# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/21 "2009-01-04T06:21:00Z")
“Like” used as a pause has really had a hell of a run. Can we retire it now? What’s worse is when it’s used to signal an impersonation or paraphrase. “He was like, ‘You need to study.’” ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/22 "2009-01-04T07:25:09Z")
Creepy. I nominate this word to be abolished as it has acquired so many meanings in so many different contexts that it’s nigh useless as an adequate adjective. It can mean: scary disturbing socially awkward menacing physically unattractive in a way that associates the face with bad people just plain unattractive Anyway, that’s my little private crusade. Y’all can take it or leave it! ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/23 "2009-01-04T07:32:30Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > 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 Open floor plan, great for entertaining, crown molding, natural light, hardwood floors, outdated/needs updating, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops – perfect for a drinking game but boring to listen to in every single episode.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. Hijack: I hate at the end of House Hunters the family is always, ALWAYS shown having people over at the end, when they do the “three months later” thing. They are always entertaining. I think I’ve seen two episodes that they didn’t do that. It’s annoying. I also agree with “My House is Worth What?” During an episode of “House Hunters” they had this one buyer who obviously didn’t know what Feng Shui meant (oh, the feng shui of this kitchen is awesome. I like the feng shui of the backyard). I’ve decided if I ever get on the show to use the most incorrect words possible. “I like the fact that the Lenai has crown molding and it adds to the feng shui of the kitchen.” ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/24 "2009-01-04T07:47:57Z")
“Journey”. Every crapuliform reality show uses the expression constantly when describing a contestant’s “time in the house”. It’s a TV show people, it’s not the Pilgim’s Progress. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/25 "2009-01-04T08:14:02Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I would ask for people to stop _ **verbing** _ words, but I know that’s never going to happen. You go first! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/26 "2009-01-04T15:39:09Z")
> [@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. I never actually used ‘This’, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why people don’t like it. I cannot figure it out. They are quoting the passage, and saying “I agree with all of this”, but just saying ‘this’ gets that across quite nicely, right? I rarely use ‘word’ on this board, because I cut my slang by about 75 percent or else you would all slap me every time I post. However; the word ‘word’ in hip hop slang derives from the term “My Word is My Bond” which in turn originates (in hip hop slang\*) from something that a group of people that call themselves The Nation of Gods and Earths would say to indicate that they must always speak the absolute truth when giving their word. I find it interesting to see it used on this board by folks that I never notice any other use of hip hop slang at all. I use the word in real life probably several times a day. \*I am sure “My word is my bond” was not a term created by hip hop culture or the Nation of Gods and Earths. I think most people that use it picked it up from folks who did get it from that culture though. Just my guess. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/27 "2009-01-04T15:41:15Z")
Can I throw “meh” and “teh” up there? Among other things intentional misspellings are way passe’ dude. ---
**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, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/28 "2009-01-04T17:00:13Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I never actually used ‘This’, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why people don’t like it. I cannot figure it out. […] I rarely use ‘word’ on this board, because I cut my slang by about 75 percent or else you would all slap me every time I post. I’d say you get high marks for curbing behavior you know others find irritating, even though you don’t understand _why_. ---
**Author:** ![czarcaztic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@czarcaztic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/czarcaztic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/29 "2009-01-04T17:40:23Z")
“…for free”. “For” is a preposition, best I recall. If so, then “for free” is a prepositional phrase. The object in a prepositional phrase **must** be a noun or pronoun. “Free” is neither. ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/30 "2009-01-04T17:53:04Z")
> [@Stauderhorse](#): > > Another one that irks me to no end is “making love”. .. Yes! I’ve always had a general dislike for this phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/31 "2009-01-04T18:23:43Z")
How about “you know” or “y’no”? Did you ever notice how it gets sprinkled into some conversations like, y’no, every sentence? Y’no? My ears hurt with every single one. There’s absolutely no, like, reason, y’no? for any of them! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/32 "2009-01-04T19:07:07Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Can I throw “meh” and “teh” up there? Among other things intentional misspellings are way passe’ dude. ‘Meh’ is not an misspelling, intentional or otherwise. It’s the transcription of an actual sound indicating a lack of enthusiasm. > [@czarcaztic](#): > > “…for free”. > > “For” is a preposition, best I recall. If so, then “for free” is a prepositional phrase. The object in a prepositional phrase **must** be a noun or pronoun. “Free” is neither. Idioms do not always follow strict grammatical rules, and this one has been around for ages. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/33 "2009-01-04T21:05:32Z")
“Have a good one.” Insincerity to the max. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/34 "2009-01-04T21:13:52Z")
I agree with **Stauderhorse**. I once interrupted someone who was loudly praising himself for not being politically correct. I said, “Well, I am.” He was so flummoxed he shut up for as many as five seconds at a time. “Reality TV.” Nothing is less realistic than reality TV. My idea of reality TV is [CPAC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPAC). Please call it something else. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/35 "2009-01-04T21:14:26Z")
**You betcha.** **Sure as shootin’** ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/36 "2009-01-04T22:50:26Z")
“Try and” instead of “try to”. Grrr. If you’re ‘trying’ then you aren’t guaranteed to get the ‘and’ part. Also “All of the sudden”. My sister says this all the time, I just wanta shake her until her teeth rattle out. ETA: I see Gaudere’s Law is alive and well in this thread. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/37 "2009-01-04T23:16:39Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > “Have a good one.” > > Insincerity to the max. Hm, I say this sometimes, because I want to be cordial even though I don’t really care whether you have a good day or not. Would you prefer “Later sucker!” or “Fuck off and die.”? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/38 "2009-01-04T23:22:18Z")
> [@Stauderhorse](#): > > 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. I noticed my girlfriend prefers the term “making love” when we are clothed and not currently in the process. During the act, all of a sudden it’s “fucking”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/39 "2009-01-04T23:23:25Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > ETA: I see Gaudere’s Law is alive and well in this thread. 😉 This is the second listing in Google. [http://www.google.com/search?q=Gaudere’s+Law&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1](http://www.google.com/search?q=Gaudere's+Law&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1) ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752/40 "2009-01-04T23:29:18Z")
“Gifting” as in “He gifted me with a new necklace for Christmas.” What the hell’s wrong with the word “give”? Did it fall into the porta-john and now nobody wants to touch it? Why do we need a new “verbed” word when there’s a perfectly good verb that means exactly the same thing already, which has the advantage of working solo instead of requiring an additional “with” as well? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-to-stop-using-in-2009/479752.md?page=3)