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Phrases you would deep-six.

Think Different?

NATO said:
[rant]

I can't stand people talking about the difference between two things as a 'differential' - I've heard numerous people from North America, particular sports presenters talking about a game having a '2 goal differential'.

it's DIFFERENCE! **DIFFERENCE** The only people who should be talking about differentials are mathematicians and engineers who are performing differential calculus, not some idiot talking about a football score

[/rant]
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I think it's a commonly used word in diagnostic medicine too.
 
sammich said:
I think it's a commonly used word in diagnostic medicine too.
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Yes, it is. Not all the informal uses of it are incorrect, though. An example would be a statement like, "If you're not willing to put in the differential effort to get an A instead of a B, maybe you don't deserve to graduate Summa Cum Laude."

Using it as a noun, though, like the example given in the first post that mentioned it, is not really using it correctly, and is at least needlessly wordy.
 
JohnNotBeatle said:
I create my own phrases as I travel this great land, and wait to hear if any have become part of the common lexicon. I prefer absurdist, non sequitur-style things. Keeps 'em off-balance.

For example: When asked, "How are you doing?", I invariably reply, "Everybody I can." It's also a good way to find out if they're really paying attention.
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My brother has this habit of, when folks ask him "What's up?" he replies "Not me!" He thinks it's funny or something... It gets on my nerves. He keeps doing it too (and he's the eldest)

-

@Ragged: "Deep six" means Buried. Six feet under. Pushing up daisies. Groundhogs are Bringin' Your Mail. Picking Turnips with a Stepladder. Etc etc.
 
me_94501 said:
"Let's talk offline" when two people are already speaking face-to-face.
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So... I don't understand this one. You know that this phrase predates instant messaging and other ways to talk using the internet, don't you?

I can understand disliking a phrase because it's vulgar, antiquated, or hackneyed, but sometimes there's also just being too picky, isn't there?
 
mkrishnan said:
So... I don't understand this one. You know that this phrase predates instant messaging and other ways to talk using the internet, don't you?

I can understand disliking a phrase because it's vulgar, antiquated, or hackneyed, but sometimes there's also just being too picky, isn't there?
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I think he's saying it should be "We should talk online." Offline implies "off the line" or in person. So he hates it when people get online and offline confused.
 
7on said:
I think he's saying it should be "We should talk online." Offline implies "off the line" or in person. So he hates it when people get online and offline confused.
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Perhaps... The most frequent use of "let's talk offline" I hear is face-to-face, though, and correct. It's traditionally used to talk "off the line" in the sense of off the record of a meeting -- i.e. discussing a topic online means continuing to discuss it in the meeting, whereas discussing it offline means discussing it outside of the meeting, typically with a smaller group of most important stakeholders. So the people would still be going offline, even though they are already face to face.
 
7on said:
I think he's saying it should be "We should talk online." Offline implies "off the line" or in person. So he hates it when people get online and offline confused.
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Maybe, but in meetings "We should take that discussion offline" is an indication that the particular subject should not be discussed (for one reason or another) at the current meeting.

<edit> ... so in other words I agree with mkrishnan (a few posts up) ... </edit>
 
mkrishnan said:
Perhaps... The most frequent use of "let's talk offline" I hear is face-to-face, though, and correct. It's traditionally used to talk "off the line" in the sense of off the record of a meeting -- i.e. discussing a topic online means continuing to discuss it in the meeting, whereas discussing it offline means discussing it outside of the meeting, typically with a smaller group of most important stakeholders. So the people would still be going offline, even though they are already face to face.
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This is certainly my experience too.

I would be most happy never again to hear those phrases that are used instead of a single word. For example "at this moment in time" - that would be "now" then...
 
"Hey" - "Is for horses"
"what's up?" - "I don't know, the sky?"

"Git-r-done" for sure

Also, anything with too many "like"s or "oh, my god"s. Anything that ends with an upward inflection when it isn't a question.
 
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