# Oft-used phrases/sayings you hate **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758 "2002-12-30T22:07:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/21 "2002-12-31T04:28:54Z")
“Well, basically…” or, “Typically…” Give it a rest! Oh, and in military TV shows & movies: “that’s an order.” AAARRRGHHHHH! Of course it’s an order you idiot!!! Every instruction you give is an order, moron! ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/22 "2002-12-31T04:36:14Z")
Needless to say… ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/23 "2002-12-31T05:25:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FisherQueen \* > \*\*“Not to offend you, but…” is always followed by something that is both unnecessary and hideously offensive. \*\* Yes! _Yes!_ I hate that coy non-excuse. “I know I’m going to offend you but if I say the magic words you can’t hold it against me.” Scott Adams has drilled most of 'em right into the ground, but business cliches: [ul] - the bottom line - cut to the chase - maximize… (whatever) - parameters (_never_ used correctly\*) - optimize (huh?) [/ul] And pseudo-folksy expressions from constipated, gray-suited dweebs who don’t mow their own lawns. “That dog won’t hunt.” “Rode wet and put away dry.” I call it the Dan Rather Syndrome. Veb ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/24 "2002-12-31T06:19:34Z")
Possibly unique to these British Isles… **It’s more than my job’s worth** Huh? If what I’m asking you to do is worth more than your job is worth, then surely it’s in your interests to do it? If, on the other hand, you think that the potental benefits/rewards of my proposed action are not worth more to you than your job, the correct phrase is surely “It’s _less_ than my job’s worth”. This one drives me nuts every time. Whenever I hear it, I _always_ insist on analysing what’s been said and getting to the bottom of what, exactly, the other person is trying to say. Ths is doubtless intensely irritating, but it does mean people tend to stop using this stupid phrase in my vicinity. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/25 "2002-12-31T06:23:51Z")
**…, you know.** [mini rant] No, I don’t f\*cking know. If I already knew it then why the hell did you bother to tell me again. [/mini rant] ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/26 "2002-12-31T06:28:37Z")
“Frankly speaking…” always makes me wonder why the speaker has to convince me that what is being said is truthful and totally revealing. ---
**Author:** ![nostromo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@nostromo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nostromo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/27 "2002-12-31T06:52:37Z")
> [@](#): > > I used to work for a company where everybody was expected to be **proactive**. > > **Reactive** was bad. **Proactive** was good. Eventually these two words were used synonymously with good and bad. > > Then we got **circles of concern** and **circles of influence**. I got so sick and tired of hearing about everybody and their goddamn **circles**. Oh, but don’t forget the _synergy_ between A and B _gak_ nostromo ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/28 "2002-12-31T07:02:50Z")
Oh…I second couldn’t care less…if you could care less, fucking _do it_ and stop talking about it. Action, dumpling, not words. I also don’t like **over the top** and **easy as pie** (What? What does that _mean_? That pie is easy to make? No it’s not. Pie is rather _time-consuming_ to make. Come up with a saying that makes sense. And then there’s my Grandmother’s: **From day one**. Tara, I didn’t like that boyfriend of yours from day one. _cringe_ _cringe_ _mad jerking facial twitch_ _cringe_ ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/29 "2002-12-31T07:05:27Z")
(Oh, and on a more personal note, I’d be happy if none of my friends ever said **fuck beans** again). ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/30 "2002-12-31T08:00:30Z")
\*\*Anyways… Anymore\*\* [used to mean “These days”]. ---
**Author:** ![WortMeWorry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@WortMeWorry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WortMeWorry)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/31 "2002-12-31T08:07:18Z")
Don’t be a Hater. You so corny. Also, I third, My Bad, I hear it so often, I almost used it. ---
**Author:** ![Medievalist2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@Medievalist2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medievalist2)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/32 "2002-12-31T10:30:29Z")
Proactive Closure ---
**Author:** ![Medievalist2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@Medievalist2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medievalist2)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/33 "2002-12-31T10:31:46Z")
“That’s a no-brainer” ---
**Author:** ![Medievalist2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@Medievalist2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medievalist2)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/34 "2002-12-31T10:33:14Z")
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist” ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/35 "2002-12-31T10:43:16Z")
“ **Tax dollars** ” puts in my head an image of a miserly grouch, sitting in his house and quantifying his worth by stacking dollar bills, one at a time. Why can’t you just say “taxes” or “tax money”? ---
**Author:** ![auliya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@auliya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auliya)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/36 "2002-12-31T12:47:26Z")
I absolutely hate “Whatever” grrrrr ---
**Author:** ![Chanticleer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@Chanticleer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanticleer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/37 "2002-12-31T14:48:08Z")
**Do More With Less** The dumbest saying ever. I hate it. ---
**Author:** ![Terrorcotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Terrorcotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrorcotta)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/38 "2002-12-31T15:09:17Z")
“We have no problems, only issues.” And now my supervisor has ‘Toads’, as in “This overage is a toad in our way.” Huh? 'Course, it was funnier when I thought she said ‘Toes’. ---
**Author:** ![DwGrumby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@DwGrumby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DwGrumby)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/39 "2002-12-31T16:57:03Z")
I play a lot of ccg’s and my friend will often preface a particularly annoying or senseless move with … **"Just for shits & giggles"** I often want to say, “You know Levin, if you didn’t really want to play, we could have just rolled a die to declare a winner.” ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758/40 "2002-12-31T17:09:10Z")
I’ve always hated: “Well, you never know!” Because, 90% of the time YOU KNOW! (As in “I’m going to send an e-mail to George Clooney and ask him to marry me.” “Hey, you never know!” GIVE ME A BREAK!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oft-used-phrases-sayings-you-hate/145758.md?page=3)