BS: Irritatin' phrases....

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 12:25 PM

I believe test pilot Chuck Yeager, who broke the sound barrier, was fond of using the phrase "push the envelope."

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 12:43 PM

Here at National Defence Headquarters, I spend my workday in jargon heaven where perfectly sensible people converse entirely in catch-phrases. Inured as I have become to this bullcrap, I still flinch every time I hear the traffic report on the radio: "Traffic going westbound on the Queensway ..."

TRAFFIC GOING WEST, you tautological twerp! Or WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON THE QUEENSWAY, perhaps.

BUT NOT BOTH IN THE SAME DAMNABLE PHRASE!!!!

There. I feel better.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Pseudolus
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 01:07 PM

Leenia,
   I hear the phrase "I could care less" quite often. It may have been a fad, but it certainly is not over.

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GLoux
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 06:15 PM

Sorcha sez:

Impacting and other nouns turned into verbs.

A good friend (who happens to be a radio dj) calls this practice VERBING ...he "collects" them when he hears them and jokes about them on the air and off...

-Greg

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 06:35 PM

"but the computer says..."

"I'm sorry YOU feel that way"

"Nobody else said no"

"lets not go there"

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: kendall
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 07:40 PM

"Different than" instead of different from.
a half an hour

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 07:59 PM

Jeez, don't get me started! [How's that!??]

Well, here's one linguistic oddity which is becoming less odd, unfortunately. The stuffing of extraneous syllables into words by people who either want to demonstrate how literate they are (which has the opposite effect) or by those who just don't know any better (the latter, at least, are forgivable on that account, having probably been misled by listening to the former). Two examples:

"Orientated" for the correct "oriented," which means figuring out where you are and which way you're pointing, and "preventative" for preventive, as in "preventive medicine."

When you look up the extra-syllable version in almost any dictionary, it refers you to the shorter word. There are lots of these out there and they seem to be proliferiferatatatinginging!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GLoux
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 08:18 PM

Might could

a very regionalized American southern phrase that even very educated folks use...

It drives me nuts...(my wife used to say it)

I hope someone comes to the defense of this one, because I'll argue it to the death...perhaps mine...

-Greg

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: leftydee
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 08:22 PM

Using the word AWESOME for mundane stuff. "That was an AWESOME donut, dude". "OOOH, these new shoelaces are AWESOME". Come on....

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 09:05 PM

The unthinking use of "incredible" as a term of praise is rather irritating.

It is usually more praiseworthy to be credible.

For instance, I find most of Bush's speeches incredible, and I don't mean that as a compliment.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Celtaddict
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 09:31 PM

I will concede a place for "verbing" (wouldn't Doug Hofstadter be proud?) in some uses, such as to carpet a floor, paint a room; those uses have become standard English.
But why in the world can't anyone TRY anything anymore?
"We are trialing a new product..."

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GUEST,Billy
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 09:36 PM

Mainly used by radio and T.V. sports pundits - " It's a big ask " What an ugly phrase. These people are being paid to communicate, surely they can use the language properly - but that is probably too big an ask ! The worst manglers of our beautiful language are of course football commentators on the radio. Try counting how many times they say "at the minute", instead of " now " or " ever so " rather than " very " It's ever so annoying at the minute. Just another pedant. Oops, just thought of another one. Every aspect of a game is now " Key ". I heard a half-time analyst in a rugby match describe how the scrummaging would be " key ". He then went on to explain how keeping possession of the ball would be " key ". Not content with that , the kicks at goal would also be " key ". They needed locksmiths not rugby players !

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 01:26 AM

Alleged & allegedly – I understand why the news media frequently use the word alleged or allegedly when reporting crime news--it's not polite (and possibly libelous) to imply that someone is guilty of a crime if they haven't been convicted. But I sometimes hear news reporters insert alleged or allegedly in places where it doesn't make sense. For example: "His friends say they can't believe he allegedly did it." Does that mean they can't believe he did it? Or they can't believe someone would allege that he did it? In any case, "His friends say they can't believe he did it" does not imply that he did it, so "allegedly" is unnecessary.

Don, you might enjoy these:

Corinth Civil War Interpretative Center

Lewis and Clark Interpretative Center

Oregon Trail Interpretative Center

White River Gardens Botanical Complex and Interpretative Center

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Gurney
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 02:09 AM

"Oh My God!" as someone said up there, is gratituously asking for trouble. If I was going to break one of the Commandments, it wouldn't be that one. Others sound much more fun.

"At the Coalface." Usually by someone who couldn't handle a days physical work. I was a miner long ago, so I know what a stripper looks like. They look like a bundle of wire rope.
Stripper = coalface worker.
Person who disrobes for money = Striptease artist.

"Have a nice day." I'll have any kind of day I want.

"Growun", recent repronunciation for grown and groan.

"Ahead of....." when they mean before. Ahead of the field, yes. Ahead of time, no. American usage that is infiltrating the Media.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: MBSLynne
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 02:50 AM

And the opposite of 'verbing'. You get an invitation, NOT an invite!

Secetary instead of secretary.

MischievIous.

Prioritising instead of giving priority to

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: MBSLynne
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 06:56 AM

And perhaps a slight thread creep....I hate the phrase "I'll take a rain check on that", but what does it mean? I know what people use it for now, but what are it's origins? Where does it come from? Anyone know?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 12:37 PM

I just heard another doozey on the radio this morning. The story had to do with demolishing a small building used by the city and replacing it with a new one. Instead of referring to the building being "demolished," the person being interviewed kept talking about the building being "demolishioned."

I was fixing my morning hit of caffeine at the time and didn't get the whole story or who was being interviewed, but I think she was a member if the Seattle City Council. I hope it wasn't someone I voted for.

What the hell have they been teaching in our public schools in the past few decades anyway!???

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 12:53 PM

Even some song lyrics irritate me.

"Oh Lord my God when I in "awesome" wonder..."

No. Your wonder isn't 'awesome'. It may be 'awefilled' but it ain't awesome.

And lately I've been hearing - once on television - 'supposably' when they meant 'supposedly'. Are they getting mixed up with the form of 'arguably'?

One of my major irritants -if only because it is used so freely and with no embarrassment, is as someone noted above: giving an 'effort of 110%.' It can't be done. If you've given 100% of what you can give, you can't give any more.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 01:03 PM

Totally unique
One of two twins
Deja vu all over again

etc etc.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 01:32 PM

Actually, I think "déjà vu all over again" started either as a deliberately humorous redundancy or yet another marvelous gaff from someone like Yogi Berra or Casey Stengel ("Nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded."). Unfortunately, lots of people have picked it up and use it seriously without realizing that it is supposed to be funny.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 01:52 PM

'Giok' I agree that repetitious and redundant tautology is annoying, but you already said it.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Kaleea
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 01:57 PM

it's like . . .
   
   you know . . .

      the word "so" or "such" NOT followed by the word "that":
             I hate it so much! (so much, that ?????)

         I'm gonna take'n . . .
            I done went 'n . . .
                . . .when I gituhroun' tew it, . . .

    I abhor unimaginative cussing. I prefer to "cuss" in creative and colorful metaphors such as the following:

You horse's hind end!
    He's a donkey's p'toot!
      What a bunch of yayhoos!
         I think the cheese has completely
                      slipped off of her cracker!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Peace
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 01:58 PM

'the person being interviewed kept talking about the building being "demolishioned."'

That person should be admonishioned, fer shore.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: pdq
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 03:15 PM

That was Peace's 15,000 th post on Mudcat. Congrats. Mudcat's fastest rising star.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GUEST,very connected
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 04:07 PM

creepy
on the same page
cool
new age bullsh*t
go digital

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 04:25 PM

Interesting, pdq. Your approximately 1/10th of that total has given us about that same ratio of light. Stars are bright.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Kaleea
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 04:26 PM

I almost forgot one of the questions I dislike the most--

    "Uh, do you think I'm a racist?"
          -geez, duh! Why do they even ask? If you have to ask, you probably are!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: annamill
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 06:15 PM

"..Sorry, that position has been filled, but we'll keep your resume for 6 months".

Couldn't they tell me that before I spent time coming for an interview???

Love, Annamill

Yeh, it's been said often enough to be irratin'. Fit's right into this thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 06:39 PM

Unfortuneatly...

Unfortuneatly the concert was canceled due to a snow storm.

Unfortuneatley the Hornets lost the game by 3 points.

Unfortuneately there were no survivors on a plane that crashed.

Unfortuneately....I hate when people use this word when referring to a tragic incident. Clearly, these 3 events are not all the same and do not evoke the same type of feelings.

Unfortuneatly, Barry had a pimple on his butt.

Unfortuneatly, Morgan died from leukemia.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 06:51 PM

Look, if you're going to complain about it, at least spell it right, eh?

Unfortunately, William Shatner has not yet deigned to make an appearance on this thread...

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 06:56 PM

Little Hawk, I'm shocked.. You mean, all those times it wasn't him?

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 06:59 PM

I said "this thread", not "this forum"! Sheesh! If I even suspected that the real William Shatner had NEVER posted on this forum, why I'd...I'd...I'd be tempted to do something rash and desperate. It would be a terrible moment.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 07:44 PM

LOLOL....sorry...I knew that didn't look quite right!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: kendall
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 09:12 PM

I worked for the government for many years and there is something called "Governmentese" Examples:

I communicated telephonically with so and so.
A critical high response area (potential trouble spot)
The defendant was in a state of non compliance.

Drove me nuts! I refused to use that gobblegook in my reports, so the boss sent me to report writing school. First thing the instructor said was : Watch the language in your reports. If you wish to say, "Mary had a little lamb, for Pete's sake, SAY Mary had a little lamb. Do NOT say "Mary possessed a dimunitive sheep."

I continued to write in plain English to the day I left the service.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Peace
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 09:41 PM

Misunderestimate.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 09:51 PM

"Guesstimate" (!) (I bet Dubya uses that one...)

"Maximize"

"Prioritize"

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: leftydee
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 10:52 PM

Hello... I'm Martin Gibson

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: number 6
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 11:02 PM

Oh Oh


sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GUEST,Billy
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 11:15 PM

Momentarily -- no my dear cousins, it does not mean   "In a moment ", or "Soon". It indicates a short space of time, e.g. an instant.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Bert
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 01:12 AM

I'm with SINSULL on the 110% issue.

"Oh my God" should really be "Oh my Gawd" and I think we have to thank Charlie Drake for that one.

Ah yes Annamill - All those polite refusals, when you'd give anything for a "Get your sorry ass in here at 8 O'Clock Monday morning"

And 'thinking outside of the box' takes on quite a different meanbing when your cat does it.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GUEST,dave'swife w/out cookie
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 01:52 AM

"It's All Good" - which is a conversational shrug
"My bad"

I laso hate Hollywood-ese. Instead of saying something was "Filmed in poland" it suddenly becomes "lensed in poland.' Something that was directed by Spielberg becomes "helmed by Spielberg."

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: MBSLynne
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 02:46 AM

And I can't stand split infinitives, but they seem to have passed into 'correct' English now due to common usage. So....William Shatner has a lot to answer for!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: ossonflags
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 11:30 AM

Am I bothered?

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: kendall
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 12:45 PM

I aint never uased one of them split things, not no way.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: ard mhacha
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 12:47 PM

This is used all of the time, I hope we "get a result", this began by some gormless English footballer and every bloody stupid commentator uses it now.
I heard one of our young boys use it, I told him if the game finishes both teams will get a result, if you are beaten 10-1 that is a result.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Peace
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 01:06 PM

A preposition is a word one should never end a sentence with.

Thank you, Winston.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: GUEST,Nancy King at work
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 01:25 PM

"Presently," when misused to mean "currently." It really means "soon."

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: Don Firth
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 03:16 PM

The word is "cool," and it had an immense amount of currency back in the Sixties. I didn't use it much myself, but it didn't particularly bother me, other than that it was applied to everything. But a friend of mine taught Art in high school, and he heard it about forty times more often than I did. One of his students turned in a cartoon which my friend thought was not only not funny, but in generally bad taste. He said so. The student said, "Well, gee, Mr. Landberg, I though it was real cool!" My friend responded, "If, by 'real cool,' you mean 'not so hot,' then I quite agree!"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: kendall
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 04:19 PM

And the most often mis used word...Hopefully.
Oh, and Partying.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritatin' phrases....
From: MBSLynne
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 04:32 PM

aaaaagh! Just reminded of one while watching "Children in Need" ...why do people who want you to applaud someone these days say "Give it up for ____"? Give what up? Why?