What annoying/pretentious terms and figures of speech should be abolished?

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 :slight_smile:

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”.

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.

“So to speak.” ugh.

:confused: I thought it was polite.

The word delicious used in non-food contexts grates on me.

Bling-Bling
Empower
Pro-Active
No-Brainer
Outside the box
Know what I’m sayin?

When called on in class many students are compelled to introduce their comment with

"I was just going to say … "

You must be thinking of the abnormal conquest in 1065. :smiley:

This post sponsored by Norman, Is That You?, now showing in revival theaters everywhere.

Agreed! Good call.

"It goes without saying"

then why say it?

"Needless to say…"

No, it isn’t, or you wouldn’t.

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…

mea culpa seems to me an avoidance of saying it’s my fault in plain English. And is pretentious as well.

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.

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.

'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”

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.

“Methinks”. It’s the 21st century, Shakespeare, learn to talk and write like it.

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.

D’oh!:smack:

Although I must admit, that is pretty funny.

You realize, by the time we’ve finished this thread, we won’t have any figures of speech left …