# Stupid phrases that must die! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 11, 2002, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011 "2002-04-11T10:17:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Earthworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dirty\_Earthworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Earthworm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/21 "2002-04-11T19:18:50Z")
“That is _sooooo_ gay!” -Dirty ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/22 "2002-04-11T19:24:54Z")
“Cut the mustard” gets on my nerves, just because the correct word, “muster”, is falling out of use. You can’t cut mustard, you fucking morons! Listen to yourselves! ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/23 "2002-04-11T20:05:20Z")
[Opus] You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t teach an old dog to make a silk purse out of a pig in a poke. [/Opus] ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Baroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/76d3ee/32.png) [@Billy\_Baroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Baroo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/24 "2002-04-11T20:43:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*“Cut the mustard” gets on my nerves, just because the correct word, “muster”, is falling out of use. You can’t cut mustard, you fucking morons! Listen to yourselves! \*\* “Cut the muster?” Seriously, dude - you go around teaching people to say that? I’m picturing you yelling, “It’s ‘cut the muster,’ fucking moron! How do you cut mustard? Fuck! Riddle me that one, pal!” You must be so psychotic when you go off on your muster-cutting rant that no one has ever told you you’re out of your mind. And also incorrect. 🙂 AFAIK you cut the mustard, pass muster, and pass the mustard, and that’s it. My stupid-phrase peeve is people saying “Whatever!” when you’re arguing with them. So dismissive and annoying, and it seems to happen far too often. ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/25 "2002-04-11T20:44:00Z")
I think some of these can be saved if we just go ahead and combine them. For example: “You can’t eat your cake and have it on your plate, too.” Ah, maybe not. ---
**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:** [April 11, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/26 "2002-04-11T20:54:18Z")
In threads like this, there’s one saying that always pops up immediately, but I haven’t seen it anywhere in here yet. So I guess this thread is **the exception that proves the rule.** ---
**Author:** ![Jane\_D\_oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@Jane\_D\_oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_D_oh)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/27 "2002-04-11T22:39:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*“Cut the mustard” gets on my nerves, just because the correct word, “muster”, is falling out of use. You can’t cut mustard, you fucking morons! Listen to yourselves! \*\* I worked for a guy (who I really disliked, now I know why.) His favorite saying was “If you can’t cut the mustard, don’t serve the hot dog.” Huh??? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/28 "2002-04-11T22:43:28Z")
There are old pilots and bold pilots, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/29 "2002-04-11T22:48:26Z")
Greetings from the most easy-going, I-don’t-give-a-shit, non-grammar-wonk, speak-however-you-like guy on the boards. That said let me just sit here and fume over this: **At This Point In Time.** Auuugghhhhh! Five fucking syllables when one will do. “Is the system fixed yet?” “Not at this point in time.” “Can we cross reference these records?” “We haven’t coded that function, at this point in time.” Holy shit, four or five extra syllables does not make your IQ go up. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/30 "2002-04-11T22:52:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*In threads like this, there’s one saying that always pops up immediately, but I haven’t seen it anywhere in here yet. So I guess this thread is **the exception that proves the rule.** \*\* Cecil on [The exception that proves the rule](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_201.html) (scroll to the bottom half). It is proper to use in some instances, particularly certain legal ones. Of course, as **Miller** is no doubt pointing out, 99% of the time people use it incorrectly; for that reason I put it in the same category as “begging the question.” ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/31 "2002-04-11T22:56:05Z")
To continue the semi-hijack, there’s a particular love for mixed metaphors at my office. My favorite is “I don’t want to open up that whole ball of wax.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/32 "2002-04-12T00:06:41Z")
That’s a whole new kettle of worms. ---
**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/33 "2002-04-12T00:11:31Z")
These phrases really get my goat. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/34 "2002-04-12T00:17:09Z")
Remember - don’t mix your metaphors before they’re hatched ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/35 "2002-04-12T00:43:25Z")
Hi Opal! ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/36 "2002-04-12T01:05:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peepthis \* > \*\*Cecil on [The exception that proves the rule](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_201.html) (scroll to the bottom half). It is proper to use in some instances, particularly certain legal ones. Of course, as **Miller** is no doubt pointing out, 99% of the time people use it incorrectly; for that reason I put it in the same category as “begging the question.” \*\* Notice that in his second paragraph he gives as an example the phrase “the proof is in the pudding.” ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/37 "2002-04-12T15:27:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*“Cut the mustard” gets on my nerves, just because the correct word, “muster”, is falling out of use. You can’t cut mustard, you fucking morons! Listen to yourselves! \*\* Much as I hate to cast doubt on a perfectly good peeve, I have heard an entirely rational etymology for “cut the mustard” which speaks to the simpler, nobler, purer times when we were all children of the soil and squeezy yellow bottles were an aberration in Satan’s hindbrain. Mustard, you see, is a life form that passes through several stages, and while we city dwellers see it only the last and most glorious,of these, our horny handed rural, folk-wisdom generating ancestors were more familiar with the “green” or “plant” stage. Symbiotically assisting the plant to enter its next phase, these simple homely folk would set about it with scythes, shears, cleavers, kitchen knives and other bladed objects which came to hand. For the mustard plant will grow to six feet (outside eggshells) and it’s stalk is particularly tough and fibrous. Our bucolic, apple-cheeked forefathers would find that only a particularly sharp blade would be capable of cutting a twisted bunch of these stalks (for who would harvest a mustard field stalk by individual stalk?) and thus would judge edged tools on their ability to “cut the mustard”. I feel like kind of a shmuck for saying this, but maybe your blood pressure won’t be as volatile in future. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/38 "2002-04-12T15:44:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*As **Wikkit** obliquely pointed out, this is a corruption of “I couldn’t care less” - i.e. “it would be impossible for me to give less of a shit”. > > “I could care less” is simply illogical - it doesn’t even work as sarcasm. Unless the meaning is “I could care less… _but I don’t_”. > \*\* I disagree. “I could care less” is _clearly_ sarcasm. Take both statements. “I couldn’t care less” and “I could care less.” Say them out loud. Notice a big difference in tone? The first sentence falls, and the emphasis in on “couldn’t.” It has the tone of a literal sentence. If you said “I could care less” as a little sentence, you would note a similar tonal pattern, with the main stress falling on “could.” However, in the way it’s normally said, it sounds like “I could CARE LESS.” And me and matt\_mcl aren’t the only ones suggesting that sarcasm is at work here. Linguists such as Steven Pinker of MIT also posit this view. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/39 "2002-04-12T15:49:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jello \* > \*\*These phrases really get my goat. \*\* I used to have a friend who would INSIST that the proper phrase was “get my goad”. We of course used “goat” from then on specifically to rile him up, but no one ever displayed evidence one way or the other for the phrase. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011/40 "2002-04-12T15:56:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sturmhauke \* > **Brownie points.** If I collect several brownie points and glue them together, can I make a +9 Brownie Shuriken of Stupid Phrase Slaying? > > \*\* Must fight ignorance! Brownie points may be redeemed for sexual favors at the end of the current round. I think it was a joke on a SNL. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-phrases-that-must-die/103011.md?page=3)