# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/121 "2007-01-22T06:07:08Z")
Also, I don’t want to “Pick the low hanging fruit”. I get the metaphor, but it just sounds subtly perverted. And it’s lame. ---
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/122 "2007-01-22T15:47:36Z")
“Going forward” I can’t even remember what saying this replaced anymore, but it just sounds like something some idiot corporate stooge thought up because he thought it sounded clever and trendy. “In the future” and “from now on” both sound better, and one even has less syllables. Stupid corporate-speak. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/123 "2007-01-22T15:51:20Z")
[QUOTE=Mouse\_Maven] _My bad_ Gah! Hate, loath and despise this expression. Are people so lazy they can’t be bothered with the extra syllables for “I’m sorry”? . [/QUOTE] I’m always so tempted to respond with “your bad what?” and just watch for the puzzled look. My personal least-favourite word is “empowered” - whilst I understand the sentiment behind it, I intensely dislike the implication that someone has given permission for another person to exercise what is probably their right in the first place. ---
**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 22, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/124 "2007-01-22T17:39:19Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Just out of curiosity, what are you supposed to call what an executive producer has done? [/QUOTE] Producing! An engineer engineers. Junior engineers, senior engineers, executive engineers, associate engineers, and assistant engineers still engineer. Therefore, an executive producer produces, not “executive produces.” Unless, of course, it’s a strictly management position, in which case the executive producer would manage, or oversee, or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/125 "2007-01-22T17:53:06Z")
I never want to hear _va-jay-jay_\* again, thank you. Not cute, not clever, not funny. - for “vagina”, in case you’ve missed out on this one ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/126 "2007-01-22T18:31:07Z")
One more that I heard again this weekend: “product” when specifically referring to stuff one puts in one’s hair. “You need to use some product to keep the frizzies down.” “Just put a little product in and blow dry it.” “Do you need some product today?” I place the blame for this one squarely on the pretty shoulders of Kyan Douglas from Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. He’s cute, but that’s annoying. ---
**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 22, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/127 "2007-01-22T18:50:01Z")
[QUOTE=cmyk] One of my coworkers (who I thankfully don’t have to work directly with) says to me EVERY TIME we pass each other “Having fun yet?” And I mean EVERY damn time. I mean, what is that? Unfortunately, she seems to be spreading it around the floor, because i’ve heard various other sheep use it now as well. It’s almost as bad as “It’s definitely Monday.” Shut the fuck up and start having FUN already so I don’t have to hear it. [/QUOTE] The creator of _Zippy the Pinhead_ in the _Zippy_ comic claims to have originated “Are we having fun yet?” The late Erma Bombeck also claimed it. If it bugs you, just look up and cheerfully say, “Oh, hi, Zippy! How are you?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/128 "2007-01-23T00:54:09Z")
“Sucks to be you”, especially when used seriously, as a way of expressing a lack of sympathy. It gives me the urge to set the speaker on fire and say “Sucks to be you, too !” ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/129 "2007-01-23T01:55:52Z")
“At this particular point in time…” Why not, “At this point” or “At this time”? Why drag it out like that? Thank God that “paradigm” has suffered a miserable, well-deserved death. ---
**Author:** ![threnodyangelfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@threnodyangelfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threnodyangelfire)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/130 "2007-01-23T02:14:16Z")
Not so much new slang, but a phrase that gets on my nerves is when someone asks for something in the way of “Can I get…?” when talking to shop clerks or something. I think my mum just bought me up differently and would always correct me when I said something like that, so I out of habit say “May I please have…” Though, I know it might just be me it irks. Again, not so much a buzz word, but a common turn of phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/131 "2007-01-23T07:20:25Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] “Sucks to be you”, especially when used seriously, as a way of expressing a lack of sympathy. It gives me the urge to set the speaker on fire and say “Sucks to be you, too !” [/QUOTE] Have you actually had a stranger say this to you? I only hear it from friends and family, and only as a joke. I believe I’d tell a stranger to fuck right off if they said something so rude. > [@threnodyangelfire](#): > > Not so much new slang, but a phrase that gets on my nerves is when someone asks for something in the way of “Can I get…?” when talking to shop clerks or something. > > I think my mum just bought me up differently and would always correct me when I said something like that, so I out of habit say “May I please have…” Though, I know it might just be me it irks. > > Again, not so much a buzz word, but a common turn of phrase. My brother says this. I think he picked it up from living in San Diego. I make it a point to say the exact same thing you say (though occasionally substituting “may” with “could”.) ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/132 "2007-01-23T07:27:02Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Producing! An engineer engineers. Junior engineers, senior engineers, executive engineers, associate engineers, and assistant engineers still engineer. Therefore, an executive producer produces, not “executive produces.” Unless, of course, it’s a strictly management position, in which case the executive producer would manage, or oversee, or something similar. [/QUOTE] Well said. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/133 "2007-01-23T08:02:12Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] Have you actually had a stranger say this to you? I only hear it from friends and family, and only as a joke. I believe I’d tell a stranger to fuck right off if they said something so rude. [/QUOTE] On the Internet, yes, I’ve had strangers say that to me. In person ? No, probably because that level of rudeness invites a punch in the face IRL. I’ve also heard the variant “sucks to be them” used to dismiss the misfortunes of third parties. ---
**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/134 "2007-01-23T09:02:57Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] 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! [/QUOTE] actually, I think that’s a way of saying “It’s ok, you’re not in the wrong.” I have yet to hear “sup my bitch”, and I’m 25. I don’t foresee it being said to me… anyone comfortable enough with me to say that knows me well enough not to. ---
**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 23, 2007, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/135 "2007-01-23T10:23:30Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Just out of curiosity, what are you supposed to call what an executive producer has done? Production? Executive production? Work? As for the present tense, how about, gee, _produce_? > [@LifeOnWry](#): > > One more that I heard again this weekend: “product” when specifically referring to stuff one puts in one’s hair. > > “You need to use some product to keep the frizzies down.” > “Just put a little product in and blow dry it.” > “Do you need some product today?” > > I place the blame for this one squarely on the pretty shoulders of Kyan Douglas from Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. He’s cute, but that’s annoying. Ugh! I hate that one, too. > [@Cisco](#): > > My brother says this. I think he picked it up from living in San Diego. I make it a point to say the exact same thing you say (though occasionally substituting “may” with “could”.) Never thought of it that way, but I say “Can I get…?” and so does pretty much everyone I know. Maybe you’ve got something here. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/136 "2007-01-23T10:35:54Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Producing! An engineer engineers. Junior engineers, senior engineers, executive engineers, associate engineers, and assistant engineers still engineer. Therefore, an executive producer produces, not “executive produces.” Unless, of course, it’s a strictly management position, in which case the executive producer would manage, or oversee, or something similar. [/QUOTE] Sometimes what he does is bankroll, lend his name and image, open doors (metaphorically), and provide networks of people and resources. He’s the boss in a sense, but not the manager. He’s more like a CEO (or sometimes like a CFO). It basically just means (usually) that if it weren’t for this guy, this motion picture wouldn’t have happened. But he doesn’t really “produce” in the sense that a producer produces. A producer (in films, not necessarily TV) is kind of in charge of everything. He hires the director and signs off on most larger aspects of the project. He’s more the manager type. So, it really won’t do to say that the executive producer just produces. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/137 "2007-01-23T10:38:11Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] Production? Executive production? Work? As for the present tense, how about, gee, _produce_? [/QUOTE] Pithy, but not really accurate. It would be like saying that a Chief Executive executes. Please see above post. ---
**Author:** ![e-bow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@e-bow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/e-bow)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/138 "2007-01-23T14:56:59Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] But Executive Producer is a title, not a verb, even though the title contains what would otherwise be a verb. [/QUOTE] Yup. It’s a noun created out of a verb, and now folks have created a verb out of the noun. I’m outraged myself. ---
**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 23, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/139 "2007-01-23T15:12:50Z")
[QUOTE=wonderlust] Another one that’s driving me crazy: You need to… instead of Please… “You need to sign here”, “You need to hold” [/QUOTE] I can’t believe I forgot the variation, which is worse, in my opinion! _I need you to…_ instead of _Please…_ ---
**Author:** ![goldenmean1975](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@goldenmean1975](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldenmean1975)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469/140 "2007-01-23T15:54:33Z")
Not exactly trendy, but still widely used and very annoying…“Happy camper”, calling Walmart “Wallyworld”, It urks me when someone tells me they have “date night” with their husband. It sounds like something Oprah or those douches on “The View” came up with. Same thing with, “me” time . I’m not crazy about “closure”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trendy-expressions-that-need-to-die/388469.md?page=8)