I may be a bit of a weirdo in this respect if you read this and feel rather confuzzled by the sentiment with it, but there are certain words or phrases that I hear in conversation that really make me cringe, irritate me to a great degree or generally leave me feeling a trifle uncomfortable. I thought this would be an interesting post to do (and I'd love it if you chose to do one upon reading it).
We usually share things we love on our blogs, so I thought it would be an interesting difference to highlight something I'm not so keen on. I don't want to come across as a snob or anything, this certainly isn't intended in that way, but irrationally, certain words grate on my nerves. My sister and I had a great time discussing words that creep us out or irritate us!
1. Naff - this word is so beige and of a certain time- I think of the '90's when I hear it. I didn't like it then, I didn't like it now!
2. "On my radar"- I was hesitant to put this in my list as I see it in a lot of bloggers' wishlists or sponsored posts and don't want to offend anyone but it is one of those idioms that I just can't stand and I simply can't fathom why that I dislike it!
3. "At the end of the day....". This is purely a contextual one. If it is being used purely in the sense of denoting a particular deed or act or description of something happening definitely at the end of the day, that's fine, but I hear it being applied liberally to conversation in the context where "In conclusion..." or some summative sentence opener/connective could be used. I think it became a trend after some Big Brother inmate used it almost constantly in conversation. Was it Jade Goody or someone else!?
4. "Innit". This is totally being snobby- I HATE IT! In sixth form, I had a friend who used to say this all the time. Our music teacher decided he was going to start an 'Innit box'- the equivalent of a swear box to stop him saying it. Mind you, he started one for me too because I used to incorrectly say, "Off of,", (e.g. I jumped off of it.).
5. Flesh- my little sister shares the dislike of this word with me. Literally makes my, er.....,SKIN crawl! Especially when said in a mock-creepy voice!
6. Go to- e.g. "This is my go-to handbag!". This one is CBC's contribution to the list. He dislikes this phrase. I wasn't bothered until he said it but yes, not keen on it, now he's drawn my attention to it.
Can't think of any more for the moment, so it is over to you:
Either, a) write a blog post about your 'hit-list' of phrases or words you dislike or leave me some in the comments box! I'd love to know!
Incidently, OSTENSIBLY is my favourite word!
x
Saturday, August 29, 2015
25 comments:
Greetings! Welcome to the maaaaaadness! I am so glad you came to visit and leave me a pretty comment!! Would you like tea and cakes? The books are over on the shelf! I have sofas a-plenty so leave us a friendly comment and I'll pretty much guarantee I'll come a-visiting to you at some point soon!! This blog-post will self-destruct in 2 minutes. Go, type, type, type!!!!! (and put a hat on!)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I hate the word "moist" and people who repeat "like" and "totally."
ReplyDeleteLizzie Dripping
I hate 'gifted'.
ReplyDeleteE.g. I was gifted this bag by oasis!
I use at the end of the day, but not that often :) I don't like the rest either, especially "on my radar" :D
ReplyDeleteNaff makes me cringe too, there's just something about it that I can't stand - the same with words like minger or manky, which was said a lot at school, I just hate it. I'm not a big fan of a lot of slang words in general - that may be a bit snobby of me but when there are so many other, brilliant words you could use, I do't get it! I am guilty of using at the end of the day, but I hope it's sparingly! It's interesting to find out bits and pieces like this, I feel you are and I are quite similar Kezzie! - Tasha
ReplyDeleteI loathe nom - I despise adults using baby talk and it gives me the creeps and I get really annoyed by Brits using Americanisms like gifted and thrifted.
ReplyDeleteI hate the expression "paired" when a blogger describes wearing an item with another one. xxx
When I hear the word "horrific", I want to strangle someone. Say "horrible" or say nothing at all.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, I use a bit, not a lot. It''s kind of "the bottom line is", which many people use. I read the comments and I use like quite a lot :) And totally, a bit, a habit from the years loved in a country where they say loads of times "total", as for totally. On my radar I never used, and flesh - well, my own flesh and blood is allowed, I think! Innit, never used, and let's see the words I don''t like... obviously the f word, so many people used it... and I like Love very much. I think I don't like "wishlist" and "new in", ah, "food porn", too. Creatios of meanings that don't exist- nude color. Nude for? Laila Ali said "nude is not nude for me". Blush dress - it's pale pink. Ladylike, things that put people into categories.
ReplyDeleteLoved your post! Hope you have a beautiful weekend, dear Kezzie!
DenisesPlanet.com
The writer in me embraces all words since, when used appropriately and thoughtfully, all words have the potential for heft and consequence. Even slang has its merits, especially in dialogue when you need a character to sound authentic. That said, I believe the "f" word is the ugliest word in the English language, both to hear and to say - imagine your face when you say it; you get all twisted and pucker-y - but I love me an incongruous pairing of words (pairing; see what I did there? lol) like "What the haysack!" or mixing a word's part of speech in context, like "I can't people today." It just goes to show how language is ever evolving and it's fascinating to ponder where it'll be in twenty years' time. Lemme Google that...
ReplyDeleteIn high school, a pal and I thought up insults that didn't use insulting words. My favorite? "You cardigan!"
DeleteGreat list, and I agree with all except naff, which isn't used in America so it sounds kind of cool to me. However, I hate the British word "Ta" for thank you. It sounds lazy to me. Gratitude deserves more respect than that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helen - the word gifted is so misused. It's a legal term, I believe, not a substitute for "given."
The only phrase that really makes me annoyed is: "Oh my days/oh my god!" said in an overly dramatic tone by a student when they've been caught doing something wrong. Grrrrrr, it makes my hackles rise and is a short-cut to getting a detention!
ReplyDelete"End of the day" AAAAARGH! I heard it coming from the conference room at work on Thurs. GAG!
ReplyDeleteMy current pet peeves:
The very overused "_____ is the new _____"
Unabashedly.
"Elevate" used as "makes something seem more than it really is"
"Curated, Curator" used in a non-fine arts context
The art world has a bunch:
"Gallerist" vs "Dealer"
Art "Practice" vs Art "Work" -- what are you, a paint surgeon?
I'll stop now. I could go on and on.
I am super picky about language and my current disliked phrase is "and all the bits and pieces". I think it's a very lazy and irrelevant thing to say. I don't like "at the end of the day" either but I think I've said it a few times. I'm going to be mindful now and NOT say it EVER! Ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI dislike swear words but I enjoy saying them because they are nasty, the ultimate freedom; you can't go worse than swear words.
ReplyDeleteI strongly dislike the phrase "giving back" in the context of volunteering. I've heard it used so often by people for self-aggrandisement that it makes me want to puke (another word I reaaally dislike).
Also words I hate so much I can barely type them: puss and kunt with a "c."
Clearly, just because I dislike a word doesn't mean I shall stop using it. Ha!
Great post. I was frantically reading the list for all my erroneous and annoying word usage. Hahaha, which is perhaps yet another annoying non-word. Is heh okay? Is okay OK? It never stops. (laughs)
The one that really winds me up is someone calling me 'love' in a shop - okay love? I'M NOT YOUR LOVE!!!!!! It drives me nuts. lol
ReplyDeleteGreat list Kezzie - I think I use At the End of the Day way too much as well - better check that. Sometimes swear words can sound really comical depending on the accent - like someone from Cork letting out a stream of words just makes me laugh - I don't hear the vulgarity in them, but someone from Belfast or Dublin or Glasgow saying the same things scares me.
I'm just brain dead right now and all I can think that annoys me is when someone uses two negative in the same sentence.
ReplyDeleteHave a relaxing weekend Kezzie.
Hugs,
JB
Whew, I'm just glad none of the ones I use made the list. I would have been sad. The following phrases irritate me (well these an 10,000 more)
ReplyDelete1. I know, right?
2. Boom!
3. What's shakin' bacon?
4. What happens in ______ stays in _______
5. Sissypants or other words with "pants" after
All Things Bright and Lovely
I really do hate "literally" being used in a sense that definitely isn't literal. Such as "I literally exploded with rage" (I don't think you did, or else there would be bits of you all over the pavement)
ReplyDeleteAnd while I think it is a very useful word in extreme circumstances I find the f-word unpleasant. And when it is used every other word it becomes meaningless. I remember overhearing two young women talking while I was with my mum...They were using the f-word far too liberally,
"Then I f-ing said to him what the f do you think you're f-ing doing? And he f-ing said I'm f-ing going to the f-ing pub. etc etc"
Mum turned to me and said "What do you think they say when they are really angry?!"
My sister hates the word moist.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of "rectify". I have to use it in translations all the time ("to rectify this, do X") and it always makes me think of rectums. That's probably just me being weird though (but I bet everyone who reads this comment now thinks of rectums when they see rectify! ;-))
Bevchen, you've ruined this word for me now!
DeleteFor me, it's teachers who say 'Shut up' ALL the time. What's wrong with all the politer alternatives and keeping this one for REAL irritation???! Jx
ReplyDeleteYesterday I went to Go Ape and I saw the strap line was 'Live life adventurously' Adventurously didn't sit well with me at all.
ReplyDeleteI hate anything TOWIE - Totes, Reem (what does that even mean??), well jel - just speak properly.
But worst of all - moist *shudders*
I use 'go-to', but you might have put me off it now!
I used to know a girl who would tell you all about a conversation she'd had like this
ReplyDelete'then I turned around and said....then he turned around and said....so I turned around and said....but then he turned around and said' I used to visualise her spinning round during all her conversations to get me through the irritation!
Haha! Trouble is, now I've read them, they'll be squirrelled in my subconscience and burst out when I least expect it.
ReplyDeleteI just love FEASIBLE. No clue why. But it exudes positivity I think. :)
I dislike 'look' when it is used at the start of the sentence for example: 'Look,....'
ReplyDeleteI mean sometimes it sounds alright, but it is overly use....and I dislike people using 'like' instead of direct and indirect speech..... for example: ' he was like, and then I was like, and she was like...!' That really annoys me.