# Phrases you know you use too much **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607 "2014-03-01T16:45:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/41 "2014-03-06T14:02:09Z")
“Basically”, “obviously”, “just”, “actually”, “essentially” and “ultimately”. All of those. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/42 "2014-03-06T22:46:12Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I once had a boss who would use “obviously” even when nothing was obvious. > > Me: What font should I use here? > Her: Obviously Garamond Italic. > > Me: Where are you going on vacation? > Her: Obviously Barcelona. > > Drove me crazy. My co-worker uses “nonetheless” when she really means “not to mention”. I have to mentally rephrase it every time. But that’s good, since it means I haven’t internalized it. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/43 "2014-03-07T03:57:34Z")
When explaining something or answering a question, I always start with, “Yeah! So,…” This is one reason I can’t stand to be around myself. ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/44 "2014-03-07T04:41:03Z")
Way too many things in my life are ‘cool’ apparently. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/45 "2014-03-07T11:46:36Z")
Basically, Yogosoth beat me to it. And basically, so did Princhester. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/46 "2014-03-07T11:50:56Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Various and sundry phrases centered around “fuck”. I’m trying to cut back, as overuse decreases the fucking effect. But please keep the “fucking infix.” Basically, it’s so cool that a specific linguistic phenomenon exists in English only as _-fucking-_! (And, I would posit, as _-smurf-_.) ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/47 "2014-03-07T12:04:12Z")
No worries. I use it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/48 "2014-03-07T12:18:32Z")
I use “fair enough” a lot, but the worst offender is “I have a question . . .” Somehow, it just doesn’t seem _right_ to jump to the question part without the lead up. It creates a sense of anticipation which is then let down if the question is something mundane. (“I have a question . . . Can I use the bathroom?”) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/49 "2014-03-07T20:56:01Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > “Sweet”. I use it waaay too much. Yep. I alternate “sweet” with “excellent” Monty Burns style. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/50 "2014-03-07T23:31:30Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Apparently, I say “apparently,” too much. Apparently Apparently, we have the same problem.😛 ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/51 "2014-03-08T08:56:08Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > “What fresh hell is this now…” > > But I’m trying to cut back. Oooh, I like that one! ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/52 "2014-03-09T22:41:44Z")
I’m notorious for using certain words and phrases ad nauseum, but I do it intentionally rather than out of force of habit. I frequently use the words “gist” and “thrice,” among many others. A relatively new co-worker has gotten me started on [“skosh,”](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1032/whats-the-origin-of-skosh-meaning-a-little-bit) which I now use as often as I can. I also try to fit as many Kesha song titles and lyrics into my conversation as possible. I don’t say that things suck, I say that they “Blow.” “Take It Off” is another one that’s easily inserted into conversations. “Blah Blah Blah” and “Die Young” are only slightly less-frequently used. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607/53 "2014-03-10T00:00:10Z")
Even though I’ve crossed the big four-zero, I still frequently say “Whatever” in the tone of a petulant teenager. I’ve thought about breaking the habit, but…eh, whatever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-know-you-use-too-much/682607.md?page=2)