Trendy Expressions that We Abhor

[AuntShecky]

Methinks that in my advancing age I'm becoming a female
curmudgeon (if that term is gender specific.) To wit, there are certain trendy expressions and current phrases that irritate me more than noisy ATVs running up and down the parking lot.

Earlier in the week, one of Dear Abby's columns contained letters from folks outraged by the growing trend for saying "No problem" instead of "You're welcome" as a reply to "Thank you."

And on the e-zine Slate today, there is a short item about the word "fail" as a substitute for the noun, "failure." :

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/xxfactor/archive/2008/10/15/whole-new-ways-to-not-get-it.aspx

Other trendy expressions that I hate include:

--Pronouncing the "t" in the word "often." We don't say
"hasTen" or "lisTen," so why say "ofTen"? I suspect this
is another example of overcorrection, similar to how folks used to think that saying "Rockefeller" --the way that wealthy family's name was really spelled and pronounced-- was a slangy way of saying "Rockerfellow."

--Another expression that's deplorable is "I could care less." It makes no sense at all. Does the speaker mean "I couldn't care less"?

To explain any slight or massive betrayal, how about this piece of eloquence: "He threw him under the bus." Ugh!

And please, somebody, retire the phrase "at the end of the day." Let's reset the clocks.

But the worst of all is a phrase that I heard at least 4 times on the television yesterday. Why is it in the middle of an argument the speaker will interject, "frankly" or "quite frankly" ? Why? Is he or she telling us that everything they've already said up to that point has been less than candid or
forthright?

What about you? What are some expressions that make you cringe when you hear 'em?

[Whifflingpin]

The use of "they/their" when "he/his" is meant - as in "anyone who uses "they" in such a way should choose their words more carefully!"

[Cailin]

For whatever reason, the young people of my nation have decided that the phrase "That's so gay" is appropriate when speaking dismissively about something. Now THAT is something I hate - and I'm not even that much older than said "young people". I can feel the generation gap opening up :lol:

[barbara0207]

The use of "they/their" when "he/his" is meant - as in "anyone who uses "they" in such a way should choose their words more carefully!"

In your example, not only 'he/his' is meant but 'he or she/his or her'. I thought that that was a very practical solution to avoid having to mention both forms. Especially the English language always strives for conciseness.

[novelsryou]

My supervisor misuses a few phrases, even in front of his bosses.

Feet stuck in the sand...:lol:

Lets get behind the 8-ball (like it's a good thing)...:lol:

The 23rd hour...:lol:

[Virgil]

Methinks that in my advancing age I'm becoming a female
curmudgeon (if that term is gender specific.)

Why would it be gender specific? I'm obviously a male curmudgeon. :D

[Shalot]

For whatever reason, the young people of my nation have decided that the phrase "That's so gay" is appropriate when speaking dismissively about something. Now THAT is something I hate - and I'm not even that much older than said "young people". I can feel the generation gap opening up :lol:


we had a thread on this phrase a while back.

I think I'm losing touch with my English major studies because I used to pick at poor usage all the time. Not outloud of course, but always in my head.

Now, I find that I get annoyed by any pointing of the finger at someone's misuse of a word or phrase, unless it's really ridiculous. The only times I pick at poor usage anymore seems to be when someone's statement goes against something I believe in. If it's well-stated, then the author/speaker is a pretentious jerk, and if it looks like it was written by a third-grader then the author is a moron. It must be because I spend so much time on the local news Web site. If you want to pull your hair out, go read so some of those posts (those of you who know where I'm from). It's a poisonous environment, I tell you. Maybe I should stop reading it.

[djy78usa]

"Y'all" has always been an issue for me. I don't have a problem with the term itself. I spent most of my childhood in the South, so I actually say "y'all" all the time. My problem is with people who are not from the South who use "y'all" (usually accompanied by a cheesy, mock southern accent) to refer to one person. I see this all the time on TV or in movies. I've even had someone come up to me, after hearing my accent, and ask "how y'all doing?":flare:

[Lily Adams]

For whatever reason, the young people of my nation have decided that the phrase "That's so gay" is appropriate when speaking dismissively about something. Now THAT is something I hate - and I'm not even that much older than said "young people". I can feel the generation gap opening up :lol:

OH MAN I hate that! Well not hate, but dislike. Whenever I hear someone say that I ask them if whatever it is is a boy or a girl.

[LadyWentworth]

"went missing"
OR
"gone missing"

:flare: I once read that other countries have used those words together, but it America, it is improper. So why did it even start here? It drives me crazy.

[Niamh]

:blush: I pronounce Often with the T. My excuse is i'm from Dublin. we are a bit of a pronunciation disaster here...well mainly in North and west Dublin. Aint that right Calin? :p We drive people mad for not pronuncing our TH's in This, That, These, Those, The etc. Its more of a Dis,dat, dese,dose, de.
I hate the term, dont be gay. :mad: drives me potty.
We say Couldn't care less here. Could care less just makes no sense. why would someone say that?
I hate "whats the story?" for how are you.

[AuntShecky]

"Y'all" has always been an issue for me. I don't have a problem with the term itself. I spent most of my childhood in the South, so I actually say "y'all" all the time. My problem is with people who are not from the South who use "y'all" (usually accompanied by a cheesy, mock southern accent) to refer to one person. I see this all the time on TV or in movies. I've even had someone come up to me, after hearing my accent, and ask "how y'all doing?":flare:


I don't like saying "Hey" for "Hi," or "Hello." I thought "Hey" was an interjection to get someone's attention, not a greeting.

[Cailin]

:blush: I pronounce Often with the T. My excuse is i'm from Dublin. we are a bit of a pronunciation disaster here...well mainly in North and west Dublin. Aint that right Calin? :p We drive people mad for not pronuncing our TH's in This, That, These, Those, The etc. Its more of a Dis,dat, dese,dose, de.
I hate the term, dont be gay. :mad: drives me potty.
We say Couldn't care less here. Could care less just makes no sense. why would someone say that?
I hate "whats the story?" for how are you.

"To be sure" Niamh!;) (There's another one for you - it means "you're right"). Dere's a lo'a wisdom in dat!!! :lol:

[papayahed]

"Y'all" has always been an issue for me. I don't have a problem with the term itself. I spent most of my childhood in the South, so I actually say "y'all" all the time. My problem is with people who are not from the South who use "y'all" (usually accompanied by a cheesy, mock southern accent) to refer to one person. I see this all the time on TV or in movies. I've even had someone come up to me, after hearing my accent, and ask "how y'all doing?":flare:


I do that. But it's mostly to annoy my coworkers, they are always laughing at my accent.

[andave_ya]

"wassup."

*cringe*

[weltanschauung]

language is something that changes as the necessity appears. this phenomena which you are calling "trends" is a reflection of the people who are making the language change, and i dont think its annoying at all, as i dont think it will go away, for the people who are responsible for it are not going to die or to stop talking or thinking the way they do. i think things that suxx r gai 2. like this prejudiced and conservative view of the changes that happen in the world. on the other hand, what is really annoying is grammar errors, such as "it's" when used as a possessive pronoun, or "their"as in "they are" and people who put apostrophes in plurals! i mean, plural's, UGH!

[islandclimber]

I hate "woot".. i mean it isn't even a word..

and then the expression "word"...

it seems to be said a lot by the skateboarding/ snowboarding crowd that I am part off.. and it is so annoying.. what does it even mean??? well I know what is meant.. but couldn't we just use proper english rather than saying something nonsensical to the majority of people like "word"...

[princesspoppi]

The misuse of 'but'. I think it is just a north queensland thing. People will add 'but' at the end of their sentence. ie, I have to go to work today, but. I mean what is with that?!

[The Atheist]

The misuse of 'but'. I think it is just a north queensland thing. People will add 'but' at the end of their sentence. ie, I have to go to work today, but. I mean what is with that?!

It's definitely a QLD thing, but.

__________________________________


There will be a special place reserved in hell for the person who started the trend of putting "like" in sentences at random locations. I count teenagers using the word 10-15 times a minute and having no idea they're even doing it.

Apostrophe abuse is mild by comparison.

[sprinks]

One thing that always used to annoy me was when people said "lol" as a word... But it became such a part of our culture that I don't even notice it anymore.

My mum hates it when people say "my bad".

Pretty much all the expressions that are used around here are ones that I use myself and don't have a problem with. Although Australians tend to shorten things like crazy and one thing that annoys me simply because it takes me ages to realise what they mean is when someone says "No wokka mate" meaning "No worries mate".

^as for the "but" thing... I kind of get that. Like if I heard the conversation "Are you free tomorrow?" "Yeah... I have to go to work today, but." I wouldn't see anything weird with that. It's just an incorrect placement of the word "but" or just using it where its not needed. I think I've just grown accustomed to it (it doesn't just happen on that side of Australia :p)

[Shalot]

I hate "woot".. i mean it isn't even a word..

and then the expression "word"...

it seems to be said a lot by the skateboarding/ snowboarding crowd that I am part off.. and it is so annoying.. what does it even mean??? well I know what is meant.. but couldn't we just use proper english rather than saying something nonsensical to the majority of people like "word"...

Woot doesn't bother me. The first time I ever saw it was on Lit Net. I'm sure I heard it before, but I didn't realize that it was spelled "woot."

I do agree with you on "word." The use of "word" in that way should have died out years ago. I'm not sure where it originated but I first heard it on MTV a long long time ago. And then I heard other people say "word" (but not often). Most people around here didn't say "word" back in the day. The only people who did were the ones who watched too much TV and tried to act like people they saw on TV. :rolleyes: Then again, I am old, so maybe kids around here say "word" now. :rolleyes:

[papayahed]

Woot doesn't bother me. The first time I ever saw it was on Lit Net. I'm sure I heard it before, but I didn't realize that it was spelled "woot."

I do agree with you on "word." The use of "word" in that way should have died out years ago. I'm not sure where it originated but I first heard it on MTV a long long time ago. And then I heard other people say "word" (but not often). Most people around here didn't say "word" back in the day. The only people who did were the ones who watched too much TV and tried to act like people they saw on TV. :rolleyes: Then again, I am old, so maybe kids around here say "word" now. :rolleyes:

haha, I was thinking the same thing about the word "word".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_7Kp_TapA4

[The Atheist]

"No wokka mate" meaning "No worries mate".

Well, that's almost what it means.

;)

[Niamh]

haha, I was thinking the same thing about the word "word".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_7Kp_TapA4

hahahaha!!!!:lol: I thought of the exact the same song and was thinking of posting it when i saw your you tube link and there it was! :p

truth is, i though "word" had gone with the 90's. didnt realise it was still going!

[Bakiryu]

the word people use most around here is "nigga" and it pisses me off so much. Seriously, you don't hear whites calling each other "crackas". I hate slang.

[Shalot]

the word people use most around here is "nigga" and it pisses me off so much. Seriously, you don't hear whites calling each other "crackas". I hate slang.

If I started calling some of my associates cracka, I'm thinking certain other people who think in those terms might get offended buy it.

Just out of curiousity, does anyone know the origin or the word cracker? How and when did this term for white people come about? Who said it first? Same thing for nigga or -er. Am I allowed to type that word out?

If anyone knows off the top of his/her head let me know. I may look it up later maybe.

[Niamh]

I have never heard that one. Ever. what rediculous word for us. That has to be an american thing.

[qspeechc]

There are many misuses of English I dislike, the only two I can think of now are: the use of "that" where it is superfluous, e.g. "We can show that...xyz" when "we can show xyz" will suffice.

And the one I really, really hate is that American favourite: "We did good" meaning "we did well". Aaaaarrrrrggggghhh!

[Serenity5815]

I hate it when people say "redic" or "redonk" instead of ridiculous. It's just lazy.

[sprinks]

the word people use most around here is "nigga" and it pisses me off so much. Seriously, you don't hear whites calling each other "crackas". I hate slang.

huh. I'd never heard that one either.
I only ever heard "wigga" -> "white nigga"

[LadyW]

I only ever heard "wigga" -> "white nigga"
:lol: Hahaha, sorry that made me chuckle...

I can't stand all the new 'chav' terms that seem to be appearing on the back of a bus seat near you:
"Devo'd"
"Standerd"

Then there's the use of "ere" as opposed to "here," "woz" instead of "was," and the most dreaded of all "innit" instead of "isn't it."

*Shudders*

[motherhubbard]

"Y'all" has always been an issue for me. I don't have a problem with the term itself. I spent most of my childhood in the South, so I actually say "y'all" all the time. My problem is with people who are not from the South who use "y'all" (usually accompanied by a cheesy, mock southern accent) to refer to one person. I see this all the time on TV or in movies. I've even had someone come up to me, after hearing my accent, and ask "how y'all doing?":flare:
Almost everything said in this area drives me a little crazy. It’s just the way we talk. I have to battle the kids, as well as myself, because if we sound stupid people will think we are stupid no matter how smart we are.

J’et yet- this means have you eaten yet.

Yuons- I think this means you ones and it would be used like this ‘Yuons better hurry up!’

Wont instead of want

Worsh instead of wash

Ain’t got no...

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it

If a frog had wings- this is the shortened version of if a frog had wings he wouldn’t have bumped his butt. This is said in response to I should have or could have statements.
yonder

I’ll be there directly- why not just say soon, later, shortly, or ten minutes


the word people use most around here is "nigga" and it pisses me off so much. Seriously, you don't hear whites calling each other "crackas". I hate slang.


I never liked cracker. It just sounds stupid. I think that the word meant to insult the way nigger does should be as insulting as nigger is. It just leaves me wondering if that was the best anyone could come up with. Speaking of the N word, is it insulting to say something like worked like a nigger? I hear that sometimes and I just thought it meant that they person had worked really really hard for very little pay or no pay at all.

[Domer121]

"Not gonna lie"..don't ask me why, that expression drives be nuts!!

[papayahed]

"Not gonna lie"..don't ask me why, that expression drives be nuts!!

oh yeah! Around here its: "I'm just being honest with you":flare:

[Niamh]

Then there's the use of "ere" as opposed to "here," "woz" instead of "was," and the most dreaded of all "innit" instead of "isn't it."

*Shudders*

Humm...I think they would constitute more as part of some british cultural dialects than trendy expression.

[The Atheist]

Almost everything said in this area drives me a little crazy. It’s just the way we talk. I have to battle the kids, as well as myself, because if we sound stupid people will think we are stupid no matter how smart we are.

:thumbs_up

Exactly what I tell my kids.

Fortunately, I'm blessed that they themselves care about how they sound and I'd guess that I have the most clearly-spoken and cliche-free kids for miles.

Some other special hates:

....more better/happier, etc/ier. Who started this absurdity and how do people manage to let it come through their lips?

..... then/than - "I'm better then you." Sounds dreadful, looks worse.

....to/too... a pair of the easiest words in English, people will never get them wrong.


Humm...I think they would constitute more as part of some british cultural dialects than trendy expression.

Absolutely.

"Innit" has been an addition to Cockney sentences since the first rhyming slang was coupled, while most of England drops the odd aitch, to the extent that Wales has changed "ere" to "yer".

[Shalot]

..."innit" instead of "isn't it."

*Shudders*

I grew up hearing "idn't" for "isn't it." That's my own personal spelling approximation of it.

I typed out a big response to this a few minutes ago. It didn't take me that long to type, but Lit Net timed out on me and I lost my post. I love when that happens.

But I was just going to say that I know "idn't" is not correct or all that sophisticated, but I just think of it as part of where I'm from and who I am, so I don't hate it.

I think I'm more inclined to abhor expressions used by people who are trying to be someone other than they are for superficial reasons.

If you hate a phrase and it happens to be grammatically incorrect or otherwise informal or trendy, it might be a good idea to think about why you hate it. Otherwise, you just sound like a grammar cop, or some kind of language snob with no appreciation for local color.

And that's you in general, not you Lady W. I just realized that I quoted you, but I just wanted to pull the word innit because here we use idn't which is similar in my mind. Please don't think that I was lecturing you for not liking the use of that word because I wasn't.

I just wanted to point out that hating a certain word or usage doesn't make one a language snob.

[Scheherazade]

"should of/should off"

[Niamh]

"should of/should off"

:blush: I think i'm guilty of Should of instead of should have!

[Scheherazade]

The funny thing is that every year I have to persuade at least couple of students that there is actually no such expression in English language. :rolleyes:

[kilted exile]

--Pronouncing the "t" in the word "often." We don't say
"hasTen" or "lisTen," so why say "ofTen"?


This has to be just a dialect thing. Where I grew up it was always considered improper pronunciation if you did not pronounce the T. I know it is one of the things ma grannie wid gie me a clip run the lug fir nae daein.

** Just another one of those things you damn yanks have mixed up (eg roof vs ruf)

[Niamh]

This has to be just a dialect thing. Where I grew up it was always considered improper pronunciation if you did not pronounce the T. I know it is one of the things ma grannie wid gie me a clip run the lug fir nae daein.

** Just another one of those things you damn yanks have mixed up (eg roof vs ruf)

I agree with you. Without the T it just sound wrong to me, but yet if i put on an american accent, it doesnt.
But then again americans spell colour-color, Theatre- Theater, centre- Center and Programme-Program.

[Nightshade]

dropping the 'to' s in sentences ( what is 'to' again grammatically?) in the case of "Miss miss I wanna go toilet!"
:mad:

[manolia]

I agree with you. Without the T it just sound wrong to me, but yet if i put on an american accent, it doesnt.
But then again americans spell colour-color, Theatre- Theater, centre- Center and Programme-Program.

Hmmm..my english teacher was an american lady from New York and she taught me to pronounce "often" with a T..it took me a while to realise that the T isn't supposed to be heard at all..my next teacher was australian and frankly i don't remember how she pronounced "often". I've never had a british teacher ;)

[LadyW]

Humm...I think they would constitute more as part of some british cultural dialects than trendy expression.
Ah, my apologies for not making myself clear :)
I have nothing against the way in which people speak (although admittedly, some accents do go through me); it's more when people blatantly pronounce/spell things incorrectly in order -for want of a better phrase - to "look hard."


I grew up hearing "idn't" for "isn't it." That's my own personal spelling approximation of it.
Out of curiosity, and if you don't mind of course, where is it you're from? I've never heard "idn't" before as far as I can remember.


And that's you in general, not you Lady W. I just realized that I quoted you, but I just wanted to pull the word innit because here we use idn't which is similar in my mind. Please don't think that I was lecturing you for not liking the use of that word because I wasn't.
Not at all :)

[AuntShecky]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the word "graduate" in the academic sense is an intransitive verb. That means that
instead of a direct object, it takes a prepositional phrase.
So, these sentences would be grammatically correct:

"He was graduated from Cornell in 1923."
"She graduated from high school last June."

So, why do I keep reading and hearing:
"He graduated college, and she graduated high school"?

[DickZ]

My newspaper recently had two references to the phrase “put through the ringer,” one in a news story and another as a clue in the crossword puzzle. I was amazed at the spelling and checked Google for other similar instances. On that day, there were almost 4,400 references to things being “put through the ringer” floating around in the world.

I guess this younger generation never saw the washing machine my grandmother used, which had a hand-cranked wringer that squeezed the water out of the clothes. I would have hated to go through that wringer, but I have absolutely no idea what going through a ringer might be like. Maybe you get some kind of electrical shock if it’s connected to a doorbell.

It’s like the news people who keep saying “now let’s switch gears” instead of “let’s shift gears” which would make mechanical sense. I doubt that these folks have ever been near a car with manual transmission, so I don't really understand why they are talking about gears.

[djy78usa]

This one isn't an expression I abhor, but I can't stand when people pronounce "et cetera" as "excetra." I was in a meeting where one speaker used "et cetera" at the end of nearly every sentence. That alone was annoying, but every time he did it, he said "excetra." I know I shouldn't get worked up over little things like this, but I felt my head was going to explode if I heard "excetra" one more time!

[*Classic*Charm*]

Thats the same as people who refer to espresso as "expresso". It's irritating.

[djy78usa]

Thats the same as people who refer to espresso as "expresso". It's irritating.

Pronouncing the "et" or "es" sound as "ex" (as in "expecially" or "excape") does get on my nerves, but the part that really bothers me is the "cetra" instead of "cetera." I don't know why, but it drives me nuts.

[Niamh]

Well, i'm just going to warn you all now, if you are really really really fussy about how words are pronounced......
......Dont come to Ireland. :blush:
This is a nation after all where people pronounce the word one as wan, book as Boo! with a k at the end, hook as Who-k. :lol:

[1n50mn14]

If it weren't for language 'trends' and changes, we'd still be speaking 18th century English. I find nit-picking at little pronunciation errors far more obnoxious than the errors themselves.

(But 'That's so gay!' really does grate my nerves as well!)

[Guinivere]

I hate it when people say "like". As in "He was like so nice. And his car was like so fast. And wow the restaurant we went to was like so great."
I have to stop myself from grating my teeth when I hear someone talk in this fashion.

[Janine]

I hate it when people say - 'you guys'....I find it annoying; sounds juvenille....I am not a guy...I am a woman!

I hate this too, Guinevere - when they say: "like". As in "He was like so nice. And his car was like so fast...this is not folksy to me but downright annoying and also so juvenille. It is very poor English, as well and does not reflex a professional attitude. Just recently someone running for public office here (won't mention names) used both these expressions often. I was certainly surprised at that, besides the fact that I thought maybe it was kind of 'put on' for effect.