# Completely meaningless phrases that are common **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120 "2014-03-19T22:47:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/61 "2014-03-21T15:40:20Z")
Each and every. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/62 "2014-03-21T16:32:50Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > “We are experiencing a higher than average amount of calls.” …compaired to what we would have received back in 1902. ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/63 "2014-03-21T20:36:51Z")
Awsome At a restaurant Me to server: “I’ll have the burger and chips” Server to me: “Awesome” No dude, the pyramids are awsome, the Rock of Gibraltar is awesome. Sex is awesome. A burger is a burger. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/64 "2014-03-21T22:08:15Z")
Almost all of the meaningless intensives (Why else would they be called meaningless?) like ‘Go to hell’, Drop dead.’, ‘Fuck me running.’. 'Shit down both legs, … ---
**Author:** ![butterfiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@butterfiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butterfiles)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/65 "2014-03-21T23:00:02Z")
> [@SpectBrain](#): > > Awsome > > At a restaurant > > Me to server: “I’ll have the burger and chips” > > Server to me: “Awesome” > > No dude, the pyramids are awsome, the Rock of Gibraltar is awesome. Sex is awesome. A burger is a burger. good one ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/66 "2014-03-21T23:22:00Z")
> [@Teddy\_Kennedy](#): > > “Handmade” in marketing. Yeah, meaning hand-\*assembled \*by some guy in a sweatshop for the equivalent of forty American cents a day? How luxurious. The cynical part of me always figured that there was a factory somewhere with robotic hands making things when they said “hand made”. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/67 "2014-03-22T03:26:37Z")
“_I’m just saying_”. :mad: Gawd that bugs me! I know you’re just saying, I just heard you say it! Now STFU and stop saying that! \* “Please listen carefully”\* meaning: pay attention stupid! _as our menu options have changed!_ WHY?!? :mad: Why does every company need to tweek their voice mail system? ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/68 "2014-03-22T05:38:26Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > **I hear what you are saying** - Of course you did…I just said it Translation: I reject your concerns while recognizing they may be correct or at least not wrong. Go back to work. > [@](#): > > **It is what it is** - Probably the most useless homily ever spoken. Of course “it is what it is”…what else would it be? Translation: We’re not changing this. Stop whining and go back to work. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/69 "2014-03-22T05:45:58Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > **It is what it is** - Probably the most useless homily ever spoken. Of course “it is what it is”…what else would it be? I will never get the intense, seething hatred for this phrase. Of **course** it’s a tautology, that is the entire point of the idiom. It’s used to combat wishful thinking and useless “should have/ought to” scenarios. All it’s saying is “it would be much better if this situation were different, everything would be easier, everybody agrees about that. However, it’s not that different ideal situation – we’re stuck with this shitty situation and we have to accept and deal with that.” “It is what it is” is just a shorthand way to remind people that things are not different, they are what they appear to be, and wishing it was not the state of affairs is not productive or helpful. I mean, I don’t use it because it pisses off so many people, but I’m baffled about why such a useful notion expressed so succinctly pisses so many people off. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/70 "2014-03-22T06:25:53Z")
Stocks are limited. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/71 "2014-03-22T18:19:53Z")
Since someone mentioned voice mail, I really dislike getting the usual long and rambling intro message: “Hello, you have reached John Smith. I’m either on the phone or away from my desk at the moment. Please leave me a detailed message after the tone and I will get back to you as soon as possible. If you require immediate assistance, please contact Betty Boop at extension 12345. Have a nice day.” Zzzzzz. I just fell asleep. I know how voice mail works. It’s been around for 40 years. Jesus. And yes, I know I can hit the # key to proceed immediately to the in box. Mine: Hi this is Doug. Please leave me a message. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/72 "2014-03-22T19:47:22Z")
> [@SpectBrain](#): > > A burger is a burger. Except when it’s a Freakin’ Unbelievable Burger. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/73 "2014-03-22T20:30:39Z")
“Ima” - How can you say more clearly that you are a phony poser trying to claim “street cred” (and I don’t like that phrase much more) in just 3 easy letters? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/74 "2014-03-22T20:37:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Also “vintage” and “retro” for anything old. Worse, vintage for something which is not. Putting lace on something does not make it “vintage”. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/75 "2014-03-23T04:33:11Z")
“That’s whassup!” ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/76 "2014-03-23T06:38:31Z")
“I know, right?” and “Wait. What?” ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/77 "2014-03-23T10:47:27Z")
> [@movingfinger](#): > > “I know, right?” and “Wait. What?” Both of those phrases have meaning. “I know, right?” means, “I not only agree with the facts you’ve stated but also empathize with the emotions those facts evoke in you.” “Wait. What?” means, “Hold on. What’s the explanation for this insane thing you’ve just told me? I need to understand this, so don’t bring up anything else before what you’ve clarified what you just said.” ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/78 "2014-03-23T11:12:55Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Mine: Hi this is Doug. Please leave me a message. Mine: Hi, I can’t take your call, could you please leave your shoe size and sing Moon River after the beep. Back to the OP - ‘in and of itself’ also ‘attitude’. Attitude just means attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/79 "2014-03-23T12:12:32Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Worse yet, I heard a motorcycle dealership ad that referred to their wares as “pre-loved”. The only way I was able to parse that was that they had been lubed. Bravo! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120/80 "2014-03-23T16:22:11Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > “It is what it is” has a perfectly good meaning. It means that the situation can’t be changed, and thus must be accepted. It’s actually rather Zen. > > Because “suddenly,” in places where “all of the sudden” are usually used, requires a pause to create the same emphasis. The “all of the” adds filler words. Literal meaning usually has little to do with why multiple ways exist of saying the same thing. I don’t know how many times I’ve altered my posts because I can think of a way of saying something that sounds better. Economy of language is rarely a goal. I skip a lot of words (not needed) when I post & then many (what/who) claim they can’t follow what I say. Are these the smart (?) or the frustrated nitpickers? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-meaningless-phrases-that-are-common/684120.md?page=5)