# Trendy Expressions That Need to Die! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469 "2007-01-18T17:19:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/81 "2007-01-20T22:26:17Z")
[QUOTE=matt\_mcl] It’s weird crusty old guy talk. I was hanging out with my grandmother’s partner the other day and he kept saying “females,” as if it was physically painful to say “women.” I think he used “dame” once or twice as well. [/QUOTE] It seems to be making a comeback among the younger set as well. At the college where I work, I hear young men saying “female” all too often. “Larry’s last party was lame – not enough females!” It’s the tone that gets on my nerves, as if you need to stock up on “females” like you are stocking game on a preserve. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/82 "2007-01-20T22:34:59Z")
I can see male and female, but not guy and female, or man and female ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/83 "2007-01-20T22:51:54Z")
I holler at my cat if he goes “outside the box.” ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/84 "2007-01-20T22:59:40Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] Can you ladies… er I mean gals… er I mean girls… er I mean women come up with an equivalent to “guys” that doesn’t make you sound so precious and special all the dang time? [/QUOTE] But we are! At least some of the time. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/85 "2007-01-20T23:12:01Z")
[QUOTE=wonderlust] I can see male and female, but not guy and female, or man and female [/QUOTE] I’ve mentioned this before - a hospital Mom practiced at once had labelled the washrooms, apparently in an attempt at scientific precision, as MALE and FEMALE. One imagined the male and female washrooms getting together and making little baby washrooms. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/86 "2007-01-20T23:26:53Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Number one, I despise. Where did it come from? [/QUOTE] “My bad” is from _Clueless_-at least, that’s where I first heard it. I confess to using it on occassion. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/87 "2007-01-20T23:52:43Z")
I’ll see your “at the end of the day” and raise you a “make no mistake,” another turgid post-9/11 catchphrase that is sorely overdue for decapitation. “But make no mistake… just in case you were about to make the mistake of disagreeing with the mindless platitudes I shortly intend to mouth. I thought I’d take this opportunity to warn my audience pre-emptively, seeing as how you’re all thunderously stupid cattle and all. Therefore, in the process of filtering the message I’m about to deliver through your pork-fed cranial ganglia, try not to exercise any independent thought which might cause you to entertain doubts regarding the sterling quality of my words, because that would inevitably be a mistake; hence my earlier precautionary admonishment.” ---
**Author:** ![goldenmean1975](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@goldenmean1975](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldenmean1975)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/88 "2007-01-20T23:53:57Z")
I’m tired of hearing “ya think”…or anything else that sounds like it came off of “Friends”. I don’t like when I say thanks and someone replies “no problem”. This has become so common that my parents do it now. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/89 "2007-01-21T00:19:17Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph] I hardly ever hear them any more. Then again, I am 36, so maybe I’m not hanging out with the people who say them. [/QUOTE] Unless you’re a 36 year old high school teacher, I don’t suspect that you would be. > [@levdrakon](#): > > There is no womanly equivalent to “guys” Yes there is. It’s the unisex “guys” or “girls”. “hey guys what’s up?” “girls night out” “I’m going out with the girls tonight” Girls also use the term “boys” to refer to men. “he’s out with the boys tonight” “that boy is cute” etc > [@Der Trihs](#): > > Cow-orker. > [@Misnomer](#): > > Seconded! Motion passed. If you’re so smart and sophisticated, go get a job where your fellow employees don’t act like mindless livestock. The terms “playa’” or “dog” is hereby declared uncool. Anyone who’s “got my back” will also recieve a kick in the nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/90 "2007-01-21T02:21:35Z")
I wish the war pundits would quit talking about _the Arab street_ until they’re equally willing to discuss non-Arab streets. Ie: _Bush’s troop surge is not going over well in the American street._ ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/91 "2007-01-21T13:17:42Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] I wish the war pundits would quit talking about _the Arab street_ until they’re equally willing to discuss non-Arab streets. Ie: _Bush’s troop surge is not going over well in the American street._ [/QUOTE] Or-- at the very least-- if pundits are indeed consulting sources on the Arab street, they should properly acknowledge the help of the Arab Huggy Bear and Rooster. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/92 "2007-01-21T13:32:47Z")
With regards to “word”, I don’t know if it’s related or not, but Australians were saying “my word!” as long ago as the Nineteenth Century. The etymology may or may not carry through, but I think it does because the meaning is usually the same. Mark Twain commented on it in his writings of his travels here. I grew up with that phrase and use it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/93 "2007-01-21T14:19:35Z")
We have long since passed the time when “Git-R-Done!” should have become a hanging offense. (I’m sure this is especially noticeable out here in the sticks.) Anything coined or popularized by Rachael Ray, such as “sammies”, “stoup”, “Yum-O!”, and “EVOO-thats-extra-virgin-olive-oil”. I don’t think any of these has actually caught on, but since I can’t seem to turn my head these days without seeing Rachael’s mug, a pre-emptive strike is in order. ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/94 "2007-01-21T15:02:09Z")
[QUOTE=delphica] It seems to be making a comeback among the younger set as well. At the college where I work, I hear young men saying “female” all too often. “Larry’s last party was lame – not enough females!” It’s the tone that gets on my nerves, as if you need to stock up on “females” like you are stocking game on a preserve. [/QUOTE] Well, when I just said it (talking about tabloids having every celebrity of childbearing age on pregnancy-watch) I really did choose the word “female” instead of “woman” as a designation. The way tabloids look at possibly pregnant celebrities is as if they are the females of a special species that we are all hoping will breed. Game preserve is pretty apt. I agree that when people say “female” instead of “woman” a lot of times they’re pretty much saying something like, “one of those things that’s like a person except that it might fuck you, or it might yell at you…you just don’t know.” ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/95 "2007-01-21T15:20:11Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] With regards to “word”, I don’t know if it’s related or not, but Australians were saying “my word!” as long ago as the Nineteenth Century. The etymology may or may not carry through, but I think it does because the meaning is usually the same. Mark Twain commented on it in his writings of his travels here. I grew up with that phrase and use it a lot. [/QUOTE] Grandmas still might say “my word” in Canada but it’s funny that when I hear a kid say “word” I always think it sounds like a grandma reaction. “My word, you are certainly right about that!” I always thought it was short for word is bond and just meant “true,” but outside of songs I never heard anyone use that full phrase and so when I hear it I think of it being short for “my word” and it sounds funny to me like “my goodness.” ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/96 "2007-01-21T15:49:39Z")
> [@Mouse\_Maven](#): > > Gah! Hate, loath and despise this expression. Are people so lazy they can’t be bothered with the extra syllables for “I’m sorry”? If I say “I’m sorry”, the victim of my slight can fire back, “What, sorry I found you out?” If I say “my bad”, I’m acknowledging fault and we can get past it more quickly. (I prided myself on never saying “my bad”–until I played high school basketball, when I found out that it’s really convenient for when there’s not much time to express yourself.) > [@Lush Puppy](#): > > Phrases with “hella” We can file that under “Things that Make Northern Californians Stick Out Like Sore Thumbs Here”. > [@Mouse\_Maven](#): > > A student in my lab greeted me with “'Sup my bitch.” :eek: One of your _students_ said that to you? :eek: > [@Licentious Ectomorph](#): > > I thought “hella,” “props,” and “my bad” went out in the 90s. I hardly ever hear them any more. Then again, I am 36, so maybe I’m not hanging out with the people who say them. It’s a regional thing. As I noted above, “hella” is alive and well among my generation in Northern Cal. But “yo”, the standard greeting among my peers in early-1990s southern Maryland, got me laughed out of school in late-1990s San Diego. > [@Starving Artist](#): > > Oh, yeah…another biggie: “Executive-produced by…” ARGH! This one KILLS me. The two-word title turned into a two-word verb. People automatically lose respect points when I hear them say that crap. > [@flurb](#): > > “Hey, I’m just sayin’!”, used after making an inappropriate or tactless comment, is at the top of my list of hated phrases. What a useless follow up. You’re not apologizing for, or defending, or further explaining your comment – you’re just sayin’! I do this–sort of. If someone blows up at something minor that I say, I’ll try to calm them down by telling them, “Hey, I’m just sayin’ X” where X is a restatement of whatever they were just overreacting to, or an explanation of why they should heed it. Example: There are specific things we have to remind customers of (where the condiments are, etc.) at my work before we let them loose with their drinks and food. I recently had to remind one of my coworkers of “the script”, at which point he blew up at me and told me he knew how to do his job. My response: “Hey, I’m just sayin’, the mystery shoppers are going to mark off points for that.” > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > It’s short for, “Am I bad?” No, it’s “My bad”. Trust me. > [@e-bow](#): > > [Thread Summary] > I hate what young people say! > > I really hate what black people say! > [/Thread Summary] > > I would like to echo the call for everyone to revert to the language they used 50 years ago. Are you reading the same thread I’m reading? Most of these are business catchphrases, used by people with MBAs. > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I am pretty sure it started out this way and only morphed into “my bad” by masses of people who didn’t really know anything about its origins. It would be an easy mistake to make because even in its original incarnation, you didn’t get that it was a question solely by the tone of voice. I remember hearing and seeing “My bad” in exactly that form as early as 1992. > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I still hate what i hate. Well, it is what it is. > [@matt\_mcl](#): > > It’s weird crusty old guy talk. Maybe up there, but down here it’s young-black-guy talk. FWIW, I lump women in with “guys”. Second person plural is always “you guys” even when it’s three women. > [@DoctorJ](#): > > I don’t think any of these has actually caught on, but since I can’t seem to turn my head these days without seeing Rachael’s mug, a pre-emptive strike is in order. You think so? I work in a bookstore, next to the cookbook section. Her face is branded into the deepest recesses of my brain, and her T-shirt that says “Yum-O!” As for me, 2006’s “The XY” two-letter acronym craze made me want to cut myself. It’d be one thing if the show itself weren’t soap-opera dreck, but shit…it’s even extended to three-letter acronyms. A group of morning radio hosts formerly called “Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw” are now “The DSC”. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/97 "2007-01-21T17:22:23Z")
Oh, yeah, I forgot “peeps.” Peeps are grotesque little candy things, not people. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/98 "2007-01-21T17:32:57Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Oh, yeah, I forgot “peeps.” Peeps are grotesque little candy things, not people. [/QUOTE] Ohhhhhhh, yes! Along with other “business shorthand” that makes me crazy: “I am taking a vacay” - it’s a vacaTION, you dipstick. “We’re going to have a convo” - I’m **sure** you mean conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/99 "2007-01-21T17:48:07Z")
Ohhhh, I’ve been wanting to pit “ **It is what it is** ” for awhile. I come home from work complaining about it to my wife all the time. I can’t go 5 minutes without hearing it from one of the parrots at the office and I can’t think of a more ridiculous, completely and utterly meaningless phrase. I think everyone has picked up on it because management says it with broken-record-like frequency. If I could bring a new one (I think) into the thread . . . I hate when 2 people make a mistake - for instance, you and another person are coming around a corner at the same time and you bump into each other. You do the polite thing and say “excuse me”, and the other person pops out with, “_No, you’re good! 🙂_” Hey, I’m not the only one who made a mistake here, pal! Your trendy little catch-phrase implies that you’re letting me off the hook for something. You’re not! ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/100 "2007-01-21T17:55:12Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] Are you reading the same thread I’m reading? Most of these are business catchphrases, used by people with MBAs. [/QUOTE] I think \*\*e-bow \*\* was simply observing that the rest of us hate young black people with MBAs. I know that’s what I meant to convey with my contribution, anyway. > [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Oh, yeah, I forgot “peeps.” Peeps are grotesque little candy things, not people. Dang, I always thought that was the whole point of the reference-- the implication that one’s “peeps” are such close friends that they might as well be joined at the hip, just as the marshmallow variety often come fused together in a row. Not that I ever use the expression myself, of course-- I’m no young black MBA. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469.md?page=6)