To be sick of pretentious use of “said”

[Driftingawaynow]

Increasingly I notice people using the word “said” where “the” would do fine.

for example:

asked my husband to take out the washing, he left said washing in the dryer.

it’s really bizarrely irritating

I obviously don't have my ear to the ground when it comes to the complaints of mumsnetters! And I didn't know that about Jane Eyre, thank you for the explanation. I wonder if most who use it have read Jane Eyre or are just copying other posters (I suspect the latter).

You do have the capacity. As has been demonstrated.

Firstly, I'm not a teenager anymore.

Secondly, I had no idea she wouldn't understand perfectly normal words until she said so.

I've only ever heard this used light-heartedly. Nothing wrong in that?

Gotten is frightful.

They are normally trying to sound formal so I try to be forgiving. It's awful though.

"Reader" I cannot stand. Didn't like it in Jane Eyre, loathe it even more elsewhere. It makes the writing horribly self-conscious.

Actually I don't like "grinds my gears." (Sorry!😬)

Worst MN expression has to be "batshit."

It depends where you live or work. If convicted, I will appeal on the grounds I worked in the US for a number of years in a law-based occupation and old habits die hard. Hopefully, the appeal judge will show me some mercy.

I agree that use of Americanisms can be irritating, but maybe not hanging offences (I have mended my wicked ways). I think a life sentence with a minimum term of 50 years would be punishment enough.

I love "batshit" I've used it a few times in real life and it works well.

Yes, "batshit" is one of the few MN expressions I like too.

I can't bear it - especially as it is normally used to ridicule something that is more a disagreement than actually ridiculous.

Absolutely!

Oh you mean like if I was to call you batshit for not liking the word? No, I only use it to describe acts of sheer lunacy, such as people washing their bedding on a daily basis, or putting their Christmas decorations up in November etc.

I hate this too and thought I was being weird. It's a horrible word. I also find 'livid' makes me suffer too. I wonder if it's the combination of letters....

I love when people do that. The idea of wanting to soften communication in an email or letter or even in person, for fear it might come across as blunt or harsh to the recipient has a kind of old-fashioned charm about it but in a new short form, replacing older elaborations of courtesy.

I think you are clear about one thing it was never your fault.

Same!! Hate both 🤣🤣🤣

You might have heard it used playfully whereas people I’ve heard use it are not being ironic or sarcastic. Hideous 😶

Perhaps they were and I just took it as a joke! 😂

While we’re at it - I hate food being called absolutely divine

Hm I think that's normal usage. NW England.

Because it’s really irritating and overused, and they think it sounds clever and well read but actually it sounds like they’ve feasted on Twitter outrage until they’ve started vomiting it back up?

I have the same problem with "fabulous".

As in "Oh Sandra, it was a fabulous spread" 🤮

"Reader, I..." drives me mad. Posters who do this think they are being so witty.

People who describe something they like as "to die for."

Ridiculous, pointless and pretentious.