# Expressions that annoy the hell out of you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2004, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454 "2004-08-11T23:33:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/81 "2004-08-15T05:43:54Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > "“KnowhutImsayin?” GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, I can’t begin to describe my disgust with this one. For one thing, it’s usually pronounced as all one slurred copout word, “notisayn”? Even worse, it’s said in answer to any question, so basically the person replying “notisayn” isn’ SAYING anything. Except “notisayn”? Me to kid in class: Kid number 2, do your worksheet kid 2: “see i, notisayn”? Me: no, what exactly ARE you saying"? kid 2: “ikewl teach notisayn”? and so on… And that was just as a sometimes sub, I think our “real” teachers should get massive hazard pay for today’s high schools. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/82 "2004-08-15T05:55:54Z")
> [@Cockatiel](#): > > Oh yeah, I thought of two more: > > - A stitch in time saves nine. (I don’t really understand the point people are trying to get across by saying it. If anyone else does, explain it to me.) > > - Six in one, half a dozen in the other. (It’s just pointless.) Someone already answered the first, but basically it means that if you have something beginning to unravel (a hem for example) and you fix it as soon as you see the one stitch in trouble, you’ll save having to stitch even more later. The other saying is actually six OF one, half dozen of the other. And pretty much means what you said, “it’s pointless”. Six and a half dozen are exactly the same number. The way I’ve heard it used is generally when two people are coming to agreement on some issue. Along the lines of “should we go the old highway way? or the shortcut” If both are about the same distance, the two people would say something like "doesn’t matter, it’s about 6 of one, half dozen of the other (where both the one, and the other refer to the number of miles being about the same). I hope that was clear, it’s somewhere around 1am, and my old eyes are starting to glaze over. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/83 "2004-08-15T06:00:22Z")
> [@dwc1970](#): > > When someone means, “sure, go ahead” but chooses to say, “Knock yourself out!” instead, it makes no sense to me. I tend to interpret this phrase literally (yes, _literally_) whenever I hear it, so I am left to wonder why would I deliberately knock myself out? I so hate that one. Not because of the reason you have, but it just sounds so uncaring to me. To my ears it just has such a “sure, I don’t care what you do” sound to it. Kinda flippant and disconnected. I do NOT like it, particularly from friends. grrr. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/84 "2004-08-15T08:29:25Z")
> [@Genghis Bob](#): > > “I could care less.” Well, actually, hypothetical speaker, you \*couldn’t \* care less, but you can’t be bothered to say it right. No no, I _could_ care less but it would require some effort on my part. People who have a problem with this just aren’t picking up the connotations. The phrase should have an emphasis on the word _could_, unlike “couldn’t care less” which doesn’t have the same emphasis. > [@CanvasShoes](#): > > I so hate that one [knock yourself out]. Not because of the reason you have, but it just sounds so uncaring to me. > > To my ears it just has such a “sure, I don’t care what you do” sound to it. Kinda flippant and disconnected. I do NOT like it, particularly from friends. grrr. I think that’s the point. You are saying “I don’t care what you do”. It is very similar to “fill your boots”. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/85 "2004-08-15T12:58:58Z")
This is probably the best analysis of the evolution of the phrase: > **[World Wide Words: I could care less](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm)** > > How has the apparently nonsensical expression 'I could care less' come about? ---
**Author:** ![Hazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Hazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/86 "2004-08-15T13:19:11Z")
> [@TwoTrouts](#): > > “At this point in time…” > > That is redundant! It is either “At this point…” OR “At this time…”! Similar: “In just a few minutes from now (such and such will occur).” “In just a few minutes from now” seems to me to be redundant. It should be either “In just a few minutes (such and such will occur),” or "A few minutes from now (such and such will occur): One phrase or the other; not both. Lately, I’ve been hearing this annoying locution frequently on news programs. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/87 "2004-08-15T15:42:31Z")
See [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=267666) on “comparing apples and oranges”. Incidentally, it contains a worthy explanation of “a stitch in time saves nine”. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/88 "2004-08-15T17:25:18Z")
Just so you know, **Knock yourself out** and **Whatever** are supposed to be dismissive and uncaring, so there is no point in complaining about them sounding that way! “Knock yourself out” pretty much means “go ahead, go at it until you fall exhausted to the floor, I really don’t care.” ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/89 "2004-08-15T20:53:01Z")
“my/your lass” when refering to someone’s girlfriend. I have only ever heard guys do it, and it really bugs me. “Was that your lass on the phone?” “I saw your lass in town this afternoon” “My lass is coming over this afternoon” We have NAMES! ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/90 "2004-08-15T21:51:05Z")
‘Literally’ used by people who don’t know what it means. ‘What- **ever** ’. This phrase seems to be used by people when they realise that their argument is flawed or that they have nothing to contribute, but don’t care to admit it. If you don’t want to communicate, why are you even bothering to open your mouth? ‘In any way, shape or form’. The first three words suffice. ‘Arc’ for ‘story’. People have heard TV script writers refer to a ‘story arc’ or a character’s ‘arc’, and now think they are clever and hip by using ‘arc’ when ‘story’ would do just as well. ‘It’s more than my job’s worth’. The exact opposite of what the speaker usually means. He usually means that the potential benefit of a proposed action is worth _less_ to him than keeping his job, hence his refusal to go along with the plan. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/91 "2004-08-15T23:47:46Z")
**Bangiadore** mentioned “That’s different.” In my world that is code for “Get that horrendously ugly crap away from me.” But that’s just me. **thirdwarning** mentioned “so fun.” While that would bug me, it cannot possibly compete with “funner” as in “shopping is funner than school.” That one makes me want to kill teenagers. ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/92 "2004-08-16T00:17:13Z")
“Hooked up,” “hook me up,” “hooked up with,” and other variants. Which apparently means “had sex,” “met for lunch,” “had my internet connection installed,” “received tickets for a concert from a friend,” and anything else that the speaker does not have the vocabulary to express. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/93 "2004-08-16T12:42:20Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Six in one - The phrase is actually “Six Of one, Half a dozen of another” it means you are comparing two things that are basically equal: Damned if you do, damned if you don’t! So, either I’m comparing something and the other person finds them too similar for comparison, _or_ I’m comparing apples and oranges! 🙂 My contribution isn’t really a phrase, but rather a word: “hubby”. Argh. Gack. How I hate that word. ---
**Author:** ![monsterbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@monsterbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monsterbob)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/94 "2004-08-16T13:48:16Z")
actually, like, really, you know what I mean, know what I’m saying? my bad! any of the many like really lame substitutions for that 7 letter word like farging, frigging, farking, fudging, etc. Very rare but very annoying is forking corksoaker! any substitution for Jesus, such as: jeez, gees, gee whiz. What do you think of my ligual athleticism? And any words that Dick Vitale may or may not have coined. hey, add may or may not to the list. Add to the list to the list! What’s on your plate? My plate is full! Do you want to come with? Can you hear me now? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/95 "2004-08-16T14:13:35Z")
I actually like _anyhoo_ and _whatever_. I think they’re funny. I second, third, fourth and fifth _literally_ and _ultimate_. One expression that’s common in the south I wish would die a quiet death is “You know what I would do?” Oh, so now all the sudden you’re the fucking know-all master of the subject? I know what you would _suggest_, but knowing what you would _do_ doesn’t mean it’ll make it CORRECT. Just say “You know what I want you to do?” instead. That’s what you actually mean. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/96 "2004-08-16T14:50:23Z")
I was just reminded (unfortunately) of one by a coworker, who inisists on asking people to do him a “flavor”. It might be (and even this is a stretch) mildly amusing the first time, but Every. Single. Time. and it’s just grating. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/97 "2004-08-16T15:04:14Z")
> [@Knowed Out](#): > > One expression that’s common in the south I wish would die a quiet death is “You know what I would do?” Oh, so now all the sudden you’re the fucking know-all master of the subject? I know what you would _suggest_, but knowing what you would _do_ doesn’t mean it’ll make it CORRECT. Just say “You know what I want you to do?” instead. That’s what you actually mean. It’s hardly an expression. It’s a simple statement: this is what I would do in your situation. If you don’t want advice, that’s fine, but then why blame the phrase? (and why are you discussing it with the person in the first place?) Of course it’s not necessarily correct. The person is saying what they would do, not that they’ve been crowned omniscient, omnipotent God of the Universe! And while they may (and probably do) think that this would be the best thing for _you_ to do as well, you can hardly accuse them of being dictatorial given that turn of phrase. Funny, you resent their (projected by you) claim that they’re the know-all master of the subject, but you have no problem in claiming that you both know what they would suggest, and know what they actually _mean_. Amazing, these super-powers of yours. How privileged we all are to know you! ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/98 "2004-08-16T15:41:23Z")
I hate it when someone starts a sentence with “Listen.” It drives me nuts. There’s a supervisor at work that does it constantly, even though more than once when she’s done it to me on the phone, I’ve cut her off: =ring ring= “Uvula Department, can I help you?” ,Listen…’’ “No.” =click= ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/99 "2004-08-16T15:49:05Z")
> [@Oy!](#): > > Funny, you resent their (projected by you) claim that they’re the know-all master of the subject, but you have no problem in claiming that you both know what they would suggest, and know what they actually _mean_. Amazing, these super-powers of yours. How privileged we all are to know you! Hey, the OP is about expressions that annoy you. That expression annoys me. I don’t have to prove my case in court. IMHO and MPSIMS are full of petty dislikes that are probably shared by only 5 people on the planet. I’d take a chill pill if I were you. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454/100 "2004-08-16T23:20:48Z")
I just thought of a couple more… “What can I do you for?” Hate that one. and “Are you working hard or hardly working?” followed by hearty laughter, 'cause they’re just _so_ damn clever. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expressions-that-annoy-the-hell-out-of-you/259454.md?page=6)