BS: Irritating sayings

Subject: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 09:44 AM

This must be Americas most irritating saying, and it is becoming increasingly used on the Mudcat, GO FIGURE.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:13 AM

The one I dislike is 'no brainer'.
Presumably it means you don't need a brain to work out the answer.
What the speaker means is 'You don't need to use your brain to come to the same conclusion as me.'
What this really means is 'Don't bother using your brain - just accept what I'm saying.'

I prefer 'Go figure' - at least it suggests you do have a brain and you should use it.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:12 AM

"Know what I'm saying?" -- that one really grates.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:24 AM

I find both those expressions amusing and expressive when used in the right context. And "no brainer" certainly sussed out Dick Cheney for the immoral slimeball he is when he blurted it out with regards to torture.

Maybe it's the repetition that renders expressions annoying. Something a little offbeat works, say, the the first 25 times from the likes of creatively demented folks like Carl Hiaasen, but sounds stupid when it becomes a cliche and rolls off the lips of mainstream people trying to sound casual and hip.

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:41 AM

Perhaps, when a saying is seen to be imposed on others by incessant repetition, you may agree that "the current chief of the Mudcat editing team" could be encouraged to delete or edit it, in order to facilitate the harmonious flow of discourse which, if were restricted by...........ummmm.....where was I?

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:50 AM

Bugger! You beat me to it Bill. How about "This was inserted in a thread without refreshing it, and you may have missed it", instead?
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Desdemona
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:53 AM

"Don't sweat the small stuff"...exactly the sort of fatuous, vapid crap guaranteed to make me break out in a sweat of annoyance!

~D

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 12:02 PM

The only thing I find more irritating than these various sayings are people going on and on about how irritating they are ...

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: bobad
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 12:27 PM

I was waiting for that one memy, this place is becoming so predictable.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 12:44 PM

Like, whatever!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 01:00 PM

"I do not agree with what you say,
but I will fight to the death to defend your right to say it"


bollocks !!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 01:17 PM

What up?

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 01:23 PM

"I could care less"
So how much less could you care before it didn't matter at all?

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 01:26 PM

"this place is becoming so predictable."

Must really make you wonder why you spend so much time hanging around this place, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 01:37 PM

The only appropriate response to "this place is becoming so predictable" is:

"I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO SAY THAT."

John

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 02:07 PM

It's not the sayings themseleves - they can all be used perfectly inoffensively. What is annoying is when they are used in a way that is taken to indicate a particular dismissive attitude - when they are essentially just another way of saying "piss off".

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 03:36 PM

Personally speaking I think American slang can be quite perplexing. Most of the time, I find myself thinking 'what does he mean?' - more than anything else. I'm usually quite glad of the bits I understand, rather than irritated.

Given up totally on American talk shows ( the titles take a bit of working out!), and even the newscasters can be rather 'quick' for an outsider of a certain age.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: MBSLynne
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 03:36 PM

I find "Go figure" pretty irritating too. I also hate it when people say "We will be taking that on board" On board what?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Lox
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:03 PM

My pet hate is this one, and If you aren't careful I'll tell you why! At length!

"keep it real"

RRAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is it that the people who say that the moost are the ones who are clearlyliving in a complete fantasy world.

Not to mention the fact that it is just a smokescreen to cover up the fact that the half the artists who believe music and performance should be "real" are completely lacking in imagination, and so, unable to transport their audience anywhere of any value other than a police station, they just talk about where they are.

EXCEPT THAT THEY DON'T - They just go on about the same f***ing fantasy reality and it's all bullshit.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:08 PM

I have rarely used "Go figure" and just yesterday I used it......LOL.....oh well...........Next time I'll use my more common, "Can you believe what a ration of shit that is?"

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:20 PM

"I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO SAY THAT."

The only thing I find more irritating than people accusing other people of being predictable is people telling other people what the only appropriate response to something is - especially when they're right.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:21 PM

"That's my favorite food---NOT"

or "NOT" used for anything in this manner. Beyond tedious and inane.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:26 PM

I have disliked that intensely for decades. It's kinda like 'I was hanging on your every fu#kin' word and gee what a surprise to learn at the end of something that bores the shit outta me that you really DON'T think of the peanut butter-coated pastrami as your favourite food'. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to get that out in the open.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:30 PM

Not sure what Peace is trying to say there - but just to clarify: peanut-butter-coated pastrami IS my favourite food. (I hope I'm not being predictable again ... )

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:31 PM

I KNEW you would say something like that. I fu#kin' KNEW it!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: bobad
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:33 PM

I knew you were going to say that (just kiddin')

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:38 PM

2004. I lost a fair amount of weight using carb restriction. In June, I have a heart attack onstage at a festival. I end up in intensive care, instead of heading on to Toronto to sing at Rick's Memorial. Doctor examines me, says its a good thing I lost the weight or I would be dead.

Later, a good friend comes to visit. He says, "I knew you were going to have a heart attack". In front of the Nurse, my wife, my mother, I ask him with not a trace of humor in my voice, "Why the fuck didn't you tell me beforehand when it would have done some good?????". He looked pretty sheepish. I hate stupid questions.

Once I was in transport overseas on a Navy vessel. We were underway in very heavy seas. This young sailor, obviously his first time, was at the rail puking his guts out. The Chief and I are walking by and the Chief asks the kid, "Are you alright?". You should have seen the look on that kids face. Priceless. I was in the Chief's ass for the rest of that transport over that one.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 04:51 PM

"You infidels and despots, we will continue our jihad and never stop until God avails us to chop your necks and raise the fluttering banner of monotheism, when God's rule is established governing all people and nations."

I am so sick of that one.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: frogprince
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 05:01 PM

"No, you ugly old man, I don't want to have sex with you".

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: frogprince
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 05:09 PM

I especially wish my wife would stop saying that to me!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Lox
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 05:11 PM

lol

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,...
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 05:27 PM

Big Mick, that bit about the Chief's ass - I haven't a clue what it means (or at least, when I follow the clues I do have, I'm not sure I can have followed them correctly!).

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 05:38 PM

I think "Go figure" should actually be written "Go f--igure" - it's a polite substitute for something else that is intended. Like saying "O Sh-ugar" when you bang your thumb. (Does anyone still do thaty?)

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Lox
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 05:48 PM

No - I don't bang my thumb.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Grab
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 05:55 PM

These naval men, they have to have something to do on those long nights away from the land... ;-)

I like "go figure". What would you say otherwise, "go and think about it for a while until you reach a conclusion?" Brevity ain't all bad.

What's annoyed me for a while is "the exception that proves the rule". Except of course, if it's an exception then it doesn't do anything of the sort. It was only quite recently that I learnt about the old meaning of "prove", which was "to test" - so it actually means "the exception that tests the rule and shows it's wrong". Since then, it *really* gets on my nerves.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Lox
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 05:56 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 07:03 PM

Eat my shorts
Get a life
Bite me

All totally meaningless to me, it's the sort of thing said by the kind of person who thinks 'absolutely' is an adequate answer to a question!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 07:08 PM

Do you find these things are said to you often? If so, need for self-examination may be indicated.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 07:26 PM

ROFLMAO

That is too funny!!! Just goes to show what happens when you type quick and in the vernacular of the time. "Up the Chief's ass" refers to being on his case, messing with him, taking the piss... I can just imagine what it looks like to others ....... hahahahahahahahaha ....... too long at sea..... I have guests tonight and they are all laughing as I type this.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 07:27 PM

Disgusting things on this thread. DISGUSTING. Keep it up!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: JennieG
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 07:52 PM

Saying "absolutely" when a simple "yes" would suffice!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 07:54 PM

"Your call is important to us . . . ".

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: John O'L
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 07:55 PM

By and large, I think "by and large" is the most meaningless thing I've ever heard.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Beer
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 08:04 PM

"Fuck" "Right On" "Kool" "Eh"

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 08:14 PM

"Have a Nice Day!"

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 08:17 PM

Thank you, Foolestroupe - what a lovely sentiment! I feel so much better I could just hug somebody! You know, now I think I will have a Nice Day! Thank you again!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Lox
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 08:25 PM

"To be honest"

because usually I'm completely mendacious.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Alice
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 09:27 PM

Random

When did "random" suddenly become such a popular word that it is inserted in just about any kind of conversation?   Several years ago when he was still in high school, my son started using the word "random" in odd ways that didn't make sense to me. Now I hear "random" in tv drama dialogue, CSPAN interviews.... What's up with that?
.... and that's another one.... "What's up with that?" It's like, totally random.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Alice
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 09:29 PM

I don't mind "go figure". I used to only hear Jewish people use it along with a shrug and thought it was maybe something from Yiddish translated to English as - go figure.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 09:45 PM

'This expands to "Go and figure it out", and means: "The reasons
for the fact just stated are unknown and possibly unknowable. You
can waste your time thinking about what they might be, if you
choose, but you're not likely to accomplish anything." (Kivi
Shapiro)

   "Go figure" comes from Yiddish Gey vays "Go know". Leo Rosten,
in The Joys of Yinglish (Penguin, 1989, ISBN 0-452-26534-6), says:
"In English, one says, 'Go and see [look, ask, tell]...' Using an
imperative without any link to a conjunction is pure Yiddish, no
doubt derived from the biblical phrase, translated literally:
'Go tell...' 'Go praise the Lord...' (In English this becomes
'Come, let us praise the Lord.')"

   Gianfranco Boggio-Togna writes: "The expressions an Italian is
likely to use to show bafflement correspond exactly to "go figure":
va a capire='go understand' or va a sapere='go know'. The va
a idiom is common in colloquial Italian."'

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Alice
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 09:46 PM

Thanks, Peace, I was searching for that on the web because it seemed to me to be a Jewish idiom. You found it!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 09:53 PM

Your post reminded me that I first heard the expression used in NYC, and the people who used it spoke Yiddish (as well as English). Pearl would say something like, "The man's a complete idiot and STILL he got elected. Go figure!" I still use the expression.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:02 PM

I don't believe I've ever heard anyone say "Go figure." It's always "Go figger" around here.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:02 PM

Yeah. Figger. That's the only way to say it around here, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Deckman
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:14 PM

"NOT A PROBLEM"!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Alice
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:16 PM

"Go figyah" with both palms turned up and the shoulders coming up in a shrug.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:26 PM

LOLOLOL That's Pearl.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:20 PM

Another dislike: "Pass the cup, please and thank you."

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:25 PM

That one only bothers me when I haven't yet emptied the cup - then it really irks me!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:31 PM

I first heard that in a locker room of a dojang.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 11:38 PM

I don't know what a dojang is - some manner of minor Oriental potentate? - something smokable? - something that contains a locker room yet weirdly is contained within a locker room? - on second - or is it third? - thought, I'd prefer not to know.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Slag
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 01:30 AM

OhMyGawd, It's like 7/24 (or is it 24/7, whatever, go figger)so Like I go "Didn't we just do this topic a short time ago? And then like you go "no Man, like I must'a missed it." An' then it's like, well, you know.........."

Scotty, I'm waitinggggggg....

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 04:23 AM

You've all got me laughing this morning, wonderful stuff, my current favourite is, " I'm sorry you appear to have me confused with someone who gives a shit "

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Alice
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 10:38 AM

Slag, another overused saying.... "beam me up, Scottie".
lol ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,Cretinous Yahoo
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 11:27 AM

By and large is an old sailing expression. It made sense back then.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Snuffy
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 11:35 AM

" I'm sorry you appear to have me confused with someone who gives a shit "

If I did give a shit, you would definitely be the first person I gave it to.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: John O'L
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 04:21 PM

Yes Cretinous, I read it was actually "by and learge", but the site where I found that didn't bother to explain what a learge was or what was supposed to be by it. Perhaps further research...but then perhaps I have inadvertantly and incorrectly led you to believe I'm someone who gives a shit.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 09:36 PM

In "webspeak" the last few exchanges are often expressed as:

          DILLIGAS

Or:

          DILLIGAF

The latter appearing on far too many T-shirts and gimme hats in my area.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 10:17 PM

"My bad". This tiresome expression seems to be fading from popularity but one of my carpenters was using it to apologise for his f**kups all too often so I had to ask him when he was going to say,"My good!".vl

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Matt_R
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 02:08 AM

"what's your point"

Why does everything have to have a point?

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:11 AM

there's plenty more fish in the sea....


ggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:34 AM

I'm thanking you...

That has got up my nose since I was a waitress back in 1900and frozen to death..... (alright, 25 years ago)... when one particular regular customer used it EVERY sodding time.... to me, it's even worse than NOT saying thank you at all!

I KNOW you're thanking me... I've just taken your order and served you with a delicious meal of rainbow trout, new potatoes, peas and carrots, with tartare sauce and a lemon wedge followed by apple strudel with clotted cream and a coffee.... 3 courses, 3 times I have to listen to 'I'm thanking you'... ARRRRGGGHHH!!!

I would get a petty revenge by serving their food with 'You're the sausage and chips so you must be the trout.' She never twigged.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: patriot1314
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 05:20 AM

All of the above plus the one that gets me.... "turned round and said"

"You'll never guess what she turned round and said to me"

Conjures up a vision of people spinning round before saying anything

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: John O'L
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:53 AM

Matt R's "What's your point?" reminds me of

"And your point is....?"

That annoys me no end.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Paul Burke
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:18 AM

The status quo is not an option.
That was then, this is now (eternally associated with the Thatcher years).
aka (ditto).

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:55 AM

That annoys me no end

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 09:10 AM

Salesmen (they usually are men), often masquerading as people 'conducting a survey' - What do I think about double glazing/fitted kitchens? - who come to my door and begin by saying 'It's nothing to worry about.'

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Alice
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:16 AM

Well, there's a couple I've never heard before, "I'm thanking you" and "turned round and said". So, how do they use "I'm thanking you". Do you put the food down in front of them and they say, "I'm thanking you" instead of "thanks"?

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:07 AM

When life sends you lemons, make lemonade!

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 11:13 AM

Thats exactly it, Alice. I hate 'just for the record'.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: rock chick
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 12:16 PM

'You must be joking' if i was joking you would know Grrrrrrr

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 03:37 PM

ARE you joking, though?

(Whoops; I'm being predictable again. Sorry!).

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: John O'L
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:01 PM

I knew someone would ping me for that.

(and)

So crucify me.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:52 PM

IF YOU WILL, Another yankee expression coming in to Brit-speak,
IF you will, let me have the licence to lie my ass off. Tony Blair

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: autolycus
Date: 15 Nov 06 - 04:13 PM

i'd like to say a few words in praise of "and you point is?"

   There are people who don't or won't come out with what they are saying, talking in hints and implications instead. An alternative strategy is just to state a fact. The listener is supposed (I suppose) to know what they mean. And, of course, if the listener has an outloud go at guessing the meaning, the original speaker is quite likely to say,"No,I didn't mean that." Well tell me what you DO mean then. (Only if you feel like it.)

   I like to know what the speaker means rather than what I can second-guess them to mean. Aids genuine communication.

   Sometimes the speaker does merely make an observation because something has made them angry, only they don't own their anger.



   (Thyaaaaaaat's better.)




    Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Cod Fiddler
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 05:03 AM

Rather than "Know what I'm saying?" How about, "I know what your saying...". It is usually followed by a big "but" and implies that everything you're saying is nonsense. Terribly rude, but no one realises.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST,PeteG
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 05:32 AM

"Read my lips"

"Do I LOOK as if I .......?"

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 11:36 AM

You bet.I hate this expression.
People who cannot speak more that three words without inserting the word "like" into the sentance.

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Scoville
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 12:45 PM

"Talk to the hand" (Well, Hell--I'm apparently already talking to the ass, so why not?)

"Like" (I, like, find it so, like, annoying when, like, every other, like, word . . . )

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Desdemona
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 02:29 PM

"Have a good one". Good what?

~D

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Alice
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 09:33 PM

"If you will" an American expression? Funny, I've never heard it.

Alice in Montana

Subject: RE: BS: Irritating sayings
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 08:42 PM

Back to back, when what is meant is consecutive.
Back to back would imply reciprocal actions.
Perhaps multisyllabic words are too difficult!
Colyn.