Words and phrases that drive you insane...

[Ducksbehindthesofa]

Certain words (usually nonsense or pseudowords) and phrases really grate on me, sometimes to the extent I don't bother reading the rest of a narrative if I stumble across a word or phrase on my hit list, halfway through something.

There are plenty, but a few to kick off:

Holibobs. It's not even an abbreviation for goodness sake.

Chillax. Just why?

"You do you" - this seems to be the in phrase at the moment, especially with the younger generation. It always sounds vaguely condescending to me

Chrimbo. Please, no

Nom nom nom. This one is right up there with holibobs!

Your turn......

Intentional; is this new? I was asked if the Christmas card I sent to someone was an 'intentional purchase'? As if it could have paid for itself and put itself in my bag.

Vibe
Vibes
Vibing

Vibing being the worst.

Arghhhhhhh

I meant "intended by the speaker to be more respectful and formal" in the cultural context mentioned.

What is "correct" and "incorrect" in any use of language is obviously culturally determined. The culture of southern English grammarians is, of course, not the only English-speaking culture.

From Mitford.

Hence why
Obsessed when used to describe a product or item someone quite likes.
Literally (when not used to mean literally)

One of my husband's phrases is that drives me mad is "If you know who that is." For example, "John Smith is going to be at Comic Con, if you know who that is." If I don't know who John Smith is is he going to cancel?

'On it like a car bonnet' or 'wouldn't risk it for a biscuit' 🤢

When people say lil instead of little, I can't bear it. More of a grammar one, but it amazes me how many people think the words "a lot" is one word 'alot'.

Furbaby. 😬

I suspect most people who misuse these words do so because they don't know how to use them properly.

Surely no one with a proper grasp of the English language deliberately misuses words because they think the right words aren't polite, respectful and formal enough!

Message to radio presenter. ‘Tell my wife/husband/partner/family member’ how much I love them. Erm, the presenter doesn’t know how much you love them, tell them, and please don’t say ‘to the xxx and back’.

Feel better now. I love this sort of thread.

'It's giving' - STOP IT

'Tell me you have a dog/toddler/major personality flaw without telling me...I'll go first' 🤢

'The boy done good' - NO NO NO

'Living my best life' - 🤮

'In my cowgirl/running/clean living era' - ENOUGH PLS

I follow several fashion YouTubers. Most of them are very good and have good advice, but they constantly yammer on about dressing in an intentional way. I always dress intentionally, except for that one time when I got dressed in the dark so as not to wake DH and went to work wearing one black shoe and one navy shoe.

Per say … learn to spell it or don’t use it

"How to use them properly" differs from culture to culture. A "proper grasp of the English language" differs depending on which regional variant of the English language we're discussing.

In my own usage, I seek precision and a wide vocabulary, and tend to favour traditional rules of grammar, as I mentioned above.

But there are some English academics with poor and sloppy English who also use traditional rules of grammar. And some writers in various regional English dialects with local vernacular grammar, who use language superbly.

Guilty secret is unpleasant, unless it refers to murder/sleeping with a close relative/admiring Trump.

"How to use them properly" differs from culture to culture. A "proper grasp of the English language" differs depending on which regional variant of the English language we're discussing.

In my own usage, I seek precision and a wide vocabulary, and tend to favour traditional rules of grammar, as I mentioned above.

But there are some English academics with poor and sloppy English who also use traditional rules of grammar. And some writers in various regional English dialects with local vernacular grammar, who use language superbly.

And the way this supposedly trumps any sort of qualification or professional experience. I have experience of having eyes. Doesn't make me an ophthamologist.

I think that the expression "lived experience" should be used sparingly, but sometimes it is useful to distinguish "vicarious experience," especially for professionals who work with traumatized survivors of violence.

I don’t know anyone who says bathroom. Anyone who needs to use the toilet in my house asks where the toilet is. Ours toilet is separate to the bathroom anyway.

@BeanQuisine , I disagree with you. What's acceptable in dialect isn't necessarily correct grammar.

Aks instead of ask
Me instead of my
Flannel, just no

Not necessarily correct when judged by traditional grammatic rules, no, but obviously those rules are themselves culturally determined, not somehow "objectively" right.

Yes, I agree it has a place, but it's seriously overused.

For me ....
"It's giving ...."
"That sounds like a you problem"
"You do you"
"The cadence" - I hear this at work all the time and still have zero clue what it means!
Anything about babies who are breastfed 'wanting the booby' just revolts me (not the action, just the wording)

I actually love most of these hated words and phrases, just because they show that people can be playful and creative with language and even the stupidest nonsense can catch on.
However the old hubs is always saying “we went to x” or “when we were in x” to describe long-ago events or even recent exotic trips that I didn’t go on. He actually means he was there, maybe with some other randos, but definitely not with me or anyone the listener knows!
So it’s like a royal we and the listener usually looks at me expectantly to chime in but I’m not in that “we.”
No idea why he can’t just say “I.”