### Author:  [@ryoushi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryoushi)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/1 "2001-10-03T10:55:00Z")
What are your nominations?
I’ll start the proceedings by throwing in **akimbo**. Feel free to challenge the word if you find a good use for it. 😉
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/2 "2001-10-03T10:59:21Z")
**Basically** - made useless by usage, I should add.
Most _useful_ word (IMHO) has to be **radius** as it has no synonyms.
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### Author:  [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/3 "2001-10-03T11:29:46Z")
The winner, hands down: friendlily. This based on the fact that **nobody** uses it, and most people don’t even believe that it’s a word!
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### Author:  [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/4 "2001-10-03T11:48:30Z")
How abour “opinion”
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### Author:  [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/5 "2001-10-03T12:21:32Z")
I’d like to rescue akimbo from the abyss, if possible. There’s something about it when used in phrases such as ‘…and with her legs akimbo…’ which just doesn’t work (for me) with any other word.
I’ll second friendlily. Useless. Completely useless.
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### Author:  [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/6 "2001-10-03T12:50:12Z")
Legs Akimbo?
Wasn’t he a Nigerian gangster? 😉
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### Author:  [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/7 "2001-10-03T14:41:57Z")
Um, I don’t think your legs can be akimbo, just your arms. (I’m willing to be corrected.)
I’d say antidisestablishmentarianism is pretty useless. It refers to a political movement that was counter to a different political movement in England that mostly died out in the 1700’s.
–Cliffy
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/8 "2001-10-03T14:59:34Z")
This act, as above, has appeared in several television shows in the UK over the years.
Their modus operandi is to dance, in formation of course, on stage wearing said balloons strategically placed in front of their Private Parts.
The number of balloons available for concealment is gradually reduced throughout the performance, via popping etc.
I always thought they were called _Legs Akimbo_, and I am wondering if anyone can confirm this.
In so saying, I am aware of a Welsh rock band who are also called _Legs Akimbo_. It’s not them.
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### Author:  [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/9 "2001-10-03T15:03:18Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Um, I don’t think your legs can be akimbo, just your arms. (I’m willing to be corrected.)
You’re (pretty much) right, certainly about its original meaning. I checked Merriam-Webster and its main meaning is ‘having the hand on the hip and the elbow turned outward’. Mercifully (for me) it _does_ have a secondary meaning (set in a bent position \) which I’m using to try and salvage some small morsel of self-esteem.
That said, ignorance (mine) has been fought and - to some rather small extent, I’m afraid - banished.
(Nostradamus; have you seen BBC2’s The League of Gentlemen? They portrayed (Mark Gatiss?) as a sad old ex rocker trying to regain his lost youth by reforming his band of 20 years ago, ‘Legz Akimbo’).
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/10 "2001-10-03T15:18:14Z")
Further to the OP, I heartily recommend a look inside the excellent work of reference _Mrs. Byrne’s Dictionary of Unusual, Obscure and Preposterous Words_ (Granada 1979) ISBN 0246111518 in paperback.
There are so many to choose from but _nauscopy_ attracts the eye, meaning _the alleged ability to spot land or ships at sea from far away_.
Well, maybe not useless but certainly arcane.
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### Author:  [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/11 "2001-10-03T15:44:40Z")
Wasn’t there a villian on _Freakazoid_ named Arms Akimbo? Walked around knocking things off shelves a lot.
My nomination: **Practicable**
Usage: “The end of the screw shall protrude from the nut at least one thread, and where praticable not more than five threads.”
You’d think that “where practical” would work, but no. This word annoys me to no end.
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/12 "2001-10-03T15:48:05Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*Originally posted by Xerxes \*\*
> \*Nostradamus; have you seen BBC2’s The League of Gentlemen? They portrayed (Mark Gatiss?) as a sad old ex rocker trying to regain his lost youth by reforming his band of 20 years ago, ‘Legz Akimbo’. \*
I love the programme **Xerxes** , and you are right about Mark Gatiss, but his band was called _Creme Brulee_ I think.
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### Author:  [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/13 "2001-10-03T15:55:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I love the programme Xerxes, and you are right about Mark Gatiss, but his band was called Creme Brulee I think
Hangs head. You’re right. I think I’m going senile. That said, I **know** I’ve seen Legz (sic) Akimbo in relation to LofG.
I think I’ll go have a beer now.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/14 "2001-10-03T16:01:38Z")
The most useless word I’m aware of is “utilize.” It’s an exact synonym of “use.” There’s NO context in which the word “use” isn’t better, so there’s no reason to ever use the word “utilize.” Hell, I don’t even know if utilize is a legitimate word.
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### Author:  [@Anubis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anubis)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/15 "2001-10-03T21:47:04Z")
Tikitikitimbonosayrimbocharribarrirouchaypitberrypimbo wins to me hands down. It means ‘most honorable son’. Quite a mouthful for three words,I’d say.
pronunciation for Tikitikitimbonosayrimbocharribarrirouchaypitberrypimbo:
teeke-teeke-tim(as in the name)-bo-no-say-rim-bo-char-ay-bar-ay-rue-chay-pit-berry-pim-bo.
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### Author:  [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/16 "2001-10-03T22:40:18Z")
I thought the Nigerian Gangster was…
Ta-Tas Akimbo
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### Author:  [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/17 "2001-10-03T22:59:29Z")
‘Netherlandic’ for ‘Dutch’, when referring to the language.
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### Author:  [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/18 "2001-10-03T23:13:59Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bobevilsquid \*
> \*\*Tikitikitimbonosayrimbocharribarrirouchaypitberrypimbo wins to me hands down. It means ‘most honorable son’. Quite a mouthful for three words,I’d say.
> pronunciation for Tikitikitimbonosayrimbocharribarrirouchaypitberrypimbo:
> teeke-teeke-tim(as in the name)-bo-no-say-rim-bo-char-ay-bar-ay-rue-chay-pit-berry-pim-bo. \*\*
…has fallen into the well?
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### Author:  [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/19 "2001-10-03T23:15:54Z")
I nominate **aperçu**. Whoo-yaa, cedilla and all. Granted, it’s really a French word that has crept into English usage, but hey. The only reason I can think of for anyone to use it (in English) is to show off. Which I’m not doing. Really. 😉
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### Author:  [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-useless-word-in-the-engligh-language/85159/20 "2001-10-04T02:50:47Z")
How about **kine** , the plural of cow.
Also, **pledget** ,or a little plug.
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