# Words or phrases you always say in an odd way **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 8, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507 "2010-10-08T16:22:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [October 9, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/21 "2010-10-09T00:53:48Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > “Accoutrements,” for example, requires an exaggerated fake-French accent and an exclamation point: accoutreMON! [AccoutreMAAH??!! What is THAT shit?!!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSWUWPx2VeQ&has_verified=1) (4:07 into the vid.) Me, I always say _sammich. Sandwich_ just sounds so la-de-da. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/22 "2010-10-09T00:59:32Z")
I will occasionally go to Bess Buys. Drives my g/f nuts. I have no idea how it morphed into Bess Buys but when we were recently in Pittsburgh, I discovered it’s a 'burgism. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/23 "2010-10-09T01:05:48Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > > [@jsgoddess](#): > > > > “Accoutrements,” for example, requires an exaggerated fake-French accent and an exclamation point: accoutreMON! > > [AccoutreMAAH??!! What is THAT shit?!!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSWUWPx2VeQ&has_verified=1) (4:07 into the vid.) Hee. That video is hilarious. The accoutrement moment is just the icing on the cake. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/24 "2010-10-09T01:06:58Z")
I spent the first 10 years of my life in Maine, so ‘aunt’ always comes out “ahhnt,” instead of the more common (zing!) “ant” used by my fellow New Jerseyites. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/25 "2010-10-09T01:44:22Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > > [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > > > [AccoutreMAAH??!! What is THAT shit?!!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSWUWPx2VeQ&has_verified=1) (4:07 into the vid.) > > Hee. > > That video is hilarious. The accoutrement moment is just the icing on the cake. I concur, although I think the accoutrement moment was the highlight, still. I can’t tell if working for that guy would be the best or the worst thing ever. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/26 "2010-10-09T18:49:36Z")
“I’m getting drowsy, but I have a nap for that.” “I don’t want to drive next to that guy. He’s text-Mexing while driving.” I’m told that phone scammers try to record you saying “yes” so they can prove you intended to switch phone companies, or some such. When a phone voice says, “I’d like to speak to Mr. AskNott,” I reply, “You are.” I’m told that “Tar-zhay” is so-o-o-o last century, so now it’s “Togget”. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/27 "2010-10-10T00:56:51Z")
“For crying in silence!” I started saying it as a teen, and now, it’s far more natural than “for crying out loud”. And I too have a “dog accent” - I find myself holding my jaw differently so the voice sounds completely different. I am trying to break myself of that. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/28 "2010-10-10T01:30:25Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > “Excuse me, but do you have a license for the monkey” must be said in a fake French accent. > > And, of course, there’s “Tar-zhay” instead of Target. And I just learned a new one, courtesy my long lost relatives here in WA. Veloo Vilaaahjje for Value Village. Heeeee And I love taking on a terrible french accent while saying (in jest of course) “I cannot work under such Ohreeble condtioONs”. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/29 "2010-10-10T01:33:06Z")
> [@Surly\_Chick](#): > > I always pronounce “penchant” the french way. > > Also, I live near a town called Elliot. I can’t drive through it without saying Elliot in an ET voice. 😃 That’s awesome, I love it! When I lived in TX back in 2004 I’d often drive to see my dad in MO. When I’d cross the Oklahoma state line I absolutely HAD to Sing “OOOOOOOOOKlahoma! where the wind come sweeping down the plains!” ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/30 "2010-10-10T01:54:21Z")
Does anyone actually ever say “For All INTENTS and PURPOSES”? I almost alway hear “for all intensive purposes” ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/31 "2010-10-10T02:41:22Z")
I subconsciously took on a fake accent when speaking French in grade school French classes. My middle school teacher said I had an Italian accent when speaking French. I’m a Midwesterner of Polish extraction. I like to drink “melk” and wonder what this “milk” is that other people talk about. I also like to use multiple “pellows” for my head when sleeping. It’s likely the standard way they talk in the central Ohio town where I was born and lived for 4 years or so, but it drove one of my friends in high school nuts. ---
**Author:** ![QuercusMax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8baadc/32.png) [@QuercusMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuercusMax)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/32 "2010-10-10T02:50:32Z")
Not me, but one of my former coworkers: he would always pronounce the word “put” as “putt”. He would always talk about putting things into hashmaps, and I wondered how you used a golf club in Java… ---
**Author:** ![Paragonkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@Paragonkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paragonkid)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/33 "2010-10-10T07:11:33Z")
I find that I keep talking in Lol-cat and Monty Python. K-nig-uts (Knights), K-no (know), jus-ta (just a), sch-miles (Smiles), Sch For all words that start with s/sh or sc, art-east (artist), k-wite (quite) and a few others… Fehew (Few) Uv-thers (Others) Oft-ten (often) Maybe it’s just an accent? (ax-scent) ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/34 "2010-10-10T07:35:11Z")
Several people are giving examples of their own _natural_ pronunciations, which I think is the opposite of what the OP was looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/35 "2010-10-10T09:58:38Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > And, of course, there’s “Tar-zhay” instead of Target. OOOO! I HATE that one!! Since when does making something sound French does it mean it’s hip, or high quality? Whenever I hear that, I hear Black Adder replying to Bonjour, monsieur. It’s French." “So is eating frogs, cruelty to geese and urinating in the street, but that’s no reason to inflict it on the rest of us.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/36 "2010-10-10T11:37:20Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I had to stop referring to “Davey Tree Service” in a Goliath voice (“DAY-vee!”) because I annoyed the spouse enough that he asked me to stop. 🙂 Anyone else curious to know just exactly how often the tree service comes up in conversation. When my husband turns the TV volume up enough that the windows rattle I cannot simply say, “Thats’ lound for me. Can you turn it down a little?” I must ask “Does it have to be THAT LOUD???” in the shrill shrewish manner of the woman in the commercial for a personal amplifier. On occasions when I ignore the impulse and do just ask him to turn it down he looks disappointed and asks, “Aren’t ya gonna say it?” In our house we don’t mention accoutrement very often, but ensemble gets the exagerated french accent described in the OP. Where other husbands might say “do these pants go with this sweater?” mine will ask “what do youthink of this ahnSAHMbluh?” I don’t have many occasions to talk about the Salad Shooter, but when it does come up I must say it in the manner that Oliver Platt did in Benny & Joon when he was betting one in the delightful poker game. Almost sung. Taken from the original commercial, but when I say it I’m not thinking of the commercial, I’m thinking of the poker game. ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/37 "2010-10-10T13:14:57Z")
My Dad always refers to Walmart as Walmarts. Drives me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/38 "2010-10-10T16:27:16Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > > [@PunditLisa](#): > > > > And, of course, there’s “Tar-zhay” instead of Target. > > OOOO! I HATE that one!! Since when does making something sound French does it mean it’s hip, or high quality? You’re missing the joke. People KNOW that Target is really a glorified Walmart, so giving it a silly french accent is the exact opposite of thinking they’re making it hip or high quality. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/39 "2010-10-10T16:29:06Z")
I say “faskinating” and “tankew”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507/40 "2010-10-11T02:18:23Z")
We turn on the defrogger to get frost off the car windows. Nothing is “on a stick”, because it’s instead “on a steeek”. Chocolate is “choca-leet” for no discernible reason. There are a million more - wait, we say meeelion all the time, too - but I can’t think of them all under pressure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-you-always-say-in-an-odd-way/556507.md?page=3)