Annoyingly misused words/phrases

[Echobelly]

I saw a listicle about 'Nepo babies' of famous people who looked just like their parents, when what they meant is 'child of a famous parent'. Not all of them were in the public eye or attempting to break into the entertainment or sports industry. Nepo baby specifically means someone using their parents' clout or connections to get a career, it doesn't mean 'child of a famous parent' and that kind of annoyed me.

Have you seen any misuses of a word or phrase that has irritated you?

I first remember hearing "gifting" in a church when we were told we all had giftings we could use to help out in the church.
It really grated on me as gifts is perfectly acceptable

I think it's a bit ike using myself/yourself. People think using a longer word makes them sound intelligent. It doesn't.

I had a colleague who would often say that something was 'reduced down' - he knew it was wrong/ over-egging, but it had become too much of a verbal habit for him to break.

Here here when people are agreeing. I replied "where where? There there, or here here?" They were very confused. Come to think of it so am I now.

I don't care for gifting either, but it does make a clear distinction between having something given to you for free, to keep, and just having something passed across to you. I'm generally in favour of unambiguity so I'm trying to learn to tolerate it.

I have a client called Mr Noone
I have to check my emails carefully because auto correct changes it to Mr Nobody.

Wherever your heart is, that is home. Doesnt have to be your house.

The overuse of ‘amazing’.

I booked a facial and the woman asked for various bits of info said ‘amazing’ after everything I said.

To me it depends on whether it’s an adjective, or a noun + adjective.

Going to the gym was for him an everyday occurrence.

She walks to work every day.

Years ago on Facebook a think popped up saying my most used words in whatever year it was were amazing and fab.

Oh God that really winds me up. People asking me ordinary questions then replying with 'amazing' or 'perfect'. My life really isn't that great!

My contribution that I've just seen on another thread is 'on route'.

It means that the person is putting on airs and graces. Think Hyacinth Bucket. She acts like she’s better than everyone else but in reality she isn’t

I really don't think it does. I've always heard it applied to people the very opposite of HB. I googled it and I'd says, "to talk disparagingly about a person with loose morals or questionable sexual conduct". The total opposite to your explanation.

Yes, the googled version is how I've always understood it from my nan/reading a lot of older books! Her conduct is not better (by which it means not even as good, let alone above) than the bare minimum you could expect - basically an old-fashioned way of calling someone a slut!

One I’ve just seen elsewhere on here ‘hating on’ instead of just ‘hating’.

Where on earth did that come from?

Can we please send it back?

I think "hating on" is an Americanism.
I noticed it springing up around the same time as ""Not too big OF a deal" and "I could care less"

Faze and phase.

And with my best pedant’s hat on, Brits writing ‘curb’ (as in the edge of the pavement) when it should be ‘kerb’.

As for Brits saying ‘math’, when I’m a dictator it will be punishable by death. 😈

'Niceties', to mean luxuries or treats, non-essential spending. I see it on here a lot. I suppose it's from 'nice to have' things.

However I am pretty sure that's not what a nicety is, it's supposed to mean something like the finer details of something, as in eg 'we should look at the niceties of the contract before signing', or 'we can work out the niceties of the wedding menu later'.

For the 'nice things to have, I think it's maybe better to use luxuries, treats, 'fripperies' even (if it's something really frivolous).

Have also seen 'pleasantries' used for treats etc, but pleasantries means polite conversation, eg 'how nice to meet you', 'what a lovely day'.

People being 'literally obsessed' with some crappy stupid TikTok shop crap (or other pointless product).
You either are obsessed or you arent....oh, and btw you arent!
Also stop using literally wrong. The amount of people Ive heard say 'Im/I was literally dying' and Ive yet to see one of them actually die!

'Imply' and 'infer' used the wrong way round. It happens all the time.

Absolutely! It's bloody infuriating.

half term

Snap

The six week summer break is not half term 😂

"Floor" instead of "ground": "He fell over in the street and hit his head on the floor". It's even misused by broadcast journalists, who are evidently never corrected by their bosses.

My mother always used to say roof instead of ceiljng.
She'd say, 'I've got a man coming round to wallpaper the roof".

Drove me mad.

Just seen 'elude' for 'allude'.