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Annoyingly misused words/phrases

289 replies

Echobelly · 16/04/2026 11:05

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?

OP posts:
nopiesleftinthisvehicle · 19/04/2026 23:25

TelevisualArseGravy · 16/04/2026 12:09

No it isn't correct. It's wrong.

The correct phrase is "cheap at twice the price".

This.
Why aren't people getting this? 🤔

BreezyMintHiker · 20/04/2026 09:45

nopiesleftinthisvehicle · 19/04/2026 23:25

This.
Why aren't people getting this? 🤔

I’m amazed at how many people aren’t understanding it. I mean, pretty much ANYTHING would be cheap at half the price wouldn’t it?

snurtifier · 20/04/2026 09:55

My current bugbear is 'commonplace'. It doesn't mean the same as 'common' but people use it as if it did.

PuppyMonkey · 20/04/2026 12:14

BreezyMintHiker · 20/04/2026 09:45

I’m amazed at how many people aren’t understanding it. I mean, pretty much ANYTHING would be cheap at half the price wouldn’t it?

You’re amazed at us not getting your point that cheap at half the price doesn’t make sense and yet you need to be prepared to be even more amazed when you find out that IS the correct phrase. Explanation here:

www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cheap-at-half-the-price.html

ConnieHeart · 20/04/2026 15:33

pouletvous · 19/04/2026 20:54

Snap

The six week summer break is not half term 😂

I've heard many people refer to holidays as half term when they're technically not but I've never heard or read a single person refer to the summer holidays as half term

myusernamewastakenbyme · 20/04/2026 15:57

Its brought and bought for me and lose and loose...drives me nuts.

PedantsOfDestiny · 21/04/2026 18:20

"Doo", as in "hen doo" or "stag doo" makes me itch so badly!

PhoebeBuffay1234 · 21/04/2026 18:31

For those who think staycation is wrong.

Annoyingly misused words/phrases
Thatsnotallgood · 21/04/2026 18:51

I also opened the thread to say staycation.

I also agree with draws not drawers (basic spelling for goodness sake!), should of/could of etc.

I'm also starting to get annoyed with the way people use the term mysogyny/mysogynist. It seems to apply to any minor example of what we used to term every day sexism. This might be an age thing but I feel that labelling everything mysogynist risks weakening the meaning of the word.

PedantsOfDestiny · 21/04/2026 18:55

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staycation

Annoyingly misused words/phrases
Bestnottalkaboutit · 21/04/2026 18:59

Kate Middleton.

She’s been married YEARS. And taken her husband’s name.

I’d be well annoyed if someone continued to use my maiden name when I’ve taken my husband’s.

muddyford · 21/04/2026 19:05

myusernamewastakenbyme · 20/04/2026 15:57

Its brought and bought for me and lose and loose...drives me nuts.

Heard a professor on Radio 4 mixing these up only half an hour ago.

MotherofPufflings · 21/04/2026 19:37

PhoebeBuffay1234 · 21/04/2026 18:31

For those who think staycation is wrong.

In this case the dictionary is wrong 🤣

I'm astonished by the number of intelligent people (including colleagues who really should know better) who confuse incidence, incidents and instances.

Lostallhistory · 23/04/2026 10:53

I've noticed lots of people on social media say exspecially. Drives me mad !

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