When I hear certain phrases uttered I have an almost physical reaction to them. And for a moment… just a split second, of course, because I’m not a violent person… I want to rip the speaker’s lungs out right through his nose.
I think everyone has phrases, or words, that can drive them almost instantly into the red zone.
Often it’s the way people are using the words, and not the words themselves that are the problem for me. Phrases that surge in popularity tend to be lazy, fluffy and … let’s face it.. basically meaningless. They’re a waste of breath and a waste of my time. (And on occasion they’re just flat out wrong.)
For this list I stuck to just thirteen fifteen of my madness inducing phrases. But trust me, it could easily be three times as long and still not complete.
Now, that fact might cause some to argue that my list of teeth-gnashing phrases is longer than most. I guess I can’t argue with that. Perhaps I’m just easily irritated.
(Oh, and I apologize if I‘ve managed to use one of YOUR most hated phrases anywhere in this post. Deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Hang in there. The urge to kill will pass soon. I promise.)
Phrase #1: “Gone missing”
[And the related, “Went missing.†This one only annoys me when Americans use it, particularly so-called journalists. Brits you go right ahead.]
Phrase #2: “At the end of the day”
Phrase #3: “I know, right?”
[Well do you know, or are you not sure? Please decide before you speak.]
Phrase #5: “With all due respect”
Phrase #6: “I could care less”
[It’s COULDN’T people… sheesh!]
Phrase #7: “Now granted”
Phrase #8: “Literally”
[When what the speaker is saying is clearly figurative]
Phrase #9: “To be honest”
[Runner up, and really the same thing…”To tell you the truth”]
Phrase #10: “Mute point”
[Uh, you mean “moot” people.]
Phrase #11: “On accident”
[That would be “By accident”… sigh. What are you? A three year old?]
Phrase #12: “That being said”
[Why must you torture me like this?]
Phrase #13: “It’s on my bucket list”
[No, just no.]
You know, just creating this list was kind of cathartic. Maybe it works like aversion therapy. Forcing myself to write them down may have desensitized me a bit.
You should try it. List your most hated phrases below if you like. Get them off your chest. It’s a safe place here. We won’t judge… much.
PS – Bonus: I have one to add to the list. Phrase #14: “I mean” – This one is not new, it stretches back I suppose to the 70’s at least. But I detect a distinct uprising in its use the last couple of years. After having just listened to a conversation in which it was used at least a half a dozen times (maybe more), I realized it had finally tripped my madness meter.
UPDATE: Just recently added to the list. Phrase #15: “Walked it back”
[TV “journalists” commenting on political issues are particularly enamored of this one.]
