# What annoying/pretentious terms and figures of speech should be abolished? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627 "2003-09-09T22:40:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/41 "2003-09-10T13:41:04Z")
The non-word “irregardless” Aiiii!!! I feel dirty just typing it! I disagree on the “any insertion of French into English” concept, since French has been leaking into English since the Normal conquest back in 1066 … where do you stop? Would you abolish the word “reservoir”? Or terms like “idee fixe” which has a particular meaning that would take much longer to explain in English? That’s my 2c worth, anyway 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/42 "2003-09-10T13:49:25Z")
Redouble = We previously had doubled our efforts, now we need to double them again. Don’t see the big deal. But my peeve is: any word Microsoft comes up with, especially if the explanation has something to do with “standards”. ---
**Author:** ![MetalDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@MetalDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MetalDog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/43 "2003-09-10T13:59:18Z")
When people use ‘anymore’ to mean ‘nowadays’. I’m not sure why that one gets to me, but it almost instantly flicks the internal rant generator on. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/44 "2003-09-10T14:10:12Z")
“So to speak.” ugh. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jinx \* > \*\*The term “ma’am” is archaic and degrating in any context. Its use is as ugly as calling a Black man “boy”. I simply cannot utter such words from my lips - sounding like someone from a more ignorant era. \*\* 😕 I thought it was polite. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/45 "2003-09-10T16:23:01Z")
The word **delicious** used in non-food contexts grates on me. ---
**Author:** ![Qburn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/bc79bd/32.png) [@Qburn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qburn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/46 "2003-09-10T16:56:14Z")
Bling-Bling Empower Pro-Active No-Brainer Outside the box Know what I’m sayin? ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/47 "2003-09-10T17:01:43Z")
When called on in class many students are compelled to introduce their comment with "I was just going to say … " ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/48 "2003-09-10T17:47:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ponder Stibbons \* > \*\*…French has been leaking into English since the Normal conquest back in 1066 … \*\* You must be thinking of the _ **ab** _normal conquest in 1065. 😃 This post sponsored by _Norman, Is That You?_, now showing in revival theaters everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/49 "2003-09-10T17:56:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panache45 \* > \*\*Most annoying misuse of language: using “literally” for emphasis, as in: > > “I literally died laughing.” > > Hmmmm, maybe I wish you literally had. \*\* Agreed! Good call. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/50 "2003-09-10T17:59:24Z")
**"It goes without saying"** then why say it? **"Needless to say…"** No, it isn’t, or you wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![pestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/51 "2003-09-10T18:08:06Z")
One more vote each for “anyhoo,” “touch base,” corp-speak (“outside the box,” etc.), “pomo” and the elimination of French words and phrases from English. And if I see one more person start a thread title with “in which,” I’m going to have a seizure. Nothing looks more pretentious on the SDMB than thread titles like, “In which **StupidUser** does something nobody gives a f\*\*k about and feels the need to post it!” I know, that’s what I get for reading MPSIMS… ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/52 "2003-09-10T18:16:23Z")
**mea culpa** seems to me an avoidance of saying it’s my fault in plain English. And is pretentious as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lenny\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9dc877/32.png) [@Lenny\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lenny_Carl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/53 "2003-09-10T18:50:32Z")
Anthing that’s “X” or “EXTREME” I can’t stand it!! EVERYTHING is EXTREME these days!! Extreme sports Extreme rides Extreme foods Extreme TV shows 9 times out of 10, these “EXTREME” things just end up being the same old boring crap. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/54 "2003-09-10T20:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panache45 \* > \*\*Most annoying misuse of language: using “literally” for emphasis, as in: > > “I literally died laughing.” > > Hmmmm, maybe I wish you literally had. \*\* I figuratively died laughing while reading this post! If the misuse of the word “literally” were a person, I think I would have gouged its eyes out by now. My addition: “shits and giggles”. It doesn’t make you sound clever, funny, or mature. It’s a bothersome, insipid phrase that produces disgusting mental images. It is entirely uncalled-for and completely unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/55 "2003-09-10T21:35:58Z")
'nuff said. If it’s enough said, you don’t need to say 'nuff said. Or when it’s in the context of an answer to a question it’s really pretentious. Who was the greatest President of the 20th century? FDR. 'nuff said. Oh thank you, lord-god-king. The discussion can now end because you have decided that is the final answer, with no reasons given as to why you think FDR was the greatest President. “just my $.02.” pretense from the whimpy, lame, smarmy school. “my bad.” Makes me think of little kids when they say “I made a boo boo” ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/56 "2003-09-10T21:38:21Z")
Another couple of votes for “get a leg up,” “thinking outside the box,” “on the same page…” I also hate when people ask if you’re “on board.” Or decide to “incent” executives. Or ask me to help them, then tell me to “just roll with it,” when I haven’t gotten any in put from them at all. I also don’t like it when people tell me they’re going to “pick my brain for ideas.” If they’d like to pick my brain, they’re going to have to chase me down and cut my skull open with a saw. If they would like to ask my opinion or if I have any ideas, that’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/57 "2003-09-10T21:46:36Z")
“Methinks”. It’s the 21st century, Shakespeare, learn to talk and write like it. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/58 "2003-09-10T21:46:45Z")
I have a particular and unusual figure-of-speech pet hate: The phrase “Like so”. Most commonly seen on cookery or DIY programmes. For some reason it really grates. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/59 "2003-09-10T22:15:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DesertGeezer \* > \*\*You must be thinking of the _ab_normal conquest in 1065. 😃 > \*\* D’oh!:smack: Although I must admit, that _is_ pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/60 "2003-09-10T22:22:35Z")
You realize, by the time we’ve finished this thread, we won’t have any figures of speech left … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627.md?page=4)