# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/141 "2003-09-15T19:32:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Morelin \* > \*\*Okay, whait a minute, an historic is bad? But I don’t pronounce the h so isn’t that what it should be? > > Maybe I’m just pretentious, though. \*\* Maybe you are. [Just because the h in HOUR is silent doesn’t mean it is in HISTORIC.](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=historic) ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/142 "2003-09-15T20:39:04Z")
Nuther vote for empower. Recently, the “street” has been bugging me (i.e. the opinion of the average guy on the street) ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/143 "2003-09-15T20:53:12Z")
Those who misuse _whom_, especially if they promote their relative pronoun abortion to the beginning of the sentence, ought to be boot flayed. ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/144 "2003-09-15T20:55:25Z")
“I don’t know you from Adam/Eve” ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/145 "2003-09-15T21:09:56Z")
If you’re from NYC, chances are pretty good you say 'uge, rather than huge, but I doubt you say 'istoric, even with an an in front. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/146 "2003-09-15T21:51:29Z")
“Synch up” for touch base. My current major peeve is using “The Perfect Storm” for every bad hair day, cancelled yard sale and flat tire. Yaargh! ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/147 "2003-09-15T22:58:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Waenara \* > \*\*I’m irritated by pretentious people who: > […] > > - use the phrase “begging the question” - and quadruple bonus points if they use it incorrectly, as they almost always do \*\* Be careful! You don’t want to offend the Perfect Master, who has [spoken](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/020524.html) on this topic. Personally, I can’t stand it when people say “in a word” unless they really are using just one word. Also, to go along with **BMalion** , the phrase “not to mention” always bothers me. You _are_ mentioning it! ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/148 "2003-09-16T02:17:25Z")
Well, **knock knock** , I’m not so much irritated by the person using the phrase wrong - it’s more that I’m irritated by them using it at all. The only times I’ve ever heard the phrase “begging the question” used (“correctly” or “incorrectly”), it was in a very pretentious manner. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/149 "2003-09-16T06:32:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by galen \* > **I absolutely hate the improper use of “real estate” when applied to any area or volume such as in "The Universe is X light years across. That’s a lot of real estate."** This reminded me of the Realtor-speak misuse of _home_. “Let me sell you a new home today!” No, you might sell me a house, but it won’t be a home until I (or other folks) move in. And why do we have to capitalize **Realtor** , anyway? Because the Lawyers for the National Association of Real Estate Boards thought it was a good idea, I suppose. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/150 "2003-09-16T06:38:22Z")
> [@](#): > > About ten or fifteen years ago, it seemed common for people to end up dead in “drug deals gone bad.” What was interesting to me is that all these “drug deals gone bad” were offered as evidence as to why drugs are bad. How can something go bad if it’s already bad? ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/151 "2003-09-16T11:13:37Z")
Resolved, when used incorrectly. An example of the correct way to use it is: “_Resolved: Elvis died from an OD of drugs_”, not _"Resolved: Abortion is WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!_. Resolved should be used to describe something that is non-objective and fact-based. Beau. Just leaves my mouth with a icky feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/152 "2003-09-16T13:23:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pencilpusher \* > \*\*“when I was your age…” I’ve ALWAYS hated that because you KNEW a lecture was coming. ☹ \*\* Related to this is “When you are my age you will …”. I hate this argument because there is no defense against it. You can be 100% certain that when you reach that person’s age he or she will use it against you another time because they will always be older than you. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/153 "2003-09-16T14:16:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sternvogel \* > \*\*This reminded me of the Realtor-speak misuse of _home_. “Let me sell you a new home today!” No, you might sell me a house, but it won’t be a home until I (or other folks) move in. > > And why do we have to capitalize **Realtor** , anyway? Because the Lawyers for the National Association of Real Estate Boards thought it was a good idea, I suppose. \*\* Actually, that would be because the National Association of Realtors [invented the term](http://www.realtor.org/libweb.nsf/pages/fg002) (scroll down): > [@](#): > > The term “REALTOR,” identifying real estate agents as members of the National Association of Real Estate Boards and subscribers to its strict Code of Ethics, was devised by Charles N. Chadbourn, a past president of the Minneapolis Real Estate Board, and was first used to designate members of the Minneapolis organization. The Minneapolis Board gave all rights to the word “Realtor” to the National Association in 1916. Invented terms tend to get very strong trademark protection, and NAR had been most agressive in defending “Realtor” from genericide. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/154 "2003-09-16T18:25:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Resolved, when used incorrectly. An example of the correct way to use it is: “Resolved: Elvis died from an OD of drugs”, not "Resolved: Abortion is WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!. Resolved should be used to describe something that is non-objective and fact-based. You mean “objective,” not “non-objective.” And you’re wrong. Resolved in this instance comes from “be it resolved that,” which is the formula used to introduce the resolution to be debated in parliamentary debating. As in, “be it resolved that the deficit be cut,” or “be it resolved that pink elephants have nasty tempers”. ---
**Author:** ![Stage\_Manager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stage_manager/32/7267_2.png) [@Stage\_Manager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stage_Manager)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/155 "2003-09-16T19:55:07Z")
There have been entire threads devoted to this one, but I have to mention it here as well (sorry). Using “gay” as a pejorative. There. I’ve said my piece.\* \*Which is another one I can’t stand hearing. ---
**Author:** ![selar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@selar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/selar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/156 "2003-09-16T20:13:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Herb Twoleaf \* > \*\*this, that, and the other, > thus-and-such, > …and all, > …and everything, > …and stuff, > _awe_some, > _to_tally, > _axe_ a ?, > etcetera, etcetera (isn’t one enough?), > _Dude!_ > \*\* I’ve witnessed whole 30 minute conversations consisting just of those phrases. Second for Bling-Bling. Drives me to violence.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jerrybear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Jerrybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerrybear)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/157 "2003-09-16T20:38:42Z")
These two tend to appear in scholarly writing a lot, and kind of annoy me in a “too pretentious” kind of way: “e.g.” and “i.e.” Why not just say “for example” or “that is…”? ---
**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 16, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/158 "2003-09-16T22:37:55Z")
How about people who pronounce “et cetera” as “excedra”? It makes me take excedrin. Also: pronouncing “voila” as “wah-la”. I’ll admit I haven’t taken French since elementary school (thanks, Louisiana!), but I thought there was a definite “v” sound in the word. ---
**Author:** ![Stage\_Manager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stage_manager/32/7267_2.png) [@Stage\_Manager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stage_Manager)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/159 "2003-09-16T23:35:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lisa-go-Blind \* > \*\*How about people who pronounce “et cetera” as “excedra”? It makes me take excedrin. > \*\* I haven’t noticed that pronunciation so much as I have noticed the freaks that write it as “ect.” – which just drives me totally apeshit. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![hebesphenomegacorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@hebesphenomegacorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hebesphenomegacorona)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627/160 "2003-09-17T01:11:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gassendi \* > \*\*“Happy go lucky”. > > What the f\*\*\* does this mean?! I want to puke whenever I hear someone described this way. And it’s always someone who died an untimely death! Stop saying this!!! \*\* Think someone who does that Woody Woodpecker laugh. 24/7. While jumpng around, oblivious to the semi that’s going to crash into him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-annoying-pretentious-terms-and-figures-of-speech-should-be-abolished/200627.md?page=9)