# phrases that make you think the speaker is full of crap **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769 "2003-11-17T21:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/41 "2003-11-18T13:37:53Z")
What’s wrong with (insert illegal activity here)? What’s wrong with it is \* it’s against the law.\* ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/42 "2003-11-18T14:02:11Z")
Wow… no one put the Fox “Fair and balanced” ! ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/43 "2003-11-18T14:04:13Z")
Anyone who starts talking to me by saying “Listen” immediately loses my attention. (Although sometimes I simply interrupt them and say “No.”) ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/44 "2003-11-18T14:43:09Z")
“by now, you must be thinking…” “conversate” “don’t think of this as…” “there’s no obligation” ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/45 "2003-11-18T14:50:49Z")
“Educate” or “Enlighten” when what the speaker really means is “brainwash.” “healing process” “bourgeois” or “military-industrial complex.” “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” This phrase indicates colossal arrogance on the part of the speaker and an inability to see things in shades other than black or white. “To make a long story short.” When people say that, the story has already gone on way too long. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/46 "2003-11-18T15:01:37Z")
“IMO” “IIRC” “IANAL” . ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/47 "2003-11-18T15:10:46Z")
“To make a long story short…” ---
**Author:** ![kmg365](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@kmg365](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kmg365)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/48 "2003-11-18T15:23:23Z")
“going forward…” (I hate this dumb phrase! It usually precedes the announcement of some type of ungodly demand, policy change or belt-tightening measure.) “Irregardless…” (Meaningless non-word) “We…” (And who appointed you God, King and Emperor?) ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/49 "2003-11-18T15:24:15Z")
“This won’t hurt a bit.” (9 times out of 10 it _will_ hurt.) “I’ll look into it.” (they never do) “Let me get back to you on that.” (they never do) “I read it in an email someone sent me.” “I read it in the Enquirer.” “Have you ever heard of Amway?” ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/50 "2003-11-18T16:49:42Z")
Re: “No offense…” Do people actually use this in a serious way? I’ve always used it to say things like: “No offense, but you’re a stupid jackass, I hate you, your mother is a whore and I wish you were dead.” ---
**Author:** ![Bucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bucky)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/51 "2003-11-18T17:02:52Z")
“It is self-evident” (because I can’t think of reasons) “Judeo-Christian” (I’ve never heard anyone Jewish use this; it is almost always a fundamentalist trying to sound a little inclusive) “right-thinking Americans” “support our troops” (while cutting most veterans benefits, hazard pay, etc.) “we have a mandate” (from politicians elected with under 30% of the total vote possible) Here’s three from football: “A rookie mistake” (as if they don’t have an offsides rule at every level of the game) “in this league” (when it’s something which applies to ALL of football, such as, “in this league, defense wins championships.” This is almost always said by a former player who wants you to remember he played in the NFL) “The New York Football Giants” (buddy, they’re the only Giants in NY for a few decades now) ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/52 "2003-11-18T17:10:42Z")
In the want ads, these are BS lines to watch out for: “Rock and Roll atmosphere!” or “Wild and Crazy office!” (Means a telephone boiler room with a radio playing in the background.) “Earn UP TO $15,000.00 weekly!” (Up to could mean anything between 0 and 15,000.) “Motivated” and “Team Player.” (The company wants you to keep dialing phones and knocking on doors no matter how many times you get screamed at. If you fail to sell whatever it is the company is selling then it’s your fault for having a bad attitude, not the company’s for selling something no one wants.) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/53 "2003-11-18T17:21:59Z")
This thread sounds like a source for \*Bull S**t Bingo! To play, make a box grid 5 boxes square, in each one write one current catch phrase. In boring meetings, when a phrase is used, cross it off. When you get 5 in a row, jump up and yell, "Bull S**t! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/54 "2003-11-18T17:31:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by YoudNeverGuess \* > \*\*When someone says ‘I’ll be with you momentarily’ and they mean ‘I will be with you in a moment’ rather than ‘I will be with you _for_ a moment’ which is what it actually means. > > Or the use of the word ‘already’ in a sentence such as ‘Stop annoying me already.’ It doesn’t make sense but I am getting used to this one.\*\* Actually, both of the usages that irk you here are supported by M-W Collegiate, 11th ed. (Granted, MW is descriptive rather than prescriptive, but it’s a standard reference.) ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/55 "2003-11-18T18:36:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\*Re: “No offense…” Do people actually use this in a serious way? I’ve always used it to say things like: “No offense, but you’re a stupid jackass, I hate you, your mother is a whore and I wish you were dead.” \*\* Oh yea. Like, say, “No offense, but you look awful wearing that orange shirt with the pink tutu.” ---
**Author:** ![Anal\_Scurvy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@Anal\_Scurvy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anal_Scurvy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/56 "2003-11-18T18:52:43Z")
**Anal Scurvy muses** This might be the most successful thread I’ve ever started that doesn’t revolve around my ass, genitals, or sexual misadventures… ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/57 "2003-11-18T20:06:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anal Scurvy \* > \*\ ***Anal Scurvy muses** > > This might be the most successful thread I’ve ever started that doesn’t revolve around my ass, genitals, or sexual misadventures… \*\* :eek: For some reason, I’m disgustingly interested in… oh, nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/58 "2003-11-18T21:03:24Z")
Anyone who uses the phrase “the only group that it is still politically correct to chastise” is automatically full of shit in my opinion. I’ve heard that phrase applied to at least a dozen different groups of people. ---
**Author:** ![Wheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@Wheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheel)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/59 "2003-11-18T22:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\*when they use the phrase “for all intensive purposes” > > In writing: “Wah-lah” or “pursay” \*\* I think you mean “for all intents and purposes”, or curse I could be wrong ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769/60 "2003-11-18T22:24:08Z")
“There is some confusion about…” usually comes from an industry or gov’t spokesman. It means “people don’t agree with us; so they must be confused.” Using “controversial” as a perjorative. People who opine that gay marriage, for example, is too “controversial” are saying they’re against it. As a matter of fact, people who are against things because the’re too “contoversial” are often the same ones who have kicked up the fuss in the first place. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-make-you-think-the-speaker-is-full-of-crap/213769.md?page=4)