Words or phrases that annoy you (even if you can't explain why) . . .

[Kristy1989]

I can't stand the word "vibe". example: "This empty building gives backroom vibes" or "That aquarium screensaver is such a vibe" and "Look at that cat over there, he's just vibing".

Also, loose instead of lose.

 

[rm5]

I just came across "wen," short for "when." And no, this is not a one-off thing. Literally people don't want to spend a fraction of a second typing the "h." Unbelievable.

 

[VisceralRealist]

I can't stand the word "vibe". example: "This empty building gives backroom vibes" or "That aquarium screensaver is such a vibe" and "Look at that cat over there, he's just vibing".

Also, loose instead of lose.

Disliking "vibe" is a mood.

 

[Doctor Q]

I don't mind young people having their private jokes, but I know a lot of people, including many teachers, are annoyed by 6-7.

 

[dotnet]

I just came across "wen," short for "when." And no, this is not a one-off thing. Literally people don't want to spend a fraction of a second typing the "h." Unbelievable.

See? This is what happens when people don't aspirate words like when.

 

[Apple_Robert]

‘Let me be clear.’

I can’t stand that phrase.

No one ever prevents the person speaking from being clear except the person speaking. No need to say such to the audience.

 

[Mousse]

‘Let me be clear.’

Ah. The cousin of, "I'm going to be honest here." What? You've lying all this time?🧐

 

[polyphenol]

See? This is what happens when people don't aspirate words like when.

Ex-aspirates me.

 

[polyphenol]

"Up to 80% off"
"More than 20% less"
And all the other ways people use what are at least superficially contradictory words within a phrase.
Why can't we go down to 80% off?

Even if re-reading makes it clear, this approach causes a mental stutter. Maybe that is the intent of those who habitually use this approach?

 

[Gregg2]

Ah. The cousin of, "I'm going to be honest here." What? You've lying all this time?🧐

The sibling of "If I'm being honest…" So how do we tell when you're not?

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

See? This is what happens when people don't aspirate words like when.

I've had my nasal cavities aspirated. I wouldn't do that to a nice word like when.

 

[chown33]

I've had my nasal cavities aspirated.

I bet that sucked. Literally.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Another thing that really draws my listening ire, is hearing someone ask a question and then answer it, as if the the people listening actually asked the question. If you want to tell me something, tell me directly. Don't assume to answer a question that wasn't asked of you. It makes you look and sound uncouth.

 

[adrianlondon]

Another thing that really draws my listening ire, is hearing someone ask a question and then answer it, as if the the people listening actually asked the question. If you want to tell me something, tell me directly. Don't assume to answer a question that wasn't asked of you. It makes you look and sound uncouth.

So, you want my opinion?

I agree with you.

 

[Mac Geezer]

Using the word 'decimate' to describe injuries encountered by a sports team. It's so over-used that it means nothing. It's supposed to mean reduced by a tenth. Now it could mean anything from a couple of starting pitchers need Tommy John Surgery to losing your quarterback to ACL surgery.

 

[adrianlondon]

Using the word 'decimate' to describe injuries encountered by a sports team. It's so over-used that it means nothing. It's supposed to mean reduced by a tenth. Now it could mean anything from a couple of starting pitchers need Tommy John Surgery to losing your quarterback to ACL surgery.

The team was decimated! They literally died out there.

 

[Mousse]

Using the word 'decimate' to describe injuries encountered by a sports team. It's so over-used that it means nothing. It's supposed to mean reduced by a tenth. Now it could mean anything from a couple of starting pitchers need Tommy John Surgery to losing your quarterback to ACL surgery.

Sports. That explains it.🤓 That's not the worst misuse of a word by someone in sports. Matriculate lost its meaning once the NFL got hold of it. Thank you, Hank Stram.😑

 

[Mac Geezer]

Hank Stram is allowed to do that. Sometimes when a titan like him bends/mangles the language or expands its usage, it’s the language itself that has to yield. See: Dizzy Dean, Casey Stengal and of course the great Yogi Berra.

 

[Gregg2]

There's a basketball announcer on the Big Ten Network that thinks "ginger" can be used the same way as "gingerly". As in, "He got up a little ginger." NO!

And, I roll my eyes at "Jones takes the shot. No." (meaning he missed) One guy has the absolute worst inflection on that call. And, "Jones takes the shot. Too strong!" But they say that when it really doesn't apply. It's just a verbal reflex.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Hank Stram is allowed to do that. Sometimes when a titan like him bends/mangles the language or expands its usage, it’s the language itself that has to yield. See: Dizzy Dean, Casey Stengal and of course the great Yogi Berra.

Cultural context is such an interesting thing.

As someone native to the British Isles, whose cultural references tend (mainly) to be British, Irish, or European, I can honestly say (write?) that I have never heard of a single name in your post, and the entire point eludes me.

However, re the wider point - that of excusing illiterate and inarticulate sportspeople who are busily strangling language as they attempt to express themselves, - no, to my mind, they are not "allowed" to do that.

 

[mollyc]

Cultural context is such an interesting thing.

As someone native to the British Isles, whose cultural references tend (mainly) to be British, Irish, or European, I can honestly say (write?) that I have never heard of a single name in your post, and the entire point eludes me.

However, re the wider point - that of excusing illiterate and inarticulate sportspeople who are busily strangling language as they attempt to express themselves, - no, to my mind, they are not "allowed" to do that.

That's okay, I'm an American and I have no idea who any of those people are either.

 

[VulchR]

Sports. That explains it.🤓 That's not the worst misuse of a word by someone in sports. Matriculate lost its meaning once the NFL got hold of it. Thank you, Hank Stram.😑

I work at a university and our students matriculate. I have no idea what joining an institution has to do with moving a football downfield. WTF?

I suppose it could be worse - they could be masticating the football downfield... makes about as much sense.

The team was decimated! They literally died out there.

At least a tenth of them. 🤕

 

[Arran]

I work at a university and our students matriculate. I have no idea what joining an institution has to do with moving a football downfield. WTF?

Matriculate is just so random.

May as well keep digging: Henceforth, a touchdown will be referred to as the ball graduating You heard it here first.

 

[polyphenol]

"Up to 80% off"
"More than 20% less"
And all the other ways people use what are at least superficially contradictory words within a phrase.
Why can't we go down to 80% off?

Even if re-reading makes it clear, this approach causes a mental stutter. Maybe that is the intent of those who habitually use this approach?

And the current advert: "Five times less scrubbing"

Quite simply, NO! "A fifth the scrubbing"?

 

[Arran]

And the current advert: "Five times less scrubbing"

Quite simply, NO! "A fifth the scrubbing"?

BAM! They got you.

You (like any reasonable person) concluded that it meant one fifth of the scrubbing, right?

What the ad people really meant was that you should say "less scrubbing" five times: "Less scrubbing, less scrubbing, less scrubbing, less scrubbing, less scrubbing" It's a lovely mantra, but not quantifiable. It could mean 80% less scrubbing or it could mean 0.0001 less scrubbing. Neither outcome would be deemed a lie if it wound up in court.