# Phrases you hate **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990 "2010-09-16T18:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/121 "2010-09-18T15:30:09Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > > [@Ibanez](#): > > > > I hate “are you sure ?” > > > > Usually it goes something like this. > > > > Would you like something to drink ? > > > > No thanks. > > > > Are you sure ? > > > > No, I’m not sure why don’t you ask me a few more times since I’m fucking retarded. > > Heh. My sister (who lives with me, and I love her dearly) does something like this. I’ll say something like “Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?” and she’ll say “Would you?” > Well, duh. It would have been awfully rude of me to offer if I wasn’t willing to actually do it, wouldn’t it? Ha ! It’s my sister that says the “are you sure ?” phrase as well. I know she’s just trying to be hospitable and I love her. But it drives me crazy no doesn’t mean I’m not sure. It means no thanks. Sometimes I’ll say no, wait a few seconds and throw in “I’m sure” right after followed by her asking “how did you know I was going to say that ?” Hmmm maybe it’s because you ask me that almost every time I say no to something ? ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/122 "2010-09-18T16:50:34Z")
The use of “Coke” to describe carbonated beverages other than Coca-Cola or Diet Coke (or their derivatives, such as Lemon Lime Vanilla berry Diet Coke Zero with Lemon Lime) ie: “Hey Rags, you wanna Coke?” “Sure.” “What kind?” “Diet.” “Diet what?” “… Diet Coke. What have we just been talking about?” I went 12 rounds with a friend once over whether Pepsi could be considered a kind of Coke or not. ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/123 "2010-09-18T20:48:35Z")
Someone I work with who was promoted to supervisor about a year ago and let it go straight to his head. He now talks down to everyone, and ends almost every sentence with “Know what I mean?”, “See what I’m saying?” or some other variation. When talking to _his_ supervisor, he tends to avoid giving a straight answer to anything, as to avoid being wrong. Which leads to the annoying phrases “It is, but it isn’t” and “It’s yes, but it’s no”. The funny part is, the boss knows exactly what he’s doing, and it drives him up the wall for the same reason it drives the rest of us nuts. Another thing I’m sick of is calling people “douchebags”. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an effective label for some people. It’s just become too much of a general purpose insult, like “retard” used to be. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/124 "2010-09-18T21:24:26Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > Sometimes I’ll say no, wait a few seconds and throw in “I’m sure” right after followed by her asking “how did you know I was going to say that ?” “Yes, Regis. Final answer.” ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/125 "2010-09-19T01:16:15Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > Another thing I’m sick of is calling people “douchebags”. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an effective label for some people. It’s just become too much of a general purpose insult, like “retard” used to be. [Your Definition Headquarters - Penny Arcade](http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/6/2/)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/126 "2010-09-19T01:26:16Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > The use of “Coke” to describe carbonated beverages other than Coca-Cola… > I went 12 rounds with a friend once over whether Pepsi could be considered a kind of Coke or not. Nitpick: It’s “coke.” Pepsi isn’t Coke, but it could be a coke. ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/127 "2010-09-19T01:53:21Z")
“A gentle reminder…” to clean out your tupperware from the break room fridge before Friday (as an example). Just say it like it is. I hate the gentle reminder thing. Makes me want to get out the razor blades. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/128 "2010-09-19T03:04:11Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > > [@Raguleader](#): > > > > The use of “Coke” to describe carbonated beverages other than Coca-Cola… > > I went 12 rounds with a friend once over whether Pepsi could be considered a kind of Coke or not. > > Nitpick: It’s “coke.” Pepsi isn’t Coke, but it could be a coke. Except that it’s not a coke, nor a Coke. It’s a Cola (not to be confused with a COLA, which can be used for buying cola OR coke, but not _coke_, cause that’s illegal…) ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/129 "2010-09-19T04:11:47Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > > [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > > Huh…the context I’ve always read, or heard “leer” in usually gives it a sleazy bent. > > Yes. It acquired that connotation because it was used to mean peeping and spying (that is, sly and cautious observation) for sleazy purposes, and people associated it with the intent rather than the method–leading to its misuse as a synonym for words like “ogle” and “gawk,” which of course are not sly or cautious at all. > > > [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > > But the way I hear most people use it, is to mean exactly the same thing as wary. > > > > For instance “I’m leery of strangers”. I don’t know why, it just makes me have that little cringe, it just has an awkward sound/feel to me. (yes FEEL! :D). > > Most people who say that are probably better off with “wary,” I agree. Aha! Well cool, you learn something new every day. And now… I know why I don’t like the phrase 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/130 "2010-09-19T04:13:13Z")
> [@Meyer6](#): > > For some reason I have recently grown to hate the word ‘pwned’ or ‘pwnage’, particularly when people say it out loud (it’s also annoying online though). It just seems like something only 12 year old boys should say, and anytime I hear an adult using it it makes me think of them as being the kind of weenie basement-dweller who does nothing but play video games all day. How IS it pronounced? With the p? Or like owned? And what exactly does it mean? ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/131 "2010-09-19T04:16:20Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > The use of “Coke” to describe carbonated beverages other than Coca-Cola or Diet Coke (or their derivatives, such as Lemon Lime Vanilla berry Diet Coke Zero with Lemon Lime) > > ie: > > “Hey Rags, you wanna Coke?” > > “Sure.” > > “What kind?” > > “Diet.” > > “Diet what?” > > “… Diet Coke. What have we just been talking about?” > > I went 12 rounds with a friend once over whether Pepsi could be considered a kind of Coke or not. I think this may be a regional thing. It’s common here to say, when one is going to get soft drinks “hey, I’m going to get some cokes, what kind does everyone want”? ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/132 "2010-09-19T04:19:21Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > [@Meyer6](#): > > > > For some reason I have recently grown to hate the word ‘pwned’ or ‘pwnage’, particularly when people say it out loud (it’s also annoying online though). It just seems like something only 12 year old boys should say, and anytime I hear an adult using it it makes me think of them as being the kind of weenie basement-dweller who does nothing but play video games all day. > > How IS it pronounced? With the p? Or like owned? And what exactly does it mean? it’s pronounce “ownage” or “owned” like woot (we owned the other team). Not sure about the “p” - could be [1337 speak (leet speak).](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet) There’s even a [1337 speak converter](http://www.brenz.net/services/l337Maker.asp). ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/133 "2010-09-19T04:35:50Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > > [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > > How IS it pronounced? With the p? Or like owned? And what exactly does it mean? > > it’s pronounce “ownage” or “owned” like woot (we owned the other team). Not sure about the “p” - could be [1337 speak (leet speak).](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet) There’s even a [1337 speak converter](http://www.brenz.net/services/l337Maker.asp). My friends and I always pronounced it “Powned!” But never in a serious context. Kinda like how a buddy of mine who worked in IT would, after solving some problem on a computer, tended to jump up and triumphantly shout “I AM LEET HAXOR!” Mostly just an in-joke amongst those who would appreciated the humor. Oh, speaking of computers, one phrase that always pissed me off: “RTFM”. Maybe I don’t want to RTFM, maybe TFM assumes that I’ve R’d the ten other FM’s I’d need to understand what the hell it was telling me to do to the X whatever the heck. Maybe RTFM just wasn’t worth the required effort when all i was trying to do was get a printer to work. And all this when I was using Mandrake, supposedly the “easy”, or as they called it back then, “Point and Drool” distro of Linux. Oh yeah, Point and Drool is another phrase that always irked me, but I haven’t heard it in over half a decade. MicroSerfs was another one I’d hear a lot of. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/134 "2010-09-19T05:17:12Z")
Both mentioned before: “At the end of the day” (Let’s skip all discussion and accept my position) “The reality of the situation is” (The Speaker’s version of reality… probably not reality at all) ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/135 "2010-09-19T06:17:52Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > [@Meyer6](#): > > > > For some reason I have recently grown to hate the word ‘pwned’ or ‘pwnage’, particularly when people say it out loud (it’s also annoying online though). It just seems like something only 12 year old boys should say, and anytime I hear an adult using it it makes me think of them as being the kind of weenie basement-dweller who does nothing but play video games all day. > > How IS it pronounced? With the p? Or like owned? And what exactly does it mean? As \*\*Raguleader \*\*said, I have heard it pronounced ‘powned’, to rhyme with ‘owned’. But I have heard it used without humorous intent, as in “My friend won’t play this video game with me anymore since I completely pwned him last time”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/136 "2010-09-19T06:21:44Z")
A friend pronounces it “pooned,” which is even worse because it bears zero relationship to owned. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/137 "2010-09-19T19:36:15Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > > [@dalej42](#): > > > > If you use, “First they came for the Jews…” when trying to defend your position, I’m tuning you out. > > My rebuttal to the “First They Came For…” argument/defence is “By the time they come for me, I’ve long since moved to a less fucked up country and have encouraged and/or aided my friends and family to do the same”. Don’t let the door hit you on the … 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/138 "2010-09-19T19:39:39Z")
> [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](#): > > The one word/phrase that I loathe is “anywho” (anyhoo?). > You say this and you are forever pictured as a slack jawed, overall wearing idiot forever. > > I have no idea why I have such a strong reaction to this. Reading nothing but or hearing nothing but perfect grammar is boring. I am not sure if you are all ‘haters’ but you all lack ‘happy’ IMO. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/139 "2010-09-19T19:49:00Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > ATM machine > > Used in a sentence - “I’m looking for the nearest ATM machine” > > Uh, the M in ATM stands for…oh, never mind.:smack::smack: I want to see the look on faces when I ask them the location of the AT machine. More ‘huh?’ than an actual answer I bet. Accept that you are not going to win this one, but enjoy you time being pissed about it. ::: the above is _snark_ IMO. I just love to be _snarky_ to people… :::: ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990/140 "2010-09-19T20:03:54Z")
Poor working slave down on the floor ‘facing’ products on the lower shelves looks up as I approach, makes eye contact and since I do not know her in any way, shape or form I should just look away and step over her like a dead goose in the sunshine? That would not be cool and I am sooooooo cool, got that dude??? No. for me at this time & w/ malice of forethought I will look right @ them and say, “Workin or hardly workin.” as a pleasant and friendly, in a general way, of acknowledge their existence in this temporal plane, if you know what I mean, so as to not be a ‘stuck-up n00b’ as most ‘hear abouts’ seem to think would be preferable on any given Sunday… YMMV & catch ya on the flip-flop… I could, should & would go on & on & on but, like, it is just toooooo hard, like, to be a cool beans type of uniquely special person so, like, I may ummmmm, well maybe, ummmmmmm stop presently. Ya think? 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-hate/553990.md?page=8)