# Phrases/terms that aggravate the hell out of you **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 26, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894 "2020-10-26T02:04:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 34
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/662 "2021-01-17T02:36:07Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Well, crises and theses are pronounced with -eez as the last syllable. That’s probably where processeez comes from As a kid I often heard reference to “Reeseez” (peanut butter cups) but I wonder if the advent of Reese’s Pieces helped to teach the right pronunciation? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/663 "2021-01-17T02:40:27Z")
_That_ does not mean _than_; _it’s_ does not mean _its_; _whom_ does not mean _who_, and _it’s_ does not mean _its_. And I just heard Bill Engvall utter this expression: “My wife and I’s bed”. Good God! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/664 "2021-01-17T02:42:58Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Well, crises and theses are pronounced with -eez as the last syllable. That’s probably where processeez comes from I’ve gotten quite adept at rewriting things in my head right before I say them. So my inner monologue goes “Process-eez? Process-es?” And my mouth says “Now, we’ve looked at more than one process that might work…” ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/665 "2021-01-17T02:51:50Z")
excess, abscess, access, princess… > [@california\_jobcase](#): > > when people mispronounce mischievous as miss-chee-vee-us. Is that a Brit thing? When I was a kid a British mom of a friend said it like that. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/666 "2021-01-17T03:02:52Z")
I grew up in the Midwest, and EVERYone said it like that. I was so surprised to find out it wasn’t spelled “-ious”. And had a revelation, where I thought “Wait, have i been saying it wrong forever? Along with everyone I know?” ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/667 "2021-01-17T03:41:22Z")
Good rule of thumb: if you’re going to use the word “whom”, unless you’re an English teacher, don’t. 9 times out of 10, it’s wrong. Even here on the Dope. When the NYTimes ran its “[Copy Edit This](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/11/insider/copy-edit-this-quiz.html)!” quiz series a few years ago where they’d run mistakes made by their staff, there was ALWAYS a _whom_ error in there. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/668 "2021-01-17T04:44:53Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > “ _Warming_ ” spices - makes my eyes roll. I must have read that 30 times this holiday season. I believe this originates in Eastern traditional medicine beliefs in which all edible substances are either “warming” or “cooling,” and this is not a reference to the temperature. For example, in Indian culture, meat is considered “warming” and yogurt is considered “cooling” even if the meat is served cold and the yogurt warm. And _garam masala_ literally means “warm spice,” and this is not a reference to temperature or spicy-hotness. It’s a reference to this warm foods/cool foods traditional medicine belief. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/669 "2021-01-17T04:49:49Z")
Because reasons. Because racism. Because I hate you. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/670 "2021-01-17T17:12:49Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Good rule of thumb: if you’re going to use the word “whom”, unless you’re an English teacher, don’t. 9 times out of 10, it’s wrong. Even here on the Dope. Holy goalie this. Possibly my biggest word peeve of all fucking time. Indeed, yeah - nine times out of ten “whom” will get barfed out in a doltish show of ignorant pretension. ETA - whoMever is extra bothersome. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/671 "2021-01-17T17:40:57Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Because reasons. > > Because racism. > > Because I hate you. Did you post this to the right thread? The right web site? Oh, I get it, now that I replied… (bothered me all night). You mean you hate the phrase “Because…”! Right? So sorry, I just assumed it was a diatribe against someone… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/672 "2021-01-17T17:41:34Z")
Yes, I did. Because thread topic. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/673 "2021-01-17T18:15:16Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Because reasons It needs a comma “Because, reasons” ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/674 "2021-01-17T18:20:50Z")
Yinz guys need to read the book **Because Internet** by Gretchen McCulloch. She’s a linguist who has a couple of podcasts all about that issue. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/675 "2021-01-17T18:31:03Z")
Leaving out “to be”, as in: My clothes need washed. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/676 "2021-01-17T18:57:17Z")
US Congress is both the House and Senate. A Congressperson refers someone who is a member of either, so it’s a broader category than either alone. Rather than Senator Jones and US Rep Smith, you can say “Congressmen Jones and Smith supported this initiative”. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/677 "2021-01-17T19:01:08Z")
That would make perfect sense, but I have always heard “Congressman” as a reference to a US Representative only. So you’d say there were Congressmen and women in one House, and Senators in the other. That Congress includes both Houses is precisely my problem with that usage. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/678 "2021-01-17T19:13:17Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Leaving out “to be”, as in: > > My clothes need washed. That’s two whole words that can be omitted. You can have my lazy speech patterns when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers. Which, given that I’m just as lazy when it comes to exercising as I am with my speaking, means you probably won’t have to wait that long. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/679 "2021-01-17T19:18:31Z")
Buts it’s an intentional usage and title for a member of the US House of Representative. Just because it has both a broader usage and more narrow one doesn’t make it wrong, just a bit more complicated. From: [Representatives | house.gov](https://www.house.gov/representatives) # Directory of Representatives **Also referred to as a congressman or congresswoman** , each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/680 "2021-01-17T19:25:20Z")
By definition, it’s not wrong. But, per the theme of this thread, I’m allowed to think it’s stupid and be aggravated by it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/681 "2021-01-17T20:25:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Leaving out “to be”, as in: > > My clothes need washed. > [@Steve\_McQwark](#): > > That’s two whole words that can be omitted. You can have my lazy speech patterns when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers. Which, given that I’m just as lazy when it comes to exercising as I am with my speaking, means you probably won’t have to wait that long. Interesting - never heard of such an omission. Wonder how prevalent it is. And sure - gross! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894.md?page=35)