# 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:** 56
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1107 "2022-08-30T17:07:55Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Celibacy/Chastity: > Any difference to you all? Some say that celibacy means that you aren’t married and chastity means that you don’t have sex. I think that’s splitting hairs. That’s backwards. _Celibacy_ means you don’t have sex at all, while _chastity_ means that all your sex is within the bounds that your society has set for sexual activity. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1108 "2022-08-30T17:12:39Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > [spoiler]Frankenstein: > As I’ve heard it put: > > Familiarity with the story dictates that Frankenstein was not the monster. > Understanding of the story dictates that Frankenstein was, indeed, the monster.[/spoiler] [_Apropos_ of the above.](https://thoughtcatalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/frankenstein.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1109 "2022-08-30T17:13:33Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > That’s backwards. No, that’s what I meant to convey. Note the some say in my post. It’s not a distinction I hold to. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > [_Apropos_ of the above.](https://thoughtcatalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/frankenstein.jpg) Nice! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1110 "2022-08-30T17:16:42Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > No, that’s what I meant to convey. Note the some say in my post. Those are the people I’m referring to when I remind myself that I’m sharing the universe with people who are wrong about things. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1111 "2022-08-30T17:18:24Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Unique: > Can a thing be the most unique or fairly unique? To me, if something is unique, it is one-of-a-kind (though that can refer to characteristics of the object, not necessarily to the object itself). Qualifiers aren’t especially useful. YMMV. Qualifiers can be very helpful. Using another such term: _ **Stuart:** Oh, Sheldon, I’m afraid you couldn’t be more wrong._ _ **Sheldon:** More wrong? Wrong is an absolute state and not subject to gradation._ _ **Stuart:** Of course it is. It’s a little wrong to say a tomato is a vegetable, it’s very wrong to say it’s a suspension bridge._ ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1112 "2022-08-30T17:26:11Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Familiarity with the story dictates that Frankenstein was not the monster. > Understanding of the story dictates that Frankenstein was, indeed, the monster. Familiarity with patrilinear naming conventions tells you that they are _both_ Frankenstein. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1113 "2022-08-30T19:03:20Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > But I say yes, literally can mean figuratively, and it often does. I literally died laughing! I strongly resist this, because then we don’t have a word that means “literally.” If someone actually, literally died, how do you say so? > [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Hung: > Convention holds that things are hung and people are hanged. I don’t see any good reason for the distinction, so I ignore it. I suppose one could try to argue that there are two separate verbs “to hang” that have different past tenses/participles; but it’s probably not a particularly useful distinction. > [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Whom: > Personally, I don’t use whom much. I think it’s archaic and overly hypercorrected, and as such, it has little utility in current English. Once in a while, using “whom” makes a sentence clearer. I’ve seen examples of this, but I can’t think of any right now. > [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Lay/Lie This is one where it really helps to know about transitive vs. intransitive verbs. A couple I’d add to your list: **Phenomenon/Phenomena** **Criterion/Criteria** In each case, the second word is the plural of the first. **May/Might** This one’s tricky. I often see people use “may” where I think “might” would be more appropriate. Years ago I started a [thread asking about this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wish-i-may-wish-i-might/410150). ---
**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:** [August 30, 2022, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1114 "2022-08-30T19:06:16Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > But I think that people generally just use the word as a replacement for the more vulgar-sounding pussy, so such use is perfectly acceptable. If you really want to be precise, you can say _vulva_. You don’t have to say _pussy_. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1115 "2022-08-30T19:09:30Z")
Or you could use “pudenda.” ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1116 "2022-08-30T19:10:35Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > > > But I say yes, literally can mean figuratively, and it often does. I literally died laughing! > > I strongly resist this, because then we don’t have a word that means “literally.” If someone actually, literally died, how do you say so? He died. Or He literally died from starvation. I think context is key here. > [@](#): > > **May/Might** > This one’s tricky. I often see people use “may” where I think “might” would be more appropriate. Years ago I started a [thread asking about this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wish-i-may-wish-i-might/410150). That’s a good one. I think that may has largely been consumed by can, so it is in turn consuming might. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1117 "2022-08-30T19:16:56Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > > [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > > > But I think that people generally just use the word as a replacement for the more vulgar-sounding pussy, so such use is perfectly acceptable. > > If you really want to be precise, you can say _vulva_. You don’t have to say _pussy_. I don’t think it’s a matter of choosing precision. Once kids get past the age where they call their privates my wee wee or whatever term they’re taught, parents have to teach them a new word to use for it in public settings. Something clinical and divorced from the sex act. Vagina has won out for girls. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1118 "2022-08-30T19:37:01Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Familiarity with patrilinear naming conventions tells you that they are _both_ Frankenstein. > **[Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein%27s_Monster%27s_Monster,_Frankenstein)** > > Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein is a surreal comedy mockumentary short film directed by Daniel Gray Longino, written by John Levenstein, and starring David Harbour, Alex Ozerov, Kate Berlant, Mary Woronov, Alfred Molina, Marion Van Cuyck and Heather Lawless. It was released on Netflix on July 16, 2019. > The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 88% approval rating with an average score of 6.5/10, based on 17 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "While Fr... ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1119 "2022-08-30T20:07:53Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I strongly resist this, because then we don’t have a word that means “literally.” If someone actually, literally died, how do you say so? “He died.” “He literally died” (because the new definition doesn’t obviate the old defintion) “He really died.” “He actually died.” “No joke, he died.” “I’m not kidding, he died.” “He literally-literally died.” “I’m not exaggerating when I say he died.” “'He’s passed on! He is no more! He has ceased to be! He’s expired and gone to meet his maker! He’s a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! He’s off the twig! He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleeding choir invisible!!” etc. Anyway, here’s the interesting thing about the whole “literal means figurative” debate. The usage that the literalists are defending? It’s a figurative usage. The _literal_ meaning of “literal” is “relating to, or expressed in letters.” The use of the word as a synonym for “actually” started in the Middle Ages, when the only written words most people encountered were in the form of a Bible. Hence, something being “literally” true meant it was as true as something written in a book. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1120 "2022-08-31T00:15:09Z")
Nice list!!! The one that really caught my attention was ‘comprises’…we have quite a few reports at work that contain wording to the effect of “The assembly is _comprised of_ the following components.” I’ll try to remember to do something about that the next time one needs to be revised. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1121 "2022-08-31T00:23:30Z")
I think “comprised” is literally the most mis-used word in current biz-speak. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2022, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1122 "2022-08-31T03:00:44Z")
Perhaps “literally” now qualifies as a [contronym](https://www.dailywritingtips.com/75-contronyms-words-with-contradictory-meanings/)? ---
**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:** [August 31, 2022, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1123 "2022-08-31T03:16:17Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Nice list!!! The one that really caught my attention was ‘comprises’…we have quite a few reports at work that contain wording to the effect of “The assembly is _comprised of_ the following components.” I’ll try to remember to do something about that the next time one needs to be revised. Think of it this way: X comprises A, B, and C = X is composed of A, B, and C ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1124 "2022-08-31T05:12:03Z")
I have two I would like to bring up. 1. In the accident lawyers’ ads (I think this is a fairly recent thing) where they say “Call us and find out what your accident is worth!” Maybe I should be in favor of such truth in advertising, where they acknowledge that the whole operation of suing over accidents is a money grab, mostly for the lawyers. 2. In those awful ads with grotesquely aged former celebrities where they encourage you to “get all the Medicare benefits you deserve.” Or any other kind of benefits that “you deserve.” Not that you are I are special, or deserve more than anyone else, but I (the grotesquely aged former celebrity) will do my best to make it seem that you do, if you are smart enough to call This Number Noooowwwwww. Every time I hear this usage, I hearken back to Will Munny: “Deserve’s got nothin’ to do with it.” ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1125 "2022-08-31T05:15:56Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > where they acknowledge that the whole operation of suing over accidents is a money grab, mostly for the lawyers Some people have to use lawyers to sue those responsible for accidents to get medical bills paid. I’ll never see a penny but hope to avoid medical bankruptcy. ---
**Author:** ![Feurmann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/779978/32.png) [@Feurmann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feurmann)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894/1126 "2022-08-31T05:38:09Z")
I didn’t say, and don’t believe, that that there is anything “wrong” with using the words under discussion to denote these things. Anyone who wishes to go on using these words in this fashion doesn’t need my permission. Similarly, I am free to list them as usages I find aggravating. If you are irritated with my expressing my opinion, that is a matter for you. As I said earlier, I don’t offer unsolicited advice on how people speak or write. I am therefore not going to make further replies to messages in this thread, whether pro or con. So if you feel like having the last word, don’t regard my silence as discourtesy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-terms-that-aggravate-the-hell-out-of-you/923894.md?page=57)