# Words/expressions I want to be eliminated from usage RIGHT NOW TODAY ENOUGH ALREADY! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609 "2014-09-05T20:02:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/381 "2014-11-23T04:24:29Z")
Just to be perfectly clear . . . y’all are saying that [The Covers Project](http://www.coversproject.com) and their 15 gazillion song database is wrong. Yes? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/382 "2014-11-23T17:06:07Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Just to be perfectly clear . . . y’all are saying that [The Covers Project](http://www.coversproject.com) and their 15 gazillion song database is wrong. Yes? I don’t think anyone is saying it’s _ **\>\>\>WRONG\<\<\<\<.** _… just that we don’t care for that usage of the word. This thread (and I started it, so I should know) is about _preferences_, not absolutes. Stand down from General Quarters. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/383 "2014-11-24T02:03:21Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I don’t think anyone is saying it’s _ **\>\>\>WRONG\<\<\<\<.** _… just that we don’t care for that usage of the word. This thread (and I started it, so I should know) is about _preferences_, not absolutes. Stand down from General Quarters. 😃 we cool! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/384 "2014-11-24T03:06:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > 😃 we cool! Yeah, baby. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zorkmid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e68b1a/32.png) [@Zorkmid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zorkmid)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/385 "2014-11-24T20:55:00Z")
Sorry if this was mentioned before, but I have to tell someone and my husband has promised to leave me out on the tree lawn with the garbage if I complain about it to him one more time. With Christmas fast closing in, I keep hearing about “ready for gifting” and “gift this to someone special.” GIFT IS NOT A VERB AND EVERY TIME I HEAR IT USED LIKE THAT I WANT TO HIT SOMETHING WITH A BALLPEEN HAMMER!!! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: THank you for letting me vent 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zorkmid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e68b1a/32.png) [@Zorkmid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zorkmid)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/386 "2014-11-24T20:56:59Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > My favorite sexual euphemism is “punctuated equilibrium,” as in, “See that gorgeous guy by the dessert table? I’d totally let him punctuate my equilibrium.” “See that gorgeous guy by the dessert table? I’d totally let him ball peen my hammer.” Works for me! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/387 "2014-11-24T21:14:29Z")
> [@Zorkmid](#): > > Sorry if this was mentioned before, but I have to tell someone and my husband has promised to leave me out on the tree lawn with the garbage if I complain about it to him one more time. > > With Christmas fast closing in, I keep hearing about “ready for gifting” and “gift this to someone special.” GIFT IS NOT A VERB AND EVERY TIME I HEAR IT USED LIKE THAT I WANT TO HIT SOMETHING WITH A BALLPEEN HAMMER!!! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: > > THank you for letting me vent 😃 I’m thrilled to have gifted you with the opportunity. _\_ ---
**Author:** ![Zorkmid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e68b1a/32.png) [@Zorkmid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zorkmid)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/388 "2014-11-24T21:25:45Z")
I think on my way home from work I’ll stop off at Lowe’s and browse through the tool section. No special reason. I’m not planning on buying all the ball peen hammers or anything. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/389 "2014-11-24T21:47:33Z")
Peen is a wonderful word, and it should be used more often, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/390 "2014-11-24T22:27:01Z")
Has there ever been a band called “Ball Peen Hammer”? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/391 "2014-11-24T23:48:59Z")
[Rock & Rye, Vodka, and lemon juice. A ball peen hammer.](http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink12u6t91.html) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/392 "2014-11-25T00:05:00Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Rock & Rye, Vodka, and lemon juice. A ball peen hammer.](http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink12u6t91.html) Why is that called a ball peen hammer? I would think “ball peen hammer” would be something like Jell-O shooters made with homemade distillations and unflavored gelatin. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/393 "2014-11-25T00:23:25Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Why is that called a ball peen hammer? I would think “ball peen hammer” would be something like Jell-O shooters made with homemade distillations and unflavored gelatin. Who are we to question the bartenders’ guild? ETA: remember, they’re the ones who came up with the Slow, Comfortable Screw. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/394 "2014-11-25T03:29:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Who are we to question the bartenders’ guild? > > ETA: remember, they’re the ones who came up with the Slow, Comfortable Screw. I thought that was “Sloe, Comfortable Screw.” Anyone else see the episode of _Home Movies_ where Coach is making up his own drinks? “The Dirty Frenchman” = white wine with olive juice “The Yeast Infection” = rum and milk ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/395 "2014-11-25T12:51:52Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I thought that was “Sloe, Comfortable Screw.” Yikes,I been doing it wrong! Oddly, I’ve received no complaints. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/396 "2014-11-30T05:28:17Z")
When people say “Excuse the pun,” and the thing they’re referencing isn’t a pun. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/397 "2014-12-01T07:17:16Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When people say “Excuse the pun,” and the thing they’re referencing isn’t a pun. Which brings up “pardon my French,” following an obscenity. It bothers me for two reasons: (1) it’s not French, and (2) if you feel the need to apologize for the word, don’t use it (or conversely, if you want to use the word, don’t apologize for it). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/398 "2014-12-01T08:07:54Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Has there ever been a band called “Ball Peen Hammer”? No, but there is a [great song.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pMEutH4uUY) ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/399 "2014-12-01T17:44:44Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When people say “Excuse the pun,” and the thing they’re referencing isn’t a pun. Or when it _is_ a pun and the pun is plainly inexcusable. Regarding “he goes”, etc. (a few posts above), my feeling is that it is, or can be, a way to express more than simply “he said this” but also any inflection or accompanying gestures. When it is appears in writing (very seldom, I think), then I agree it is idiotic. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609/400 "2014-12-31T23:40:29Z")
Okay. I have seen the word “iconic” in no fewer than FOUR articles today. ENOUGH with that word. We did wonderfully well without it for many long and happy years. Put it back in the box it came in and mark it “Return to Sender, Address Unknown!” Also (and this one is not new) worn out on “amazing.” It is a mild superlative, probably positive, which conveys NO information about the thing it is referring to. Did you like that new restaurant? \*It was amazing. \* So, how did your blind date work out? \*It was amazing. \* Looks like you came through brain surgery okay. \*It was amazing. \* How about that new Pope? _He’s amazing._ When someone uses this totally useless word in this way I always want to ask (and sometimes do), “amazingly good or amazingly bad?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-expressions-i-want-to-be-eliminated-from-usage-right-now-today-enough-already/697609.md?page=21)