkeandNewman · 02/08/2026 13:21

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

Show quote history

No, evolution suggests "fitness for its environment". An ape is not an improvement on a fish, but will live more successfully on dry land.

Language is the same. There's no judgement of or purpose to it's changes .

Language that no-one uses will die. Language that is popular will thrive. You (and I) may not care for "holibobs", but if it plays a role in
social cohesion, group dynamics, distinctive meaning (I guess it means something more joyful, even in a way that I find twee, than a mere holiday) etc. it may survive.

You can't stop it. You can't police it.

willowthecat · 02/08/2026 16:42

OriginalSkang · 02/08/2026 16:13

I've never heard of it bright called anything but annual leave in any job I've ever worked

Yes it is the norm now but I am old and when I was working it was always known in spoken language as 'holidays/time off' - though would have been formally known as 'annual leave' in the contract.

Robogob · 02/08/2026 16:51

Comfort zone
smashed it out of the park
winning at life
hubster
just threw up a bit in my mouth
cockwomble
wankbadger
making memories
pigeons are just rats with wings
out out
date night
wifey
fucktard
speaking my truth
FOMO
Dropped the L bomb
slaying it
sister from another mister
bro
Basically
Totally
Literally
pornstar martini

Mokel · 02/08/2026 16:56

willowthecat · 02/08/2026 16:07

Calling time off/holidays 'annual leave' as if just back from military deployment

As not every time you are away from work - you are not on holiday.

Decorating, going to concerts etc

willowthecat · 02/08/2026 17:23

Mokel · 02/08/2026 16:56

As not every time you are away from work - you are not on holiday.

Decorating, going to concerts etc

Show quote history

Yes I totally understand the modern meaning but in the old days any time away from work was seen as holiday time from work - probably dates from the even older days when paid holidays of any kind were not the norm whatever they were called.

longtompot · 02/08/2026 19:05

Hack instead of tip or idea

ClarkeandNewman · 02/08/2026 19:26

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 16:41

No, evolution suggests "fitness for its environment". An ape is not an improvement on a fish, but will live more successfully on dry land.

Language is the same. There's no judgement of or purpose to it's changes .

Language that no-one uses will die. Language that is popular will thrive. You (and I) may not care for "holibobs", but if it plays a role in
social cohesion, group dynamics, distinctive meaning (I guess it means something more joyful, even in a way that I find twee, than a mere holiday) etc. it may survive.

You can't stop it. You can't police it.

Show quote history

Yes exactly. Making language more fit for its environment. Improving. Crazy ass holibobs improves nothing, anywhere, ever.

I can police it if I like! I just have, on this thread. I have holibob-shamed people, and rightfully so.

sohereforit · 02/08/2026 19:57

When someone says to ‘sit’ with an emotion or situation.

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 22:03

ClarkeandNewman · 02/08/2026 19:26

Yes exactly. Making language more fit for its environment. Improving. Crazy ass holibobs improves nothing, anywhere, ever.

I can police it if I like! I just have, on this thread. I have holibob-shamed people, and rightfully so.

Show quote history

Nope.

You've objected to it. You don't like it. That's fine.

But you can't police it. There are no language laws and you have no authority.

Holibobs survives, for now, because some people find it fun or interesting. Again, the only quality that determines if language evolution is successful is whether a word or phrase survives.

ClarkeandNewman · 02/08/2026 22:17

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 22:03

Nope.

You've objected to it. You don't like it. That's fine.

But you can't police it. There are no language laws and you have no authority.

Holibobs survives, for now, because some people find it fun or interesting. Again, the only quality that determines if language evolution is successful is whether a word or phrase survives.

Show quote history

And yet I just did!

I'm not sure the word holibobs is the best possible example of evolution...

ClarkeandNewman · 02/08/2026 22:18

MasterBeth · 02/08/2026 22:03

Nope.

You've objected to it. You don't like it. That's fine.

But you can't police it. There are no language laws and you have no authority.

Holibobs survives, for now, because some people find it fun or interesting. Again, the only quality that determines if language evolution is successful is whether a word or phrase survives.

Show quote history

Anyway you've made your point: even the most fun and light hearted thread can be made really tedious. Shall we move on?

oldestmumaintheworld · 02/08/2026 22:36

The most annoying for me are:
Passed. As in someone passed. No they didn't. They died.
Super as in super excited.
Upcoming instead of forthcoming.
And something that my daughter says is 'like' three times in a single sentence. It drives me nuts. Please make it stop.

iloveanearlynight · 02/08/2026 22:50

Cosyblankets · 02/08/2026 13:27

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

Yes, this. I never understand it. Just sodding say hello, how can I help? Whether I'm OK or not is irrelevant.

KettleOn919 · 02/08/2026 23:33

Clothing websites have suddenly started describing sleeves, necklines etc as "considered". I think Toast started it. What does it even mean?

StressyMcStressFace · 03/08/2026 08:46

"It's ok to be not ok". Not It's not! If you are not ok that is not ok!

sammylady37 · 03/08/2026 09:05

“I was today years old when I realised …”.

Just stop it. It makes no sense. ‘Today years old’.

I think I should have a free pass to shoot anyone who uses that phrase.

sammylady37 · 03/08/2026 09:07

wordywitch · 01/08/2026 11:29

The singular use of what should be plural words, especially as it relates to fashion or beauty. A red lip, a flared jean, a black pump, etc..

‘Go in with’ (said almost exclusively by influencers doing beauty stuff or cooking food) instead of ‘adding’ or ‘using’

ooh yes!
The worst example I heard was a lady talking about dungarees who called them ‘a lovely dungaree’. I actually haven’t been back to that shop since, it irritated me so much.

DriveVerySlowlyPastNumber23IWantThemToSeeMyHat · 03/08/2026 09:12

Wholesome - 'We've had a wholesome weekend'