# Words & phrases that need to be retired **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 2, 2000, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890 "2000-08-02T20:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![vertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3ec8ea/32.png) [@vertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertigo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/81 "2000-08-05T13:49:04Z")
I’m sure that I am the only one to have heard this…, but I used to work with a woman who would begin every conjecture with “What let’s say…,” As in, “What let’s say that we look at this as another paradigm?”. What hell is that all about? And I will add “paradigm”. And “roundtable”, as in: “Let’s roundtable that idea”. On an different note, I can’t stand when people spell “no one” as “noone”. Makes it sound like they are saying “noony” like it should mean “noon-ish”. Which brings me to the over use of adding “-ish” to everything! Where does it end? And to digress even further…, For years I new what it meant when I heard the word “epitome” (pronounced like "Eh-PIT-toe-ME). I had no idea how it was spelled, although I was sure it wasn’t the same word that I had read for years that was pronounced “EH-pih-tome”. I’ll admit to the misuse of “all intensive purposes” and “taking something for granite” too. Hey, at least I know better now… ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/82 "2000-08-05T13:53:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DavisMcDavis \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by obfusciatrist \* > > \*\*Phil Agre at the [Red Rock Eater News Service](http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/rre.html) has come up with this list of words used by the press but by nobody else: > > > > So the list reads as follow: bolster, burgeon, cull, foster, garner, glean, hamper, hike, laud, mull, quell, revamp, sideline, stem, stymie, tout, underscore, vie, and voice. \*\* > > Also “snarky” and “natch”. Nobody ever says those, do they? > > \*\* I dunno… I use “snarky” quite a bit, usually in reference to my husband’s behavior. I like “screed” too. Robin ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/83 "2000-08-05T15:39:10Z")
Needless to say, but “needless to say” is needless to say! Then don’t say it already!! I have a supervisor that prefaces at least 75% of his conversations with, “Let me be honest…”. No, please lie to me!! ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/84 "2000-08-05T15:58:05Z")
When people write “should of” or “would of” instead of “should have” and “would have.” It makes me feel like screaming! ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/85 "2000-08-05T16:35:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HelloKitty \* > \*\*I have a supervisor that prefaces at least 75% of his conversations with, “Let me be honest…”. No, please lie to me!! \*\* Anytime I hear someone use this phrase, I automatically assume s/he is lying. 😃 Robin ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@Wee\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/86 "2000-08-05T19:16:59Z")
I work with lots of people in their early to mid twenties, and the word “DUDE” is scattered liberally into every conversation. Even worse is the gratuitous use of the “F” word as an adjective. Example ,“Dude, I was F_ **ing sitting at the F** _ing bar having an F_ **ing beer and this F** ing dude starts F_\*\*ing saying…” This is not an exageration I’ve counted the use of “F” and “DUDE” numbering into the hundreds in an amazingly short period of time. All I can say is,“Dude, I don’t fucking get it!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/87 "2000-08-05T19:23:24Z")
I don’t know if this exactly fits the thread, but I must always repress the killing urge when I hear someone pronounce the word moot as mute. as in “I was going to discuss my raise with the boss, but since I was fired, it’s a mute point.” Arrrrgggg. And if anyone says “my bad” near me again, it will be their bad injuries to the face… Or not. ---
**Author:** ![hope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/aeb1de/32.png) [@hope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hope)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/88 "2000-08-05T19:59:35Z")
Far be it for me to [insert action here] Know what I’m sayin’? Dope- like cool or good (as in “Man, that is dope.”) Add tight and phat to the list. Not quite the same because it’s probably not widely known, but my principal has a poster on the wall behind his desk that reads, “I put the PAL in Principal!” Anyone else see this in their princiPAL’s office? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/89 "2000-08-05T20:18:48Z")
“Precondition” is the word I hate. A “condition”, according to my Webster’s New World Dictionary (2nd College Ed. 1980, definition 1) means “anything called for as a requirement before the performance or completion of something else.” The prefex “pre” doesn’t add anything. A condition is already something that has to occur before something else occurs; adding pre would technically mean, something that has to occur before something else has to occur before a third thing has to occur. Enough already! The word is “condition”, not “precondition”. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/90 "2000-08-05T20:25:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Majordomo \* > \*\*nimrod is the dumbest of the lot, because someone obviously didn’t realize calling someone a nimrod was not an insult with a made-up word, but a non-pejorative real word. \*\* Ok, so since cock means rooster, we should all stop using that as a term for the penis? Or what about prick? On the female side, should we stop using the word pussy, since after all, that is not a cat down there. Or dickhead? That doesn’t mean someone’s cranial structure is the same as former President Nixon does it? I feel if you’re going to go after one twisting of a word’s meaning, go after them all. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/91 "2000-08-05T20:27:46Z")
I forgot to add - and this does bug me – Ideal is not an idea. Two different words there, pal. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/92 "2000-08-05T20:40:01Z")
And ideal isn’t the same as idyll! When I moved to CA, I noticed everybody says “Hella” or “hecka” instead of Hell of, or heck of. And they use it infront of EVERYTHING. “It’s been hella days.” “I got hella bad grades” “That was hecka funny” AHHHHHHH!!! There are so many words in the English language that you could use as a modifier, if you must. And if you can’t find a suitable word from the English language, then by all means, choose one from another language. Anything but hella. And another thing I hate, when I see people type like this. After every sentence!!! They include exclamation points!!! They are just to excited!!! Aren’t you??? You are supposed to use ONE exclamation point if it shows genuine excitement/fear/any big emotion. Like “The house is on fire!” “I just hate a live fish!” ---
**Author:** ![kelly1x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kelly1x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly1x)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/93 "2000-08-06T01:39:36Z")
not to be sassy or anything, but how about “in my humble opinion”? or even better, “IMHO”? is that humble? it’s obviously your opinion. i’m guilty of the multiple exclamation points and question marks… but the worst is the ellipses, as well… lots of those… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/94 "2000-08-06T08:16:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blessedwolf \* > \*\*I know it’s kind of a non-sequiter, but as long as we’re venting our literary spleens, what about those who “use” quotation marks in totally inappropriate “places?” > > Of course, the ever-present apostrophe’s in place’s where they don’t belong really get’s my panty’s in a bunch, too. \*\* Yes! These people must die! Quotation marks are not used for emphasis. I was at a restaraunt a while back and on their suggestion card, it stated proudly that they tried to provide high “quality” food. Which, of course, was exactly the opposite of the message they were trying to convey. Also, anyone else notice that the verb “to strew” can be used only with flowers? What else can one strew? ---
**Author:** ![Roppy\_Bork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@Roppy\_Bork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roppy_Bork)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/95 "2000-08-06T10:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dumb Ox \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > “Resource” as a verb makes me twitch. > > I don’t think I’ve ever heard this. Could you use it in a sentence? Preferably without twitching. \*\* Me: “Can I have a new foobar?” Them: “I’ll have to talk to accounts to see if we can resource that.” Me: _twitch_ _Time passes…_ Them: I need to touch base with you re the resourcing of the new foobar. Me: _twitch__drool_ I suspect it’s a bastardisation of the use of source as a verb (which is also reletively new and just as annoying, albeit slightly more accepted). ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/96 "2000-08-06T10:55:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, anyone else notice that the verb “to strew” can be used only with flowers? What else can one strew? Straw on the floor of a stall. ---
**Author:** ![orestes543](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b5e925/32.png) [@orestes543](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orestes543)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/97 "2000-08-06T11:50:06Z")
I know there are a few that drive me up the wall. Here goes: 1. peachy 2. all that & anything else you could add here 3. being the “shit”- this one does crack me up every time though. “Well, no wonder it smells like crap in here!” 4. Go blow a goat!- heard that one many times 5. All righty then… 6. Okie-Dokie (or any variation thereof) That’s it for now. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/98 "2000-08-07T01:05:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msrobyn \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by HelloKitty \* > > \*\*I have a supervisor that prefaces at least 75% of his conversations with, “Let me be honest…”. No, please lie to me!! \*\* > > Anytime I hear someone use this phrase, I automatically assume s/he is lying. 😃 > > Robin \*\* Anytime I hear someone use this phrase, I immediatly interrupt and let them know I would prefer to be lied to. ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/99 "2000-08-07T02:48:21Z")
The chant heard on picket and protest lines: “No (justice, contract, money, etc), no peace!” ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/100 "2000-08-07T02:58:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soup \* > \*\*The chant heard on picket and protest lines: > “No (justice, contract, money, etc), no peace!” \*\* #2 on the Angry Liberal Hit Parade is “What do we want! {PC Answer} When do we want it?! {NOW}.” Robin [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890.md?page=6)