# Hate words? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 7, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209 "2004-01-07T14:35:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/21 "2004-01-07T23:58:50Z")
I’m sure there’s ones I hate more tha I can’t think of, but lets go with “courting”. One expression that irritates me that some of you might have heard too: “like so”, when demonstrating how to do something. Grates! ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/22 "2004-01-08T00:05:29Z")
**ur**. Of all the netspeak crap, this one really sets my teeth on edge, especially as I read it to sound the way it looks: ‘er’. Er cool. How was er day? Yeesh. **Customer**. I don’t mind being one of these when I’m picking up a pint of milk, but I miss being a passenger, patient, patron, client, constituent, citizen, student, heck even _inmate_. Mental institutions in Australia now talk about their “customers”. It’s a joke. **Identify**. PC crap, this one. You don’t “identify” as being something, or belonging to a certain group. You either are one, or belong to it, or you aren’t and you don’t. People who “identify” also tend to be the same folks who have **issues**. Bleh. Also, any words used by middle managers anytime, anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![The13thUnicorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85e7bf/32.png) [@The13thUnicorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The13thUnicorn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/23 "2004-01-08T00:52:06Z")
speculum - need I say more??!! irregardless - it means the same as regardless, it’s a redundancy! ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/24 "2004-01-08T01:21:33Z")
**Closure** which just seems so Sedona and crystals and cat. **Treat** as in something you do for, or give to someone. Unless that someone is named Fido, it ain’t a “treat”. **All New** as opposed to those irritating “partially new” things? **Meal** normally called breakfast, lunch or dinner. Meal sounds like something fresh off the oxcart in some feudal kingdom. **Snack** is just so damn perky, TV mom-ish. Also sounds like someone smacking their lips when they eat - an endearing trait. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/25 "2004-01-08T01:40:56Z")
**Hook up.** As in they hooked up at the club last night. Too fucking pretentious. And yeah, **metrosexual** sucks. I think **boi** is starting to grate on me, too. But I rather like flaccid myself…😉 ---
**Author:** ![HDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bb73d2/32.png) [@HDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HDS)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/26 "2004-01-08T02:44:30Z")
When men say breast-es-es-es. Ewwwwwww! Makes my skin crawl. Boobies and wubbas (my son’s word) are fine. ---
**Author:** ![Honeydew\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@Honeydew\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honeydew_1)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/27 "2004-01-08T09:12:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cowgirl \* > \*\*Poignant > > and, following on **ruadh** ’s theme: > > Fiancé(e) \*\* Whats wrong with fiancé(e)? Since we got engaged, I take great pleasure and pride in calling him my fiancé just that. It’s what he is til he’s my husband, and then I’ll call him that with great pride too. Have I missed a thread? ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/28 "2004-01-08T09:21:27Z")
Various "mis"pronunciations of the word **jaguar**. The British jag-yew-uh, the Americanized British jag-yew-are, and the preschool jag-wire. **Product** , when used in some abstract way. “We sold a lot of product today.” ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/29 "2004-01-08T11:44:41Z")
Community. Not the actual word itself, but the constant overuse in situations where people fail to define the use or have no idea how to define the use. _We want a community centre. With external community spaces._ Okay, what activities go on within it? _Community stuff. People getting together and all that. Meetings, gatherings._ Yes, but what facilities are needed within the centre? What specific events will it host? _You know, just community activity spaces. For local communities to use for their events and shows._ Like what? _Just communal spaces, available for use by all local communities. For standard community events and activities._ Ahhhgghhhhhhh!!! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/30 "2004-01-08T11:49:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BraheSilver \* > **Various "mis"pronunciations of the word jaguar. The British jag-yew-uh, the Americanized British jag-yew-are, and the preschool jag-wire.** What is the “correct” pronunciation then? [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) gives me: jag-war or jag yoo-ar (can’t do the phonetic marks). But the etymology is: Spanish, and Portuguese from Guarani jaguá, yaguar, dog. (Also, I reckon where it comes to the cars, “Jag-yew-uh” is right, 'coz they’re English dammit!) ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/31 "2004-01-08T12:04:56Z")
**Aro** I would have reckoned you would have a problem with “situation” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/32 "2004-01-08T12:17:31Z")
On a similar subject, Northern Irish people saying “whenever” instead of “when” (don’t think **Aro** is guilty of this). “Whenever my grandad died…” - so you’re saying that him dying was a regular occurence? And English people inserting an unwanted “R” in between vowels. “AmericaR is a big country.” “I’m going to do a drawRing.” Grrr. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/33 "2004-01-08T12:31:30Z")
I spent Christmas in my brother’s house in England. He was the perfect host so I’m an ungrateful git for saying the following. Brother, you drove me insane with your ridiculous abbreviations. If you really must, shorten Christmas to “Chrimbo” (even Proper Chrimbo, I tell thee) but “Chrimbles” is just vomit inducing. It’s like a mixture of “quim” and “shingles”, which is a dodgy combination in anyone’s book. An elastic band is a useful device. If wrapped a few times around the base of the penis, it can induce, among other things, a state of long-term tumescence (come to think of it, that’s a poxy word). So why call it a “laccy band” which reminds me of “flaccid”, a word my fellow Dopers are also none too fond of. And what’s with “lello”? Why pronounce “yellow” like a fucking tellytubby, you twat. And no, I don’t want to “prep” the “veg” - I’d rather crawl under a bus “ticcy”, you cringemaking fuckwit. Sorry, I got a bit carried away there. A nice time was had by all. ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/34 "2004-01-08T12:35:38Z")
I watch the early morning Do-It-Youself shows on the weekends and the people on them are always predrilling something. Not only that, they don’t just predrill. They go ahead and predrill. WTF? As opposed to backing up and postdrilling? “While Numnutz holds the pieces together, I’m gonna go ahead and predrill the holes for the screws.” Aaaarrrrrgh! Just drill the f\*\*king thing! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/35 "2004-01-08T12:38:48Z")
**MWaP** - has your bro been in the company of preschoolers for a while? If so, you’re next. Tell me though: despite your mild annoyance, was there a good atmos? ---
**Author:** ![fiercesheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@fiercesheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiercesheep)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/36 "2004-01-08T12:45:44Z")
Gusset Moist Matrix (in a work context, when what the person actually means is ‘table’) ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/37 "2004-01-08T12:49:37Z")
“Nostril” makes me cringe. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/38 "2004-01-08T12:50:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fiercesheep \* > \*\*Matrix (in a work context, when what the person actually means is ‘table’) \*\* Seconded. When did that happen? ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/39 "2004-01-08T14:00:49Z")
**Brouhaha** - I used to think this was a made-up word until I heard more people using it. **Picayune** - Another one of those words that momentarily stops my train of thought when I hear it. **Banal** - I always hear it in mind as rhyming with “anal.” According to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=banal), there’s no agreement on how it’s supposed to be pronounced (some of the characters from the quote are missing since they are graphical representations of the pronunciation symbols): > [@](#): > > Usage Note: The pronunciation of banal is not settled among educated speakers of American English. Sixty years ago, H.W. Fowler recommended the pronunciation (bnl, rhyming with panel), but this pronunciation is now regarded as recondite by most Americans: it is preferred by only 2 percent of the Usage Panel. Other possibilities are (bnl, rhyming with anal), preferred by 38 percent of the Panel; (b-nl, rhyming with canal), preferred by 46 percent; and (b-nl, the last syllable rhyming with doll), preferred by 14 percent (this last pronunciation is more common in British English). Some Panelists admit to being so vexed by the problem that they tend to avoid the word in conversation. Speakers can perhaps take comfort in knowing that any one of the last three pronunciations will have the support of a substantial minority and that none of them is incorrect. When several pronunciations of a word are widely used, there is really no right or wrong one. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209/40 "2004-01-08T14:09:10Z")
WORST WORD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE . . . . **Palpable.** First of all, it makes it sound like something I’m able to put my palps on it and I don’t even know what my palps are. (“Oh, this is nice, can I put my palps on it?” “Sure, it’s palpable”) Second, it’s always used in the exact same context. . .“the tension was palpable”. You never hear it any other way. Third, just listen to it. **Ulterior.** I’m sorry, were you trying to say “ultimate” or “interior”? And, like palpable, it is never used outside a single context – “ulterior motive”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-words/223209.md?page=3)