what phrases do you hate?

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 02:04 PM

"Overarching," as in "Our company's 'overarching' concern is. . . ."

I first heard that when I was working for the telephone company (Lili Tomlin had it about right). I gagged then, and I still gag whenever I hear someone use the expression. It's sort of a Madison Avenue gas attack.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 08:28 PM

He's got game.
Let's do lunch.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Slag
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 01:23 AM

Here's one of, if not the TOP hated phrase:

"Your call is really important to us."
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
BS. If my call was REALLY important a human being would be answering it.

A close second is "Please hold" Hey, you answered the phone so deal with me. If someone is ahead of me, deal with them, then answer my call.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: JennieG
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 01:30 AM

It is a sad but true fact the the English language (and for all I know, other languages too) is constantly changing and evolving.

Doesn't mean that we have to like it, but it is going to happen anyway.

And before you all think I am being righteous - there are certain expressions that make me wince too!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Gurney
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 04:01 AM

Slag, try to hear Les Barker doing 'Voicemail.'

"Have a nice day!"       I just bought SANDPAPER AND PAINT, you idiot!

"Have you been saved?"

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 07:14 AM

One I used to use myself until I realise how much it really peeved me when I heard Joey from Friends using it...

How you doing?

I mean... how you doing what? What's wrong with 'how are you?'
'What are you doing?'

Mutter mutter, darkly darkly....

LTS

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 12:41 PM

Noting is ever more innocuous that referring to anything by saying

"Ya! That's a CLASSIC"

A more inane and vacuous statement has yet to be uttered by the human race

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 12:53 PM

Especialy when refering to the latest bit of dross from whoever is the current fad in bum wiggling, croaking, plastic pop!

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 01:02 PM

Like that's in any way worse than a fat old guy in a cable knit sweater droning on and on and on about a past that never really existed?

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 01:09 PM

My hate is someone going on about something and then at the end of it saying "Well I don't know". Why talk about the bloody thing in the first place.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 01:10 PM

Have a nice day
24-7
irregardless
in the fullness of time
We'll have to priorize that
window of opportunity
blowout sale
pre owned

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 02:02 PM

It's all go

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 02:28 PM

Nah - suppose not Clinton. Just annoys me more:-)

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 03:08 PM

Too bad you never got to meet my Dad, Clinton... ;-)

What the hell is a "cable knit sweater"?

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 03:10 PM

Cable knit sweater.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 03:13 PM

Yeah, that's what I figured. God, are they ever ugly!

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 04:06 PM

My brother-in-law is an accounting professor at the University of Wisconsin - but he's a philosopher at heart and wrote his dissertation on ethics in accounting. He takes a cynical view of the MBA's graduating from his program, and tries to ensure they keep a human perspective instead of a corporate one.

So, he plays "buzzword bingo" in class. Any time somebody uses a business buzzword, the entire class responds with loud razzberry sounds. Occasionally, my brother-in-law will get caught himself - but not often.

He also uses a lot of puns in his counter-corporate campaign. He contends these puns have a very important humanizing effect. His wife (my sister) and I disagree - we think the damn puns are obnoxious.

But I wish there were more business professors like my brother-in-law.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 05:20 PM

Joe, I respect you as though you were my own brother, but YOUR brother is right. Puns are fun, and require a desterous mind to make a really good one. Why I, myself, have been known to play with words just for the pun of it. ;>)

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Slag
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 05:55 PM

Week, John, 7/24 week.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 06:09 PM

A notorious punster in Olde Englande was told by the King that if he made anymore puns he would be hanged. He was unable to contain himself and he did indeed tell another. The King found out and he was hauled to the gallows. The King, wishing to be perceived by his subjects as a warm-hearted monarch said, "If you swear NEVER to tell another as long as you live, I will allow you to leave." The punster said, "Thank you my Lord. No noose is good noose." THE ENDE

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 06:32 PM

Mind you, it just struck me, the old fat bloke in the cable knit sweater (Arran is earlier to type btw) is more likely to sing 'Stairway to heaven' than is the bum-wiggling, mini-skirted totty. So I take it back, Clinton, it is worse.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: SussexCarole
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 06:47 PM

"Touch Base" and "Team Player"    arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 10:26 PM

Someone mentioned "pre-owned". I'm puzzled over the phrase "certified pre-owned" in car ads. I guess they guarantee that the car is used, whereas if it isn't certified, it's possible that the car may actually not be used at all. I'd sure be pissed if I was buying a used car and got a brand new one instead at the same price.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Slag
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 11:02 PM

RangerSteve! You have just impacted the tapred iron stud upon the flattened upper extremity! Well done!

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 11:31 PM

Vote for me and I will . . . .

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 11:42 PM

"Free gift."

Well, gloriosky! Does that mean they're giving me a gift and I don't have to pay for it? What do they call a gift that isn't free?

SHEESH!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 12:04 AM

We're from the government and we want to help . . .

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 12:58 AM

Tax audit.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 12:59 AM

"Now, isn't THAT interesting" from a doctor or dentist.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 05:33 AM

Strangers who call me "love", "chicken" etc.

"Bear with me for a moment". *Bear* with me? Do they know what that means?

"If you wish to talk to sales, please press 1..."

All illiteracies that misinterpret a common phrase, such as "hone in on".

New coinages when a proper word exists - can't think of any, but very common in business language.

Migrating emphasis in words - CONtemplative instead of conTEMPlative, INVisible instead of inVISible and the like.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 05:44 AM

operationalization - I think it means 'start'.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Slag
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 06:07 PM

"utilize" or "utilization" when most often the correct word is simply "use". It sounds very pretentious.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 06:11 PM

This will just take a minute.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Don Firth
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 06:42 PM

Whenever it's said by my barber or my dentist:   "Oops!"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 06:44 PM

Wot's a barber?

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 10:34 PM

a barber is a cross between a Berber and a barbarian. I have been successfully avoiding them since summer, 1977.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 10:40 PM

Got it, Bill. So, they ride horses, right?

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Slag
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 10:49 PM

Trust me. I know what I'm doing.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: JennyO
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 11:57 PM

"I think I missed the turnoff."

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 12:07 AM

What happens when ya push THIS?

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: JennyO
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 12:15 AM

"Pull over, ma'am."

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Peace
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 12:18 AM

Put your hands on the car and step beckwards . . . .

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 21 Aug 06 - 02:30 PM

Thirty years ago, but I still wake up screaming:

'Now, I ken fine you're all enjoying the band, and havin' a wee bit tae drink, but here's my friend come all the way from England to Glasgow for ma weddin'! He's no expecting this, but I know he'll gie us a song! Find the man a guitar, will ye!'

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 21 Aug 06 - 05:04 PM

"Still waiting for Jews to riot" It's getting tiresome.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: DMcG
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 06:01 AM

"That's just sematics" (and similar phrases)

Usually people mean 'splitting hairs' when they say that, but that is not what 'semantics' means. Is it possible to have a rational argument without paying attention to the semantics?

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: GUEST,Bruce Baillie
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 07:42 AM

...and I forgot to mention 'Sleeping together', now come on, you fucked, shagged, made love, copulated, made a beast with two backs, had a tumble, played around, had sex or whatever! but at no time during the event were you ASLEEP!!!

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 08:39 AM

I've noticed there are a lot of companies that don't provide products or services anymore. They provide "business solutions"!

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 10:16 AM

I can't believe no one has mentioned "I won't lie to you." Whenever I hear that, I know the person is about to begin lying.
"To Tell the truth," does this mean the person has been lying all along?
Hang in there.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: leeneia
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 11:21 AM

Here are two habits people have developed that I dislike because they convey "You are so unimportant that I don't even want to waste a few words on you."

One is when people announce themselves merely by saying their own names, like this:
---------
The phone was ringing.
"Hello."
"Leeneia? John Paul Jones."
-------
I want to say, "What about him? If you want to speak to him, you've called the wrong number. He's been dead quite some time, anyway."


The other situation is when I am waiting on a customer in the fabric & craft store, and another person barges up to the table and snaps out a single word at me, paying no attention the fact that it's not her turn and that I need to concentrate when I use computerizd equipment.

One day a burb-bitch came up and snapped, "Frogs?"

I could have said, "Are you looking for

    fabric with frogs printed on it,
    for Chinese-style frogs for closing a garment,
    for the wire frogs used to arrange flowers,
    for a stuffed frog toy,
    or a ceramic garden frog?"

Instead I followed the policy I had worked out already and ignored her existence.

Subject: RE: what phrases do you hate?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 11:34 AM

I'm already weary of "Snakes on a plane"