# Words I can't bear to hear **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366 "2000-11-08T21:29:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/21 "2000-11-09T15:58:37Z")
I hate it when people use the word “parent” as a verb. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/22 "2000-11-09T16:30:27Z")
I hate it when I hear the word “dialogue” being used as a verb. “I want to dialogue with you about this issue.” No you don’t. You want to TALK to me about this issue. Optimize Empower Honor (A word I suspect is being misused. I’ll save this for a thread I’m going to start later.) “Embracing Change” (Oh, yeah? What, you’re gonna give it a big bear hug or something? I actually heard this term more than once at one of those epic meetings at my place of work last week.) All I can think of for now. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/23 "2000-11-09T16:48:56Z")
Electoral College ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/24 "2000-11-09T17:21:23Z")
When I read the OP, I immediately thought of “proactive”, a horrid, misunderstood word bandied about by ignorant film producers. But I see several people have already mentioned it. So I’ll just say I agree with that one. It’s easy to say why most of the words we’ve mentioned we hate. They’re either not really words (irregardless), or overused or misunderstood (paradigm). But what about words you hate and you really have no good reason to hate… you just do? My personal one is “slacks”. But only when it refers to pants. When someone says, “Productivity slacks off this time of year”, for some reason that’s okay. But “Say, that’s a fine pair of slacks you’re wearing!” really disturbs me. Anyone else? - Dave ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/25 "2000-11-09T17:24:00Z")
I can’t stand it when people say… “Noo-Kew-Lur” when they really mean **nuclear**. I especially hate it when George W. Bush pronounces it this way. ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/26 "2000-11-09T17:34:47Z")
Basically. Interface. Proactive. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@MonkeyMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/27 "2000-11-09T17:37:20Z")
Wow, yet another Simpsons quote comes to mind- I’m on a roll: (Homer has joined the navy) Officer tells Homer he will be assigned to a nuclear submarine due to his experience working at the nuclear plant. Homer corrects him, “it’s pronounced nuke-ular.” Officer gives Homer a confused stare. Homer repeats, “nuke-ular.” ---
**Author:** ![Hecubis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ec9cab/32.png) [@Hecubis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hecubis)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/28 "2000-11-09T18:05:28Z")
Okay I’m a newbie so I’m a little frightened of correcting other members but here goes… According to my dictionary (Merriam-Webster’s) “irregardless” is mostly definitely a word albeit a not very popular one. Here’s what the entry says: - The most frequent repeated remark about it is that “there is no word”. There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. It’s reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. \* That being said I also hate it. Linkage is also a very bad word. I must have heard it 500 times at the last “navel-gazing” seminar. ---
**Author:** ![dustMagnate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/fbc32d/32.png) [@dustMagnate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dustMagnate)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/29 "2000-11-09T21:09:11Z")
Nuke-ular. A holdover from the Eisenhower cold-war days. My Father says ‘nukular’ and ‘chloresterol’. He normally comes off as well educated. I used to cringe until I saw old newsreel of Eisenhower: nukular all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/30 "2000-11-09T21:33:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rasa \* > \*\*I know, I know… but it still makes Silver go batshit when she hears it! \*\* Batshit?! 😃 Hey, Hecubis! Go [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=34210). And welcome to the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/31 "2000-11-09T21:52:48Z")
“Marginal,” “liminal,” and “transgressive” (especially when used as knee-jerk positive terms – as if a “transgressive” book were automatically more interesting and valuable than a non-transgressive one) “Toxic” in the pop-psychology sense (toxic parents, toxic anger) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/32 "2000-11-10T00:55:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jeel \* > \*\*I can’t stand when you’re in a meeting and somebody uses the word “champion” in place of “lead” > > “We need somebody to champion this cause.” > \*\* Bwah? How, exactly, do you lead an intangible concept which is therefor unable to follow? You can, however, lead a group which [champions](http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=champion) a cause. That would be Champion - > [@](#): > > v. tr. cham·pi·oned, cham·pi·on·ing, cham·pi·ons. > To fight for, defend, or support as a champion: _championed the cause of civil rights._ ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/33 "2000-11-10T01:10:06Z")
Aside from the usual corporate bingo words mentioned above, what gets me is specific popular phrases: You go, girl! Don’t go there. Talk to the hand. Wassup’ and 'sup and it’s latest variant: whazzzuppp! I know there’s a few others that I can’t recall right now, and I should count myself as lucky for that small grace. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/34 "2000-11-10T01:32:35Z")
The work I cannot stand to hear: it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/35 "2000-11-10T02:00:44Z")
I’m starting to hate people who use the word “ironic” to describe everything. I also hate the use of “tragic” to describe any unfortunate incident. ---
**Author:** ![Caldazar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Caldazar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caldazar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/36 "2000-11-10T02:19:33Z")
Issue. There’s an issue with the functionality of this computer. (No, there isn’t. It’s broken, plain and simple.) He has issues. (No. He has personal problems that he needs to resolve.) He took issue with that comment. (No, he thought that the comment was inaccurate.) ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/37 "2000-11-10T02:21:10Z")
Oriental [when not referring to a rug] ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/38 "2000-11-10T03:56:15Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Rasa \* > [BI know, I know… but it still makes Silver go batshit when she hears it!_\* It isn’t batshit, it’s _guano_, dammit! 😉 ~~Baloo ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/39 "2000-11-10T06:35:19Z")
reinvent. My former boss (in a pleasant reversal, we actually fired him! but that’s another story) decided to make the company motto “Re-invent yourself every day!” The slack-jawed moron would then use this to justify changing the entire company around to copy whatever this week’s BusinessWeek cover story said. Words that I hate for no good reason? Dungarees. No, they’re blue jeans, or denim pants, or anything but dungarees. –sublight. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366/40 "2000-11-10T07:43:38Z")
Anamorphic: > [@](#): > > My personal one is “slacks”. But only when it refers to pants. When someone says, “Productivity slacks off this time of year”, for some reason that’s okay. But “Say, that’s a fine pair of slacks you’re wearing!” really disturbs me. YESSSS!!! We are kindrid spirits! Seperated at birth! I HATE “slacks” when it’s referring to pants! It’s trousers, if you must, but NEVER “slacks”!! I _HATE_ that! Like fingernails down a blackboard. Also, the phrase “think outside of the box”. And another vote for “proactive”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-i-cant-bear-to-hear/40366.md?page=3)