# Phrases I hate. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402 "2007-05-24T20:33:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spiral\_Stairs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Spiral\_Stairs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiral_Stairs)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/1 "2007-05-24T20:33:29Z")
Here are some phrases that make me grind my teeth: Business-stupid phrases that may have once been fine, but now are hackneyed and annoying: - “At the end of the day…” - “… make sure we’re on the same page …” - “… let’s touch base …” Faux-hipster phrases that people use to make stupid things sound cooler than they are: - “Get your \_\_\_ on.” [E.g., “Let’s get our drink on”, instead of “Let’s have a drink.”] - “throw down \_\_\_.” [For context, see every other post on Engadget. E.g., “Sony threw down two new camcorders today, …”] And I’m not even thinking of phrases that are stupid and hate-worthy because they are simply incorrect. (“All intensive purposes…”; “I could care less…”) I have others, I just can’t think of them because my mind has shut down after just seeing someone say (on another site) that it was “time to get [his] drink on.” Please add your own hate-inspiring phrases. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/2 "2007-05-24T20:37:22Z")
“Think outside the box” has outlived its usefulness. Anyone who uses the “Think outside the box” cliché is obviously stuck inside the box. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/3 "2007-05-24T20:38:12Z")
Heh. I hate the phrase “at the end of the day” and yet, it slips out of my mouth _far_ too often. It’s actually just a useful phrase that I haven’t found a decent replacement for yet (hint hint – give me one that works just as well in as few words!!). My list? “here’s a head’s up” “irregardless” (yeh, I know, more along the lines of just incorrect) I am sure there are a lot more, but right now…can’t think of any. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/4 "2007-05-24T20:38:28Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] “Think outside the box” has outlived its usefulness. Anyone who uses the “Think outside the box” cliché is obviously stuck inside the box. [/QUOTE] Thank you, **pinkfreud**! I came in to say EXACTLY that thing! ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/5 "2007-05-24T20:42:20Z")
Anyone who uses the words “sushi” and “bait” in the same sentence in an effort to be humorous should be sent back to 1985. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/6 "2007-05-24T20:43:19Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] “Think outside the box” has outlived its usefulness. Anyone who uses the “Think outside the box” cliché is obviously stuck inside the box. [/QUOTE] I am using this at work. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/7 "2007-05-24T20:43:43Z")
[QUOTE=Litoris] Heh. I hate the phrase “at the end of the day” and yet, it slips out of my mouth _far_ too often. It’s actually just a useful phrase that I haven’t found a decent replacement for yet (hint hint – give me one that works just as well in as few words!!). My list? “here’s a head’s up” “irregardless” (yeh, I know, more along the lines of just incorrect) I am sure there are a lot more, but right now…can’t think of any. [/QUOTE] I can’t think of one that’s as concise as “at the end of the day”. “When all’s said and done” might be close-- but doesn’t quite work in as many contexts. Not a phrase, but the word “Whatever” really makes me see red. I hate the expression “Let’s do…” as in “let’s do lunch”, “let’s do a movie” et al. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/8 "2007-05-24T20:49:44Z")
“Take aways” as in “What were the take aways from that meeting.” ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/9 "2007-05-24T20:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=Litoris] Heh. I hate the phrase “at the end of the day” and yet, it slips out of my mouth _far_ too often. It’s actually just a useful phrase that I haven’t found a decent replacement for yet (hint hint – give me one that works just as well in as few words!!). [/QUOTE] "Bottom line … " ? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/10 "2007-05-24T20:57:14Z")
“I can speak to that.” or “I think lee can speak to that.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/11 "2007-05-24T21:21:00Z")
“I’m going to _reach out_ to him tomorrow.” What? No, you’re going to contact, or talk to, or email him tomorrow, you co-dependent buzzworder. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Ad\_Here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b2d939/32.png) [@Your\_Ad\_Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Ad_Here)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/12 "2007-05-24T21:23:02Z")
“I think not” instead of “I don’t think so”, or simply, “No.” ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/13 "2007-05-24T21:32:31Z")
“‘Assume’ makes an ass of you and me.” To which I always think: “‘Asshole’ makes an ass out of you. And a hole.” Mind you, it is a good sentiment. Or so I assume. “There’s a piece of work around…” is one I encounter frequently. This means “Someone needs to do this work, but it ain’t going to be me that does it, and I’m using the passive voice to absolve myself of responsibility.” It irritates me a great deal. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/14 "2007-05-24T21:36:48Z")
Not a phrase, just a lone word - “Functionality” I really, really hate that word. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/15 "2007-05-24T21:38:32Z")
I stopped watching The Apprentice when I lost count of how many times the phrase “at the end of the day” was used in a single boardroom. How completely annoying that was. ---
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/16 "2007-05-24T21:40:48Z")
[QUOTE=Spiral Stairs] “All intensive purposes…” [/QUOTE] Didn’t this used to be “All intents and purposes…” until the ignorant of the world took a hold of it? I can’t think of any work-specific phrases at the moment. My boss is especially fond of the ellipses. All of her e-mails look like this: “Good morning folks… Hope that you will have a restful holiday weekend…Please see me regarding the [insert current cause of work drama] before Friday if you have questions…Thanks…” Oh! I hate the acronym “COB” for “close of business.” ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/17 "2007-05-24T21:41:45Z")
**Struan** , I confess that I use that all the time - in my world, there’s no other word that describes “websites that actually do stuff rather than sit there”. Can you suggest an alternative? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/18 "2007-05-24T21:42:07Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] I stopped watching The Apprentice when I lost count of how many times the phrase “at the end of the day” was used in a single boardroom. How completely annoying that was. [/QUOTE] Another hackneyed phrase from The Apprentice: “Step up to the plate.” You could make a nice drinking game by taking a swig every time someone on The Apprentice uses one of these phrases. Everyone would be blotto by the end of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/19 "2007-05-24T21:42:42Z")
“At this point in time…” ---
**Author:** ![Zambini57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4491bb/32.png) [@Zambini57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zambini57)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402/20 "2007-05-24T21:43:02Z")
“Going forward” Yeah, it’s pretty common, but I hate it. It seems to be a substitute for “in the future.” “In the future, our plans will be this.” “Going forward, our plans will be this.” Madness. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-i-hate/405402.md?page=2)