# 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:** 5
**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 11, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/81 "2003-09-11T14:33:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dinoboy \* > This doesn’t come up a whole lot outside of textbooks but it always irritated me when the author wrote; “…it is intuitive to the student that…”, if it **was** intuitive you wouldn’t need to point it out, now would you. A more sensible version of that sentence might read “… it _should be_ intuitive to the student that …” But just because it makes sense doesn’t make it better, since now the sentence implies that if the student doesn’t understand the concept, they must be a moron. :dubious: Meanwhile, let’s keep posting! It shouldn’t be too much longer before we manage to bash every euphamism or foreign incursion into the English language! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/82 "2003-09-11T14:54:46Z")
Reflexive pronouns. I know they have their use, but 90% of the population seems to think that “myself” is the formal word for “I” and doesn’t seem to understand that sometimes the word they’re looking for (and frantically avoiding) is “me.” I’d rather just dump them altogether than to ever hear “If you have questions, talk to myself about them.” Or “Jim and myself think that we should utilize the room.” (It is the same group of people who can’t seem to use the word “use.”) We can work around the lack of reflexive pronouns, it may be inconvenient for a while - but I think I can do it. I’m not sure I can bear those sentences again. And I’ve already gone off on “incent” in other threads. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/83 "2003-09-11T16:13:36Z")
“Copy that” when you’re _not_ on a radio (or “ten-four good buddy” or “roger that.”) Sheesh! “I hear ya.” Well, good, Jethro. I was afraid you wuz goin’ deef! “You got _that_ right.” What’s wrong with, “I agree.”? ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/84 "2003-09-11T17:25:41Z")
I’m irritated by pretentious people who: - use the phrase “as it were…” - use the phrase “begging the question” - and quadruple bonus points if they use it incorrectly, as they almost always do ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/85 "2003-09-11T18:06:15Z")
“per se” It makes me violently angry, violently angry indeed… ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/86 "2003-09-11T20:15:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GargoyleWB \* > \*\*“per se” > > It makes me violently angry, violently angry indeed… \*\* Per se isn’t so bad as such. It’s less irritating than “indeed.” I can understand a mild irritation at some words and phrases, but violent anger? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/87 "2003-09-11T21:03:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skwerl \* > \*\*Also, it drives me up a wall when people say “I call bullshit.” I can’t explain why it bothers me so much, it just seems like some lame SD slang (I’ve never heard it outside of here) that people use to sound cool. \*\* I have heard it outside SD first. It works best when the person saying it raises their hand while saying, “I call bullshit.” I, personally, (\<-- pet peeve right there, what other personality can ‘I’ refer to and I personally hate it when I use it. Which is **way** too often.) don’t use that method, I prefer the coughing, “bullshit”. “Shits and giggles” as mentioned earlier, is one of the most abhorrent phrases in the English language. I hope the creator of that phrase died a painful death, or at least had his/her teeth pulled out without novacaine. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/88 "2003-09-11T21:23:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monstre \* > \*\*Anything about “paradigm shifts”. \*\* You beat me to this one. There’s just no way to fully express the loathing that I have for this phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/89 "2003-09-11T21:34:35Z")
Oh, and I just wanted to say that I was brought up to say “ma’am” and “sir” to all adults and I’m teaching my kids the same thing. This is not considered an insult where I’m from. These are terms of respect! Nothing gets on my nerves quicker than having an adult tell my child, “Oh, don’t call me ‘ma’am!’ It makes me feel so OLD!!” Excuse me if I think that teaching my child respect for adults comes ahead of your vanity! ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/90 "2003-09-11T21:40:44Z")
The reason why (or even) The reason why is because… Calling a comedian or film “zany”, the word they’re looking for is usually mediocre. And last but not least 🙂 : “go figure”, why this winds me up is a mystery but it really grates on me. V ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/91 "2003-09-11T23:04:12Z")
“Webster defines [word] as…” I always thought this was only used for comedy purposes, but I’ve been seeing it used seriously more and more lately. Very annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/92 "2003-09-12T01:02:01Z")
My nomination is “oxymoron” when used (incorrectly) to mean “contradiction in terms.” Its true meaning (rapidly being lost) is much more subtle and interesting. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/93 "2003-09-12T01:33:28Z")
Thought of two more today… Calling a washed up sit com celebrity, male, of course “funnyman” ala Bob Euker or Bronson “Bailkee” Pinchot. I probably got the spelling wrong on both of those. “Get your \_\_\_ on!” I heard a radio announcer read ad copy for a local eatery and she ad lib’d “Get you food on!!” at the end. Imagine being that sponser and hearing that. More to come, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![cajela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cajela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cajela)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/94 "2003-09-12T02:25:41Z")
Utliize. Pro-active. All corporate obfuscation, inventing new words or using ten words where one will do. I knew the company I worked for once was doomed when the CEO said, in all seriousness, “leverage our synergies”. Also empower, healing, and most especially “energy” when used in that new-agey flakey way - it’s the updated version of “vibes”. You do not have negative or positive energy, damnit, that’s nonsense. But I do quite like the Buffy-speak - my bad, chocolatey goodness… It’s cute in casual use. ---
**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/95 "2003-09-12T02:54:23Z")
I’m sad because I use “as it were”. Hate hate hate “Inasmuchas” There is an overblown windbag who happens to be VP/director in one of our departments who started one of his last department memos like that. It was full of all the overworked workplace catchphrases. I saved the whole memo even though I am not in that department to remind me that intelligence and position in the workplace do not always meet. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/96 "2003-09-12T03:02:00Z")
Listen. People that start their conversation with “listen”. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/97 "2003-09-12T03:23:58Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted byLisa-go-Blind_ > 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. I must ride to the defense of “shits and giggles”. One is not attempting to appear clever, funny, or mature when one uses said prase. When one does something for “shits and giggles”, it usually implies that one is bored and casting about for any meaningless activity with which to while away time. One does not go to see “La Boheme” for shits and giggles. One does huck Krispy Kreme donuts at passing cars for shits and giggles. So your conclusion that it is uncalled-for and unnecessary truly matches the purpose of the phrase. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/98 "2003-09-12T03:50:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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. \*\* Care to explain this? I imagine that life must be very hard for you if the word “ma’am” is enough to set you off." ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/99 "2003-09-12T04:02:02Z")
“[blah blah blah] …_and such_.” and “whatnot”. They both drive me nuts and I have no idea why. People acting “shady” is starting to get on my nerves, too, just from overuse. And what exactly _are_ we supposed to use instead of ma’am (not that I’m going to stop saying it)? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/100 "2003-09-12T13:31:45Z")
…brother can you _paradigm_? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627.md?page=6)