for my heart to sink every time I read the following phrases:

[EvilEyeButterPie]

"I'm not racist but..." (bound to be followed by outrageous racism)

"Political correctness gone mad!" (will be followed by either something totally made up or exaggerated, or totally reasonable, eg selling Eid cards in shops)

Any mention of human rights in any kind of rightwing outlet. As if rights for humans is some kind of controversy.

"The university of life" this is only ever used by people too thick to go to university.

Any more for any more? :o

It's generally followed with "but I support equal pay laws/votes for women/something else obviously feminist". But they're not feminists, they're quick to assure any listening men. I mentally translate it as "I'm not a lesbian!"

"I know DS/DD is no angel, but..."

Usually said when defending outrageous behaviour by said DS/DD.

Your child, madam, is clearly, clearly, guilty of whatever the teacher/shop assistant/other parent/random person has accused them of and more.

It's generally followed with "but I support equal pay laws/votes for women/something else obviously feminist". But they're not feminists, they're quick to assure any listening men. I mentally translate it as "I'm not a lesbian!"

'in the real world'.. or 'real life..'

it's all real. because some people get an easier time of it, doesn't mean they live in an imaginary universe...

I hate "love him/her to BITS" always followed by a 'but' and usually spoken on the Jeremy Kyle show.

I also detest "quintessential ....." (usually describes overpriced junk) "cathartic" and "closure". All pretentious crap IMO.

"You're making a rod for your own back"
said by PILs

"I'm having a blonde moment" by dizzy office girls who aren't naturally blonde, and usually reasonably quite clever unless surrounded by slavering menfolk.

I have heard 'I'm not a feminist but...'

X-post plus double posts, above. Sorry

"He's my rock" said by some zlister on the Page 56 of Hello before finding out 2 weeks later that he's been sending dirty text messages to a pole dancer from Spearmint Rhino.

"he's a bit of a jack the lad" - he's a shagabout with a criminal record as long as your arm, punch you as soon as look at you.

I hate "I'd die for them..." usually when talking about treating someone like shit...don't die dear, just be nice.

He's really gay....as opposed to just a little gay!!

oh yeah HATE "he's my rock". Just because Princess Di said it, doesn't make it a useful or good phrase for everyday life. Just say what you mean why don't you? Unless you mean he is your pet lump of mineral who is completely inanimate - which given the blokes some of them are talking about, sounds quite realistic.

I'm not a feminist but......I want to be treated equally, but only if the men around approve..please approve of me, pleeeeeaaaasssee

Anything about "selfish career women in their 30s" and IVF.

"I'm not homophobic, I just don't like it shoved in my face" - generally seems to refer to a gay man not activelt hiding his relationship, eg holding hands with partner. But heterosexual teenagers shagging in the street is fine. [Hmm]

a woman of a certain age

"Women should.." As spoken by a man.

Usually followed by some pontification about how women should leave work when they have babies (because obviously men are incapable of looking after children) or how women should not walk the streets at night/wear short skirts/wear tight clothes for men's benefit/talk to men/not talk to men/get back int he kitchen/not breastfeed in public (because breasts are sexual things for men to see only obviously.....I could go on.

Really don't like "soulmate" or "(s)he's The One".
I'm sure there are people for whom it's true, but very few! And I particularly loathe it when it is used as an excuse by adulterous partners about their new sexual partner. (Ok, it's on another thread atm, sorry!)

"I'm not homophobic, I just don't like it shoved in my face"

YES! I hate that too.

me too. DP and I went to a gay bar by accident a whole back, and when he went to kiss me I told him to knock it off - I reminded him that it's ok to be straight, as long as you're discreet, but these nice people don't want the filthy straightness shoved in their faces.

"What did she expect if she (wore a short skirt/had a few drinks/got a cab alone/smiled at a stranger/didn't wear a chastity belt/had the temerity to leave purdah)?" - used of women who have been sexually assaulted, raped, murdered or all of the above :(

answer - obviously not that, you ignorant sexist callous twatting fucker.

Well in fairness I'm not homophobic but wouldn't like it literally shoved in my face :o
(same goes for same sex couples of course)

'Don't take it personally', in a work context when they are getting at your work.

My reply tends to be 'I'm not taking it personally, I'm taking it professionally'.