# Words and phrases you're sick of. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709 "2006-07-23T16:00:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/61 "2006-07-24T15:33:55Z")
The WB that would refer to a new episode of a show as a **Fresh** episode. “Up next, a fresh episode of the Gilmore Girls.” Does that infer that reruns are rotten? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/62 "2006-07-24T15:47:08Z")
“Ummm…” As in any post on a message board that starts “Umm, actually…” or “Umm, no.” It’s so friggin’ smarmy I just wanna smack the taste out of whomever’s mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/63 "2006-07-24T16:14:05Z")
Troop – when it implies a soldier, sailor, marine, coast guardsman, national guard member, or some other individual engaged in military service. Our **troops** need our support but if one person becomes a troop I think they need to be elminated. Trooper is okay, but it doesn’t seem to be the word of choice among the ones who like to use troop. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/64 "2006-07-24T19:23:44Z")
[QUOTE=Salt Seller] Two that are far too entrenched to even bother getting riled up about anymore (but which I still hate) are “24-7”, and “Taking it to the next level”. But what really makes me want to start setting fires is the mindless use of the word “surreal” to describe any unexpected or “neat” event. I hear this most often from movie stars who have just met or worked with an older movie star that they admire. “Working with Hoffman was just so surreal”. No it wasn’t. Unless, during your tenure with Dustin, he pulled seventeen, elk-shaped bars of soap from his mouth while singing Ukrainian butter-churning songs, riding bare-back on a flaming bicycle, and furiously masturbating with a stoat, it most decidedly was _not_ surreal. [/QUOTE] This is lovely. Just lovely. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Wind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Broken\_Wind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Wind)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/65 "2006-07-24T19:55:15Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] This caused me to think of one that has passed cliche’ and is headed for the record books: So and so, after weeks of not commenting on why he murdered his three toddlers, his wife, her mother, their dog and the neighbor’s cat, has decided to **break his silence** tonight at ten. How often, instead of having some inane comment to make over some trivial occurrence, do celebrities **break their silence**? Whether intended or not, it just makes me think they farted. If we don’t already have one, now’s the time for a username of **Broken Silence**. We already have a **Broken Wind** , or else we did have a while back. [/QUOTE] Still here **Zeldar**! (breaking my silence) I’m sick of consultant-speak: “high level”, “big picture”, “the 50,000 foot view”, “pushback”, “win-win” Aggghh! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/66 "2006-07-24T20:28:51Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] Impact (where affect or effect would be more accurate) Orientate (isn’t orient what you mean?) Commentate (what a commentator does?) Literally (when figuratively is meant) Analyzation (it’s analysis) [/QUOTE] My ultimate pet peeve in this vein is _conversating._ JAYZUZ but it grates on me. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/67 "2006-07-24T20:35:12Z")
[QUOTE=Broken Wind] Still here **Zeldar**! (breaking my silence) I’m sick of consultant-speak: “high level”, “big picture”, “the 50,000 foot view”, “pushback”, “win-win” Aggghh! [/QUOTE] Glad to hear you’re still here. Every time we have one of those “whose username do you like best?” threads, I usually forget to include yours. It’s one of the best, along with **Hugh Jass** , **Ellis Dee** , **Shirley Ujest** , and about a dozen others I can usually remember to include. There’s a sublime magic and _je ne sais quoi_ in **Broken Wind** that makes me smile every time I see it. Thanks for speaking up. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/68 "2006-07-24T20:44:56Z")
Mr. Stuff hates challenges. He is also not a fan of issues. I was reading a series of books recently, and the author’s favorite way to portray an upsetting moment for the strong, silent hero was to say that “a muscle jerked in his jaw.” I swear, a muscle jerked in that man’s face or his jaw at least once a chapter. It was a pretty good series otherwise, but I wanted to call her publisher and beg for her editor’s name so I could strangle him. How could you not see that? HOW? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/69 "2006-07-24T23:14:16Z")
[QUOTE=Ichbin Dubist] … My personal unfave is “issues.” “She has _issues_.” Magazines have issues, people have problems – and changing the name doesn’t minimze them. [/QUOTE] “Some people have issues. She’s got a damn subscription.” ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/70 "2006-07-24T23:55:55Z")
“Ownership” - As in “we need to take ownership of this project.” “Steering” - As in “Steering Committee” “Apples and Oranges” - 'Nuff said. “'Nuff said.” - What is this? A 1970’s Marvel Comics editor’s note? “Ballistic” - As in “He is going to go ballistic when he finds out we’ve switched paper vendors!” “Spirit” - When used in any sort of corporate internal sloganeering. ---
**Author:** ![Salt\_Seller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Salt\_Seller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salt_Seller)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/71 "2006-07-25T00:11:20Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] The WB that would refer to a new episode of a show as a **Fresh** episode. “Up next, a fresh episode of the Gilmore Girls.” Does that infer that reruns are rotten? [/QUOTE] Similarly, albums are no longer “released”, or even go on sale. Now they “drop”, which makes me think they’re coming out of a vending machine. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/72 "2006-07-25T00:43:45Z")
Frankly, if I never hear the word “frankly” again, I’ll be a much happier man. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/73 "2006-07-25T01:21:28Z")
If we’re going with author’s overusing words… King: **Rivulets** (as in rivulets of blood) **Arc-sodium** (usually preceded by the “sickly yellow-pink glow of…”) Koontz: **Taciturn.** He must have used this word 9 times in one chapter. I think the book was Forever Odd. Must have been the word of the day. ---
**Author:** ![parsnip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parsnip/32/4564_2.png) [@parsnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parsnip)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/74 "2006-07-25T01:57:17Z")
[QUOTE=wolf\_meister] **Harmonious Discord** I have never heard the word “gifted” used to describe people with developmental disabilities (aka retarded). What I have heard overused for a long time is the term “exceptional”. When I was in college decades ago, there were courses such as “Psychology of the Exceptional Child”. Yes it meant retarded but couldn’t the term “exceptional child” also mean a genius? [/QUOTE] Another version–“twice exceptional” – the high IQ person with a learning disability. As the parent of a TE, I was seriously squicked the first time an education professional called my progeny by the term. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/75 "2006-07-25T01:58:16Z")
“Have a good one !” ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/76 "2006-07-25T02:08:39Z")
I really hate “It is what it is.” It’s business speak for “My point is self-evident.” Also, the same people who say “It is what it is” tend to say “The earth is flat”. I don’t know exactly what this means, but judging from context and the fact that it’s based on the title of a book by Thomas Friedman, who seems to be a drooling chiclet-dick master of the painfully obvious, I’m guessing it means “everything’s changing and I have no fucking clue what’s going on, but I heard this situation can easily be rectified by electronical computorz and the intarweb, so get cracking. I want this done by lunch.” ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/77 "2006-07-25T02:12:05Z")
Also, “hella”. This just screams “20-year-old blogger” for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/78 "2006-07-25T02:14:53Z")
[QUOTE=StuffLikeThatThere] I was reading a series of books recently, and the author’s favorite way to portray an upsetting moment for the strong, silent hero was to say that “a muscle jerked in his jaw.” I swear, a muscle jerked in that man’s face or his jaw at least once a chapter. It was a pretty good series otherwise, but I wanted to call her publisher and beg for her editor’s name so I could strangle him. How could you not see that? HOW? [/QUOTE] Kinda reminds me of Mark Twain reading _Leatherstocking Tales._ > [@Mark Twain](#): > > He prized his broken twig above all the rest of his effects, and worked it the hardest. It is a restful chapter in any book of his when somebody doesn’t step on a dry twig and alarm all the reds and whites for two hundred yards around. Every time a Cooper person is in peril, and absolute silence is worth four dollars a minute, he is sure to step on a dry twig. There may be a hundred other handier things to step on, but that wouldn’t satisfy Cooper. Cooper requires him to turn out and find a dry twig; and if he can’t do it, go and borrow one. In fact, the Leatherstocking Series ought to have been called the Broken Twig Series. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/79 "2006-07-25T02:26:46Z")
first and foremost. speaks volumes ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709/80 "2006-07-25T02:30:35Z")
“The plural of anecdote is not data” - generally used in a smug, superior manner by people who probably think “anecdotal evidence” is an oxymoron. It makes me thing of someone who can’t actually refute the evidence presented so they dismiss it as irrelevant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-phrases-youre-sick-of/365709.md?page=5)