Words/phrases I wish would go away

[js82]

I knew a guy named "Jon" who insisted we pronounce it "Shawn" (Sean).  I can't imagine going through life having to correct everyone EVERY Single TIME.

My mother pronounces "Norfolk, VA" as "Nahfahk".  She's not from there and it sounds ridiculous.  She says "that's how they pronounce it!"  I do not care.  I also pronounce Nev-AH-da, and I enunciate ALL the letters in Baltimore even though they do not.  Sometimes I ask her how she pronounces New York and Boston or even Germany because it sounds a lot different from locals.  She doesn't care and that kind of makes it cute at this stage.

The second "c" in Connecticut  is silent but I've heard  the word pronounced as if it isn't.

Illi-noise is one I hear pretty frequently. Never heard a Connect-icut in the wild :D

I prefer "Ill-eh-nwaw," personally. ;)

[Monocle Money Mouth]

I knew a guy named "Jon" who insisted we pronounce it "Shawn" (Sean).  I can't imagine going through life having to correct everyone EVERY Single TIME.

My mother pronounces "Norfolk, VA" as "Nahfahk".  She's not from there and it sounds ridiculous.  She says "that's how they pronounce it!"  I do not care.  I also pronounce Nev-AH-da, and I enunciate ALL the letters in Baltimore even though they do not.  Sometimes I ask her how she pronounces New York and Boston or even Germany because it sounds a lot different from locals.  She doesn't care and that kind of makes it cute at this stage.

The second "c" in Connecticut  is silent but I've heard  the word pronounced as if it isn't.

Illi-noise is one I hear pretty frequently. Never heard a Connect-icut in the wild :D

I prefer "Ill-eh-nwaw," personally. ;)

Ooh la la Mr. Frenchy Pants. :D

[John Galt incarnate!]

Valentine's Day is a day of love and romance and sex and pillow talk.

On Valentine's Day I saw it abbreviated  "VD."

EEK!

[Dicey]

Valentine's Day is a day of love and romance and sex and pillow talk.

On Valentine's Day I saw it abbreviated  "VD."

EEK!

In high school, I had a classmate named "Valerie Dennis". One day a teacher had a list of essay topics listed on the board. We were instructed to come to the board as we were called on and put our initials next to the topic of our choice. When it was her turn, this classmate bucked the trend and wrote "Val D" instead of just her initials. How awful for her to sit there waiting for her turn to be called, and what a wise workaround she devised! On reflection, this teacher was such a weirdo that he probably invented this whole scenario just to see her squirm.

[John Galt incarnate!]

Valentine's Day is a day of love and romance and sex and pillow talk.

On Valentine's Day I saw it abbreviated  "VD."

EEK!

In high school, I had a classmate named "Valerie Dennis". One day a teacher had a list of essay topics listed on the board. We were instructed to come to the board as we were called on and put our initials next to the topic of our choice. When it was her turn, this classmate bucked the trend and wrote "Val D" instead of just her initials. How awful for her to sit there waiting for her turn to be called, and what a wise workaround she devised! On reflection, this teacher was such a weirdo that he probably invented this whole scenario just to see her squirm.

What a louse!

[Dicey]

Valentine's Day is a day of love and romance and sex and pillow talk.

On Valentine's Day I saw it abbreviated  "VD."

EEK!

In high school, I had a classmate named "Valerie Dennis". One day a teacher had a list of essay topics listed on the board. We were instructed to come to the board as we were called on and put our initials next to the topic of our choice. When it was her turn, this classmate bucked the trend and wrote "Val D" instead of just her initials. How awful for her to sit there waiting for her turn to be called, and what a wise workaround she devised! On reflection, this teacher was such a weirdo that he probably invented this whole scenario just to see her squirm.

What a louse!

He was an odd duck. He would would record a well-known radio show that played all kinds of crazy shit and then play it at low volume during tests. Damn if you didn't catch yourself listening to it when you should have been concentrating on your test.

[Loretta]

“Dumpster fire” used to describe a small inconvenient problem.  So overly dramatic. 

[sui generis]

“Dumpster fire” used to describe a small inconvenient problem.  So overly dramatic.

Aww, I love dumpster fire! I mean, isn't a dumpster fire in fact a small inconvenient problem in the scale of fires? It's contained, it's much smaller than a building, usually there aren't, like, humans inside that could be in danger of their lives. Sounds like accurate level of drama!

[John Galt incarnate!]

“Dumpster fire” used to describe a small inconvenient problem.  So overly dramatic.

I've only heard or read the phrase to mean an actual fire in a dumpster.

[John Galt incarnate!]

Sonny is today's entry in the file of misspelled words.

I was reading some residential  energy-audit reports  and in one the auditor had to describe the weather on the day of the audit.

He wrote  that it was sonny instead of sunny.

[John Galt incarnate!]

Valentine's Day is a day of love and romance and sex and pillow talk.

On Valentine's Day I saw it abbreviated  "VD."

EEK!

In high school, I had a classmate named "Valerie Dennis". One day a teacher had a list of essay topics listed on the board. We were instructed to come to the board as we were called on and put our initials next to the topic of our choice. When it was her turn, this classmate bucked the trend and wrote "Val D" instead of just her initials. How awful for her to sit there waiting for her turn to be called, and what a wise workaround she devised! On reflection, this teacher was such a weirdo that he probably invented this whole scenario just to see her squirm.

What a louse!

He was an odd duck. He would would record a well-known radio show that played all kinds of crazy shit and then play it at low volume during tests. Damn if you didn't catch yourself listening to it when you should have been concentrating on your test.

What a creepy oddball!

[BlueHouse]

why are so many people using "circa" recently instead of "about" or "approximately"? 

I thought circa was used mainly when referring to dates, and in the sense that you don't know the exact number.    So when someone says they make circa $50K, do they not know what they earn?  Or is this just the new term-du-jour?

[soccerluvof4]

Democratic Socialist

[GuitarStv]

Democratic Socialist

Agreed.  It's superfluous . . . as we already have 'sensible'.

[Miss Piggy]

why are so many people using "circa" recently instead of "about" or "approximately"? 

I thought circa was used mainly when referring to dates, and in the sense that you don't know the exact number.    So when someone says they make circa $50K, do they not know what they earn?  Or is this just the new term-du-jour?

Ugh. I'm seeing "circa" used in restaurant names now, too. I guess it's supposed to imply foods from around the area. Just stop.

[sui generis]

"I'm a data person."

Usually said by a person bragging about having obtained a single statistic or "fact" enabling them to rationalize a decision they had already made.  I swear I've heard this a half dozen times this week at least.

[solon]

why are so many people using "circa" recently instead of "about" or "approximately"? 

I thought circa was used mainly when referring to dates, and in the sense that you don't know the exact number.    So when someone says they make circa $50K, do they not know what they earn?  Or is this just the new term-du-jour?

Ugh. I'm seeing "circa" used in restaurant names now, too. I guess it's supposed to imply foods from around the area. Just stop.

I've never seen this. Does anyone have an example?

[GreenSheep]

"I'm a data person."

Usually said by a person bragging about having obtained a single statistic or "fact" enabling them to rationalize a decision they had already made.  I swear I've heard this a half dozen times this week at least.

This made me think of all the people who say, "I'm a visual person." Aside from those who are blind, it seems that all humans are very visual. Even in our language, we can't escape it. "It looks like..." "It appears that..." "Do you see what I mean?" "Look, what I mean is..." Relying heavily on your eyes doesn't make you special. In fact, I would argue that those who are able to navigate the world without sight are the particularly talented ones.

[Miss Piggy]

why are so many people using "circa" recently instead of "about" or "approximately"? 

I thought circa was used mainly when referring to dates, and in the sense that you don't know the exact number.    So when someone says they make circa $50K, do they not know what they earn?  Or is this just the new term-du-jour?

Ugh. I'm seeing "circa" used in restaurant names now, too. I guess it's supposed to imply foods from around the area. Just stop.

I've never seen this. Does anyone have an example?

Nashville: https://circagrill.com/our-story/

St. Louis: https://www.stlmag.com/dining/now-open-circa-stl-in-des-peres-square/

Seattle: https://www.circalove.com/

Las Vegas: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2020/01/22/las-vegas-circa-resort-casino-restaurants-pool-food-steak-bbq/4543257002/

...to name a few.

[John Galt incarnate!]

Today, Trump did it AGAIN.

He uttered "tremendous," AGAIN.

Is Trump capable of flapping his yap without saying "tremendous"?

I CAN'T STAND IT!

[iris lily]

...

Is Trump capable of flapping his yap without saying "tremendous"?

I CAN'T STAND IT!

Yes. His other T word is “ Terrific.”

Try to keep up.

Ha ha, I had exactly the same thought as you last week when I listen to a bit of a press conference. Those keywords were uttered in the short time I listened to it and I suppose throughout the broadcast.

[GreenSheep]

...

Is Trump capable of flapping his yap without saying "tremendous"?

I CAN'T STAND IT!

Yes. His other T word is “ Terrific.”

Try to keep up.

Ha ha, I had exactly the same thought as you last week when I listen to a bit of a press conference. Those keywords were uttered in the short time I listened to it and I suppose throughout the broadcast.

Oh, but come on, it makes for a great drinking game! :-) One sip of a quarantini every time he says either word. I counted 9 tremendouses in the first few minutes of the last press conference I listened to. Might be best to water down your quarantini!

https://thenovicechefblog.com/quarantini/

(This feels like it needs a disclaimer. I am taking this situation seriously, following public health recommendations, staying home, and sticking to my usual 2 drinks per week limit. Sometimes a bit of humor helps with a difficult situation.)

[Luke Warm]

in a nutshell. i seem to be hearing that a lot lately. why a nutshell?

[Kris]

in a nutshell. i seem to be hearing that a lot lately. why a nutshell?

In complicated, uncertain times, people seek easy explanations. Maybe that's why?

[frugalnacho]

in a nutshell. i seem to be hearing that a lot lately. why a nutshell?

In complicated, uncertain times, people seek easy explanations. Maybe that's why?

This is it, in a nutshell.

[Morning Glory]

"level set"
 I started hearing that one from management types just recently.

[sui generis]

This is a bit of a funny article with highlights from a twitter thread on who you find out your spouse is now that you are co-workers at home.  I'm sure many of these have been featured in this thread, or will be after we've all been working at home with our partners/roommates for a few more weeks. 

A funny thing about quarantining is hearing your partner in full work mode for the first time. Like, I’m married to a “let’s circle back” guy — who knew?

https://www.workingmother.com/spouses-share-hilarious-things-theyve-learned-about-their-partner-working-from-home

[Roadrunner53]

at a granular level

Can't we use language for the average Joe?

[DoubleDown]

"I'm a data person."

Usually said by a person bragging about having obtained a single statistic or "fact" enabling them to rationalize a decision they had already made.  I swear I've heard this a half dozen times this week at least.

This made me think of all the people who say, "I'm a visual person." Aside from those who are blind, it seems that all humans are very visual. Even in our language, we can't escape it. "It looks like..." "It appears that..." "Do you see what I mean?" "Look, what I mean is..." Relying heavily on your eyes doesn't make you special. In fact, I would argue that those who are able to navigate the world without sight are the particularly talented ones.

Similarly, people who claim to have a "photographic memory." IF such a phenomenon even exists (it probably doesn't), it's likely so rare as to be possessed by a handful of people in the history of humankind. Yet, I hear many people claim to have it. I'm thinking, "Really? So if I show you a page in a book, you can recite it back to me verbatim after you 'photograph' it in your mind?"

[frugalnacho]

You can remember a lot of details and store some of that information in the form of pictures.  That's not photographic memory, that's just regular memory.

[Travis]

"I'm a data person."

Usually said by a person bragging about having obtained a single statistic or "fact" enabling them to rationalize a decision they had already made.  I swear I've heard this a half dozen times this week at least.

This made me think of all the people who say, "I'm a visual person." Aside from those who are blind, it seems that all humans are very visual. Even in our language, we can't escape it. "It looks like..." "It appears that..." "Do you see what I mean?" "Look, what I mean is..." Relying heavily on your eyes doesn't make you special. In fact, I would argue that those who are able to navigate the world without sight are the particularly talented ones.

Similarly, people who claim to have a "photographic memory." IF such a phenomenon even exists (it probably doesn't), it's likely so rare as to be possessed by a handful of people in the history of humankind. Yet, I hear many people claim to have it. I'm thinking, "Really? So if I show you a page in a book, you can recite it back to me verbatim after you 'photograph' it in your mind?"

Allegedly there are a few such people out there. I saw a show with a guy who can draw or paint in fine detail something he observed for a few minutes (the cityscape of New York from a helicopter window was the test they gave him).  I saw another interview with a woman who claimed to be able to remember everything that happened in her life. According to her it sucks. It's not just that she remembers everything, she can't forget even the crappy parts of her life.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2017/apr/27/the-perfect-memory-does-it-even-exist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthymesia

[Dicey]

"I'm a data person."

Usually said by a person bragging about having obtained a single statistic or "fact" enabling them to rationalize a decision they had already made.  I swear I've heard this a half dozen times this week at least.

This made me think of all the people who say, "I'm a visual person." Aside from those who are blind, it seems that all humans are very visual. Even in our language, we can't escape it. "It looks like..." "It appears that..." "Do you see what I mean?" "Look, what I mean is..." Relying heavily on your eyes doesn't make you special. In fact, I would argue that those who are able to navigate the world without sight are the particularly talented ones.

Similarly, people who claim to have a "photographic memory." IF such a phenomenon even exists (it probably doesn't), it's likely so rare as to be possessed by a handful of people in the history of humankind. Yet, I hear many people claim to have it. I'm thinking, "Really? So if I show you a page in a book, you can recite it back to me verbatim after you 'photograph' it in your mind?"

Allegedly there are a few such people out there. I saw a show with a guy who can draw or paint in fine detail something he observed for a few minutes (the cityscape of New York from a helicopter window was the test they gave him).  I saw another interview with a woman who claimed to be able to remember everything that happened in her life. According to her it sucks. It's not just that she remembers everything, she can't forget even the crappy parts of her life.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2017/apr/27/the-perfect-memory-does-it-even-exist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthymesia

IIRC (snirt), the actress Marilu Henner has this ability.

[slackmax]

Those oh-so-cute commercials that have to turn a noun into a verb. Eg. 'Change the way you vitamin!' for a vitamin commercial.

or, equally awful... 'Use Joe's restaurant when you're Pizzaing!'

Ugh.... Why?  Just why?..... 

They do get my attention, and make me avoid them.   

[sui generis]

Yeah, I wonder if we're just biased or if it's not true that people turn nouns into verbs more often nowadays.  And it's not just English. I asked my Spanish instructor how to say "to Google" and he said they turn any noun into a verb by adding -ear to the end, and it's super common.

[John Galt incarnate!]

Spair is today's entry in the file of misspelled words.

I've never seen it until this morning.

Someone was selling a bike that included a spair seat.

Of course, the correct spelling is spare.

[Travis]

Those oh-so-cute commercials that have to turn a noun into a verb. Eg. 'Change the way you vitamin!' for a vitamin commercial.

or, equally awful... 'Use Joe's restaurant when you're Pizzaing!'

Ugh.... Why?  Just why?..... 

They do get my attention, and make me avoid them.

A version of Buffy Speak

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BuffySpeak

[Freedomin5]

I don't know if this one has been brought up before, but I was reminded how much I hate the phrase below when I read it today on the forum when a newbie poster was attacking another forum member.

"No offense, but..."

When I see that, I know your meaning is, "I entirely intend to offend you and tell you how much you suck, but I'm trying to cover my meanness and unkind thoughts with the thinnest veneer of civility that everyone can see through."

[SailingOnASmallSailboat]

I don't know if this one has been brought up before, but I was reminded how much I hate the phrase below when I read it today on the forum when a newbie poster was attacking another forum member.

"No offense, but..."

When I see that, I know your meaning is, "I entirely intend to offend you and tell you how much you suck, but I'm trying to cover my meanness and unkind thoughts with the thinnest veneer of civility that everyone can see through."

100%

[marble_faun]

"With all due respect, your idea is trash."


This might be a controversial one, but I'm tired of COVID platitudes like "We're all in this together."  No we're not.  The political divide remains huge, the experiences of wealthy and poor through this are quite different, and everyone is having their own experience and reaction.  The phrase just seems delusional, or just condescending at best.

[GreenSheep]

"No" when the person really means "yes."

For example:
Person A: "I really think saving money is a good idea."
Person B: "No, you're right, I totally agree!"

Um... what? Somehow this has crept into casual speech, as well as podcasts and other interviews, and I don't know if it's just an American thing or what, but it's insane.

[Roadrunner53]

Speaking of misspelled words, I got a letter from a well known religious group that is known to knock on doors and try to sell their religion to you when you open the door. The letter said normally they would come to visit your home but do to the virus...do? DUH, maybe due to the virus...

[Travis]

"No" when the person really means "yes."

For example:
Person A: "I really think saving money is a good idea."
Person B: "No, you're right, I totally agree!"

Um... what? Somehow this has crept into casual speech, as well as podcasts and other interviews, and I don't know if it's just an American thing or what, but it's insane.

Similar to that verbal tic, my 10 year old son will say "I mean" as if to correct himself as the second or third word of whatever it is he wanted to say.  Every time he does it I think "how can you be trying to correct yourself, you haven't said anything yet!'

[LaineyAZ]

So many people still saying that their relative who died has "past" or "past away."  No. 

This one is so common it's starting to make me wonder if Spelling is even graded in school, or if it's just ignored, like in kindergarten, with the hope that teens will eventually catch on? 

[Dee]

The "no" to mean "yes" phrasing also bugs me.

Another one that irritates me is the use of "I'm sure that..." to mean "I hope that..."or "I expect that..." but I have no way of knowing of sure.

[DoubleDown]

And starting every sentence or answer with "So..." In almost every case the "so" is unnecessary, it's not being used to explain the phrase that follows. It's just some kind of weird verbal tic. I used to see this a lot on the few occasions I watched "Shark Tank," where many (mostly young) entrepreneurs would start EVERY SINGLE ANSWER with "So.."

Q. "How does your company make money?"
A. "So, we've set up an online ordering system..."

Q. "How do you propose to build this house?"
A. "So, we'll start by pouring a concrete foundation..."

Q. "Why should I invest with you?"
A. "So, we're a really fast-moving company with a lot of potential..."

[RetiredAt63]

And starting every sentence or answer with "So..." In almost every case the "so" is unnecessary, it's not being used to explain the phrase that follows. It's just some kind of weird verbal tic. I used to see this a lot on the few occasions I watched "Shark Tank," where many (mostly young) entrepreneurs would start EVERY SINGLE ANSWER with "So.."

Q. "How does your company make money?"
A. "So, we've set up an online ordering system..."

Q. "How do you propose to build this house?"
A. "So, we'll start by pouring a concrete foundation..."

Q. "Why should I invest with you?"
A. "So, we're a really fast-moving company with a lot of potential..."

So, the new um.

[Travis]

And starting every sentence or answer with "So..." In almost every case the "so" is unnecessary, it's not being used to explain the phrase that follows. It's just some kind of weird verbal tic. I used to see this a lot on the few occasions I watched "Shark Tank," where many (mostly young) entrepreneurs would start EVERY SINGLE ANSWER with "So.."

Q. "How does your company make money?"
A. "So, we've set up an online ordering system..."

Q. "How do you propose to build this house?"
A. "So, we'll start by pouring a concrete foundation..."

Q. "Why should I invest with you?"
A. "So, we're a really fast-moving company with a lot of potential..."

So, the new um.

My wife's berserk button. She was a national-level debate competitor in high school and these kinds of slips drive her nuts.  In my experience it's a sign of a lack of preparedness when speaking, whether that be an unrehearsed speech or simply your mouth moving faster than your brain.  I find that I will be slow to respond to a question at times because I'm gathering the right words in my head to avoid filling the space with "um". I will repeat myself a lot too while this mental indexing is taking place.  I suck at giving pep talks.

[GreenSheep]

Similar to "So..." or maybe a longer form of "so," I've noticed several interviewers prefacing a question with, "Let me ask you this." (Haha, and they often even say "So let me ask you this.") Just ask the question! The person is being interviewed, for heaven's sake! They expect to be asked questions! Just ask!

[SailingOnASmallSailboat]

New one I've seen recently:
"balling" when the person means "bawling".

There are no words.

[Travis]

Similar to "So..." or maybe a longer form of "so," I've noticed several interviewers prefacing a question with, "Let me ask you this." (Haha, and they often even say "So let me ask you this.") Just ask the question! The person is being interviewed, for heaven's sake! They expect to be asked questions! Just ask!

"Dad, can I ask you a question?"  My response shifts between "yes" and "you just did" depending on how much of a smart ass I'm feeling.