I don't know if all of you are bothered by this or if it's just me and a few of my cranky friends, but what are we to do about over used sayings or word phrases? You know what I mean, something slightly catchy or something Oprah says and before you know it, all of of America is saying the same phrase like it's new, over and over again. The phrase quickly loses meaning, and after that it becomes annoying. At least to me.
Here's my #1 example, I'm not just annoyed by this phrase anymore, now I hate it:
"Everything happens for a reason" This bothers me because a) I think many things happen for a reason, but I think somethings happen because we have free will and we just have to bring meaning to them, and b) I hear it used as an excuse for dumb/wrong choices, "yes I had an affair with my fitness instructor, but everything happens for a reason..".
"Seriously? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" That's Jana's pet-peeve over used phrase. It doesn't bug me too much because I'm usually just glad someone's getting excited over something I told them.
"Life is good" -Jana again.
"It's all good" - the 90's version of Life is Good. While I appreciate the good naturedness behind it, I had a co-worker who said it non-stop and I wanted to make everything bad for him by the time my shift was over.
"Got Milk?" Remember that clever campaign? How could we forget it??!! For years and years since, every one has tried to apply this tired saying to their product: "got sweaters?", "got ink cartridges?" "got Jesus?". Apparently, it never gets old. It is also the incorrect or crass use of language that makes this phrase so terrible.
"My bad" This makes Justin cringe, which makes me crack up. Again, it's the incorrect use of language. That and he doesn't play sports. Or he doesn't know what to say back, "You good"?
I could go on, but instead, I'll let you.
What are some over used phrases you are ready to toss out and why?
What are we suppose to replace these phrases with? Original thought?
*Disclaimer: I am your friend and still will be if you say some of these tired phrases. Who among us doesn't have a few fall backs? "Shut-up!!"
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29 comments:
I told you this one the other day: "But I don't regret a thing because it made me who I am today!" - this is quoted non-stop by celebrity after celebrity.
And of course, "We're BEYOND THRILLED!" when announcing a pregnancy or birth. Again, celebrity phrase. Just once I want to hear, "We weren't that thrilled. We were way way under thrilled by this child" no, that's mean.
Phrases don't generally bother me. I think some of them are generated responses requiring little thought process. Perhaps, the speaker is just not interested in talking much (or thinking about it.
ex: how are you doing? - Good. (or I'm good, its all good).
However, I feel like "don't go there" is a little worn out, and ridiculous sounding.
Then again, I might be saying some of these phrases you mentioned.
Phrases don't generally bother me. I think some of them are generated responses requiring little thought process. Perhaps, the speaker is just not interested in talking much (or thinking about it.
ex: how are you doing? - Good. (or I'm good, its all good).
However, I feel like "don't go there" is a little worn out, and ridiculous sounding.
Then again, I might be saying some of these phrases you mentioned.
Well, one I love to roll my eyes at (or sometimes scream profanities back at the person over) is the "First Amendment says I can say whatever I want". . . Okay, so being an A-hole is protected by the 1st amendment, huh?
I suppose "technically", but come on! When I'm being a jerk and/or idiot (yes, sometimes I can be both at the same time), I at least own up to the fact that I'm being a jerk and/or idiot.
I could ON and ON about people hiding behind or using our Constitution as an excuse for being a jerk and/or idiot, but that's not what your post is talking about (well, specifically).
Oh, I am fully aware that I violate numerous *crinch*"Did she just say that" moments from others (i.e. Awesome, Rad, Dude, Stoked, You've GOT to Be Kidding Me, Lates, Whateva (yes, minus the er), What the What?, You bess be..., Hollah!—okay, the list could go on for quite a while).
I usually tell myself that I could easily revert back to my sailor/truck driving ways and use the OTHER vocabulary list that is ready and waiting for me to use (sometimes they impulsively jump out of hiding).
I guess there ARE worse things that I COULD say (I'm thinking this sentence/excuse could fall under scrutiny as well—have at it!!!)
I refrained from including this in my post, but
"Just Believe"
is at the top of my list. Take that wooden and vinyl letter makers!
"F*ck My Life" Really? Why would you ever say that?
When people add "Just sayin'" at the end of an insult. Is that supposed to make it better that you are mean and have no filter?
I had a coworker that constantly used phrases that drove me nuts!
"I just wanted to make sure we are on the same page."
Any phrase that involves 24/7.
"Oh my heck!"
That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
My sister uses "actually" a lot. So much so that when her youngest girl was 2 she used it pretty frequently too!
"Epic" - that's overused nowadays. We even named our ship the Norwegian Epic... it'll be trendy for maybe another year and then what?
Here are 2 that my MIL says frequently as a preface to practically everything she says,
"So here's the skinny..."
and
"What was I going to say profound?"
Tom and I were JUST talking about this the other night... One that I can't stand lately is that long drawn out "Exaaaaactly."
It's the latest catch-phrase of the so-called "active listener," but it drives me insane when someone says it over and over and over in the same conversation.
Another common one (and a reality show favorite... not that i watch them...) is "I just had to go with my heart." No accountability there.
"Uber". But, mostly spelled oober. When I hear or read people say this, I wonder if they know it once was a real word from a real language, and not just a cutesy made up sound.
"Wallah" goes along with that - the world is Voila! As in "look at that".
But, whatever, I pretty much only speak in cliches. So, I'm, like, over it. Live and let live. No big.
Just thought of another... "Out the door". Hate it
How. About. When. People. Use. Periods. After. Single. Word.? O.v.e.r.u.s.e.d.
Every.
When I was checking out the church before I converted to Mormonism, there were a few phrases I heard that sounded very awkward to me.
1. "investigator" - when checking out a new church, this is a very strange label. I felt like I was perceived as Sherlock Holmes or something. It also implied that reason, not spiritual conversion would be the deciding factor.
2. "Awesome" or "sweet" - both of these were and still are overused. I was shocked at how many times these words would be used to sum up something spiritual like the Temple or the Savior, ad in "the temple is sweet." It made me cringe 14 years ago and it still does today. What surprised me is how often the missionaries would say it (and still do today). I imagine the MTC training for missionaries going to serve in the USA involves an intensive course on how to use these two phrases exclusively to describe anything spiritual.
3. Intel acronymns like "AR"
4. Any f words at all. I can't stand the excitement adults feel when they use f words. I was at a company conference and one of the speakers used it and the crowd cracked up. After that, every speaker used f words and the crowd loved it. I just don't understand the thrill.
I HATE "Everything happens for a reason" with a passion.
Yeah idiot, it's called cause and effect. It's called decision-making. And in the case of reality tv where it is usually used when someone gets voted off, it's called you failed.
I'm getting really tired of "epic".
Anything that originated from Rachael Ray annoys me like "EVOO", or "YUMMO!" - hate that one.
At work, I hate the word "crux", I only hear it at work, and I hear it way too much.
And one of my biggest pet-peeves is when people say "I could care less" because if you could care less then you obviously care to some degree, but it is completely arbitrary because you are not stating how much you care, all we know is that you do care - a lot? a little? we have no idea! However, when stated, people are trying to convey that they do not care, what they should be saying is "I couldn't care less" because if you couldn't care less then you do not care at all. Listen to the words that are coming out of your mouth!
Carrie, don't forget that every time Rachel Ray says EVOO, she then follows it up by explaining to you what EVOO is, in case you missed it the first 1,ooo times! That takes longer than if she just said Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the first place.
I KNOW!!!!!
i just want to shake her sometimes.
"it is what it is"
The only one that bothers me is "my bad". It bothers me because people have replaced "I'm sorry" with this awful phrase. It is not a replacement!
A teenage boy stepped on my toe and almost knocked me down while I was holding my baby. He stopped (at least he stopped) and said, "my bad". I was so infuriated by this and told him, rather harshly, "no, you are sorry. There is a difference"
Pretty much anything written in vinyl letters.
"no worries" bugs.
Do you truly have no worries? Wow. That would be nice.
I'm worried I look fat in these pants.
Alisha, I like the "cranky friends" bit. All of these comments (including mine) reek of crabby old lady.
i thought "no worries" was slang for "don't worry about it".
Exactly! :)
I was nodding in agreement as I read this post and all the comments. "HERE! HERE!" I thought. "People are IDIOTS with the moronic words they speak!"
Then I started picturing the folks in question trying to relay a story in the only language they know. I started to feel badly. ...I'm gonna try super hard to cease my internal eye rolling and scoffing.
...I'm just sayin'
Why are you getting all preachy Crystal?? Just let us get annoyed and feel smug.
"Keep it real"
You're right.
My bad. :)
Not a lot comes to mind, but 'Wicked' - that word has sounded dumb as slang to me since the first time I started hearing it used 7 years ago (can remember the person using it too).
My father-in-law hates the response 'No problem' - I use it all the time & don't plan on stopping b/c I know my intent with it. He thinks it implies that it kind of was a problem & 'you're welcome' should still be used always - which sometimes feels pompous coming out of my mouth, so I go back to 'No problem!' - b/c that's what I literally mean - (oh yeah, along with No worries too :) ).
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