I’ve said it before. Meme. I have no problem with the concept. Its just a terribly tinny word.
I’ve heard myself use the word “synergise” too late to stop myself and felt dirty afterwards 
Can I please submit “real” as a qualifier? As in “we have real strengths as an organisation”. Either we have strengths, or we don’t, don’t say real when what you actually mean is something like significant.
poster child
“It’s a win-win for everybody.”
AARGH!
What’s wrong with that phrase? I mean, when it’s all said and done…
OK, serious question, what’s a good phrase to talk about when everything is resolved, or done, or over?
As for my contribution, I’ll add two things said to someone complaining about their job.
- You should feel lucky to have a job.
- Then why don’t you go work somewhere else.
Everybody complains about their job from time to time, and sometimes it’s even legit. What you really mean when you say that is, “I don’t care about your problem, so stop bugging me about it.” Frankly (if I was employed) I’d rather hear that.
“Epic” and “fail” and “epic fail”.
Never a fan of “give 110 percent” since its usually impossible in most contexts which it is used.
FUNNER… is not a word, nor will it ever be.
Or 24/7/365 - yes! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for all 365 weeks of the year!
I did recently encounter the term “working 16/7” - which at the very least took into consideration a person’s need to sleep and could in fact be an accurate description of their working pattern. Still a bit annoying, but not as egregious as 24/7 used in the same context, because a person can’t do anything 24/7 for more than a couple of days at the most.
I’m going to draw from the world of the foodie for my contributions:
Artisanal: This word is used to connote food (especially bread) that is somehow better than the stuff you usually find on the supermarket shelf. It’s also used to sell mass-produced bread, just the stuff that goes stale within a few days because it’s not wrapped properly. It denotes something that has been made in small batches, usually by hand. It’s twee, precious, and overused. Let’s get rid of it.
Sourced, especially “locally-sourced”: Unless I’m paying more than $50 for dinner, I really don’t give a rat’s ass where the food comes from. I know that the food in the vast majority of the restaurants where I eat comes from foodservice companies like Sysco. And I don’t care. Please stop using this term as though it matters. It doesn’t.
“Synergy”. I’m not sure that even the people using this word know what they’re trying to communicate by saying it.
“Learnings”. What’s wrong with “lessons”?
Not a very common one, but I saw a jug of whole milk at a grocery store recently that was labeled “HOMO MILK” - and that’s just wrong on so many levels.
“Disenfranchise”. This one took off after 2000 and seems to have stuck, even though “disfranchise” means the same thing and is much more elegant. (You wouldn’t call a handicapped person “disenabled”, would you?)
“Literally” used as an exaggerative. If you say “My head literally exploded when I heard the news”, then you are lying, because head explosion tends to result in death.
“Mouthfeel”. What’s wrong with “texture”?
“Mouthfeel” isn’t the same thing as “texture”. For example, yogurt and ice cream are both “creamy” and “smooth”, but the mouthfeel is very different.
“Quite frankly.” This phrase is, quite frankly, overused. It may be, quite frankly, the most overused phrase in this thread! Even if it isn’t, it may be, quite frankly, annoying as crap!
“To be honest;” well, thanks for the warning that THIS statement is honest, compared to everything else you say.
I always take it as a warning that what’s about to be said next may not be what you want to hear.
“How’s the food I made?”
“Well, to be honest, I didn’t think it was that good.”
Is “solution” still tossed around more than it should be?
(For example, there are no more “garbage dumpsters”; now they’re “large-scale waste management solutions”.)
“Amazing” - I could happily live the rest of my life without hearing this word again.
Sheeple. If I hear someone use this word, they will have to work very hard to get me to like them. And I like liking people.
And seconding give 110%, which only seems to be used at company meetings. If I can easily picture Grahame Coats from Anansi Boys saying it with a smirk, it should not be said.
HEY!
:mad:
Nava, ChemE, specialty Organic Chemistry.
My sister in law describes any decoration or household item she likes as “rustic”. As All-Smashing Og is my witness, induction stovetops are not rustic!
Can we erase “rustic” from the dictionary, or at least from her copy?
Ditto. When people say this, I often ask, “Amazingly good or amazingly bad?” I mean, the apocalypse is going to be pretty amazing, too, right?