Expressions You Hate!

[Kerry]

Expressions You Hate!

They are officially the world's most annoying words - phrases and sayings that make people want to scream.

Researchers at Oxford University have drawn up the fairly unique list and, at the end of the day, the top offenders are: "fairly unique" and "at the end of the day."

They said the phrase "at this moment in time" was simply a long-winded and unnecessary way of saying "now", while "I personally" was a redundancy - using two words in succession that have the same or similar meanings.

The list appeared in a recently published book, "Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare."

Author, Jeremy Butterfield, said "We grow tired of anything that's repeated too often - an anecdote, a joke, a mannerism - and the same seems to happen with some language. People don't like long-windedness. They dislike a phrase being flogged to death."

The list was created from a study of the Oxford University Corpus, a database that monitors the use of English in published and broadcast material.

Anyone reading my posts will be aware that I personally am fond of using some of these expressions. Yikes! It's a nightmare!

How about you? With all due respect, are you also inclined to use some of these expressions? Are there any that you absolutely detest? Vote for as many as you like. It's not rocket science! If your favourite most-hated expression isn't listed, choose "Other" and tell us what it is. Vote for as many as you like.

I look forward to reading your responses!   

[injest]

"folks"....HATE that word...

[David In Indy]

Actually none of those expressions annoy me Kerry! Does that mean I'm a prude?



I remember when I worked at the nursing home years ago, people kept saying the word "per". They'd say something like "We are now to check the resident's water pitchers each hour PER Scott". Or "David, you are to handle all the showers tonight PER the charge nurse".

That really got on my last nerve! Per! Per! Per!! Go buy a cat why don't ya?!

[Kerry]

"folks"....HATE that word...

I agree, Jess. It's so darn . . . um . . . ah . . . folksy!      

[pnwDUDE]

I hate when someone say, "Well, we'll just see about thaaaat".

They are always defensive, wrong or both.

Brad

[Kerry]

Actually none of those expressions annoy me Kerry! Does that mean I'm a prude?



I remember when I worked at the nursing home years ago, people kept saying the word "per". They'd say something like "We are now to check the resident's water pitchers each hour PER Scott". Or "David, you are to handle all the showers tonight PER the charge nurse".

That really got on my last nerve! Per! Per! Per!! Go buy a cat why don't ya?!

I can see how that would be terribly aggravating when used over and over, David.    Tell 'em to go "Per Off!"     

[injest]

I agree, Jess. It's so darn . . . um . . . ah . . . folksy!      

and it always seems to be some guy in a suit...faking that he 'knows' country 'folk'...

[David In Indy]

Jess and Brad, you failed to vote! Please go back and do so! PER David!   

  

This IS a poll after all!

[pnwDUDE]

Jess and Brad, you failed to vote! Please go back and do so! PER David!   

  

This IS a poll after all!

Whatever (woops, a term I hate ).

[Kerry]

I hate when someone say, "Well, we'll just see about thaaaat".

They are always defensive, wrong or both.

Brad

Yes, I agree. And it sounds somewhat threatening to me.