# Words And Phrases To Stop Using In 2009! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752 "2009-01-03T22:58:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/1 "2009-01-03T22:58:41Z")
I watch far too much HGTV and would like them to stop using the following: “I decided to use a **Chocolate Brown**.”…correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t every brown “chocolate” brown? Or is this opposed to the always ugly Lemon Brown, or Tomato Brown or Watermelon brown? “It makes the color **pop**.”…or do you mean it contrasts with the boring-ass colors you have in the background? I am so sick of hearing colors pop I feel like I have to duck when I enter you rooms. And on the Food Network, do you really have to say, “Add one pound of **hamburger meat**.”? Again, is hamburger _meat_ opposed to that dreaded hamburger lettuce, or hamburger gravel, or hamburger toe jam? Ever hear the phrase ground beef? Or ground round? On all of the entertainment shows, please stop calling every model a “ **super** model”. Seriously…is there such a thing as just a “model” anymore? And at what point does one go from model to super model? And if they are such super models, how come nobody I know has ever heard of them? Same goes for “porn **star** ”…everyone is a “star”…come on, there has to be a supporting cast in porn films…what, no “porn extra” or “porn bit part” actors? ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/2 "2009-01-03T23:50:24Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > “I decided to use a **Chocolate Brown**.”…correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t every brown “chocolate” brown? Or is this opposed to the always ugly Lemon Brown, or Tomato Brown or Watermelon brown? There’s always [crap brown](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Ford_Pinto.jpg). I really and truly wish everyone would stop using the phrase “politically correct” or its even more grating bastard cousin, “PC”. Yes, everyone’s impressed you aren’t kowtowing to the liberal homosexual feminist Darwinist Zionist whatever-the-hell agenda you imagine controls the world. You really don’t have to go around saying “whoa, I better be careful, I might say something that isn’t PC.” If you actually use that phrase, I get the feeling you’re either prejudiced or a schmuck. Or both. Another one that irks me to no end is “making love”. Holy crap, are you really that afraid to say the words “having sex”? It isn’t dirty or wrong or shameful, unless you make it out to be so. I understand if you don’t want to go around saying “we fucked again last night” or “we humped like rabbits till the morning”, but just please do not use such a horribly cutesy euphemism. “Sleeping together”, while somewhat more accurate, is little better. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/3 "2009-01-04T00:07:35Z")
I’m gonna pick some nits about the use of “chocolate brown”. It’s a specific color, to distinguish that shade of brown from, oh, say, “russet brown”, which would be the color of the skin of the potato. It’s kind of like “tomato red” being distinct from “fire engine red”. Besides, there is always white chocolate. 😃 Robin ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/4 "2009-01-04T00:27:43Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > “I decided to use a **Chocolate Brown**.”…correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t every brown “chocolate” brown? You’re definitely wrong on that one. [Hues of brown](http://www.yourdictionary.com/brown) include: tan, bay, chestnut, nutbrown, almond, copper-colored, mahogany, bronze, russet, chocolate, cinnamon, hazel, reddish-brown, roan, sorrel, sepia, tawny, ochre, rust, rust-colored, brownish, puce, terra-cotta, fawn, snuff-colored, liver-colored, beige, taupe, ecru, dust, drab, dun, henna, coffee, khaki, maroon, cocoa, umber, brick, ginger, light brown, dark brown, auburn, buff, Caledonia, Antwerp, burnt orange, burnt ochre, burnt russet, Vandyke brown, Rembrandt brown, Verona brown. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/5 "2009-01-04T01:33:47Z")
I watch some HGTV too. I don’t have a problem with overused words and phrases, except on _House Hunters_. Open floor plan, great for entertaining, crown molding, natural light, hardwood floors, outdated/needs updating, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops – perfect for a drinking game but boring to listen to in every single episode. And on “My House is Worth What?”, when the realtor says "I would list your house today for . . . " and the camera cuts to everybody’s face and then they break for commercial and come back and do the same thing. I like looking at other people’s houses but the “formula” has ruined those two shows. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/6 "2009-01-04T01:37:59Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Same goes for “porn **star** ”…everyone is a “star”…come on, there has to be a supporting cast in porn films… I’m sure their mothers all think of them as porn stars. Besides, you know what they say, and it goes doubly true in porn: there are no small parts, only small actors. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/7 "2009-01-04T01:38:59Z")
\*\*AuntiePam \*\*- I agree with you whole heartedly, and I’d like to add “This is a good size room.” ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/8 "2009-01-04T02:49:52Z")
I humbly request that everyone on this board stop using the one-word reply “This.” It was cute, now it’s tiresome. Oh, and “Word.” too. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/9 "2009-01-04T03:04:23Z")
Can things please stop “resonating”? ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/10 "2009-01-04T03:04:31Z")
> [@sunacres](#): > > I humbly request that everyone on this board stop using the one-word reply “This.” It was cute, now it’s tiresome. > > Oh, and “Word.” too. Tempting… I will state that I agree. Please stop using “This”. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/11 "2009-01-04T03:08:16Z")
**Amazing**. Can we please find new descriptors? ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/12 "2009-01-04T03:11:49Z")
> [@qwest](#): > > Tempting… Nicely inferred. It was pretty juicy. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/13 "2009-01-04T03:19:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You’re definitely wrong on that one. > > [Hues of brown](http://www.yourdictionary.com/brown) include: tan, bay, chestnut, nutbrown, almond, copper-colored, mahogany, bronze, russet, chocolate, cinnamon, hazel, reddish-brown, roan, sorrel, sepia, tawny, ochre, rust, rust-colored, brownish, puce, terra-cotta, fawn, snuff-colored, liver-colored, beige, taupe, ecru, dust, drab, dun, henna, coffee, khaki, maroon, cocoa, umber, brick, ginger, light brown, dark brown, auburn, buff, Caledonia, Antwerp, burnt orange, burnt ochre, burnt russet, Vandyke brown, Rembrandt brown, Verona brown. And if they would only use one of those wonderful words instead! The problem is, no matter which brown they use, it is ALWAYS called “chocolate brown”. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/14 "2009-01-04T03:20:40Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > **Amazing**. Can we please find new descriptors? Damn. I’ve been using “amazing” because “awesome” is worn out. Next you’ll be saying we can’t describe a book as “readable” or “a page-turner”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/15 "2009-01-04T03:26:08Z")
> [@qwest](#): > > Tempting… > > I will state that I agree. Please stop using “This”. QFT. (I’ll get me coat) ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/16 "2009-01-04T03:52:27Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Damn. I’ve been using “amazing” because “awesome” is worn out. I’d be happy if just reality show contestants would stop using it. In RealityShowLand, \* everyone\* is amazing and every experience is amazing and it’s so freaking AMAZING. But in reality, if everything is amazing then actually nothing is, right? I have to admit that I still use awesome all the time. I am a product of the 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/17 "2009-01-04T04:26:23Z")
It grates on my ears when I hear something is described as “family-orien **tated** ”… I used to hear this quite a bit on the local radio station, and I think someone else might have noticed, too, since the more recent ones are using “oriented”, as should be the case. S^G ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/18 "2009-01-04T04:33:49Z")
Speaking of super… “I was super excited to…” “She is super sexy…” When did super get so…super? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/19 "2009-01-04T04:41:59Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > And if they would only use one of those wonderful words instead! > The problem is, no matter which brown they use, it is ALWAYS called “chocolate brown”. Not to stomp on your ranting, but one of the reasons it’s always called “chocolate brown” is because that’s the only brown they ever use. 😃 I would ask for people to stop verbing words, but I know that’s never going to happen. Regarding “super;” I wouldn’t mind if “uber” took a vacation, either. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/20 "2009-01-04T04:42:59Z")
No matter how annoyed I get by complaints that someone has been “thrown under the bus,” I promise I won’t shove any of the complainers into the path of a large vehicle. I may have to revisit that rule in 2010, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752.md?page=2)