# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/101 "2000-08-07T03:25:45Z")
“suck(s)” - Like “b\*\*\*\*”, overused to the point of meaninglessness. Used mostly by dolts who can’t be bothered to justify their arguments. Even worse when followed by “a\*\*”. Any and all swear words - Before, they were daring. Now they’re unbelievably overused and hard on the ears. Any catchphrase taken from a TV show used out of context (especially “Is that your final answer?”). “anal-retentive” - Yeah, it’s terrible how some people insist on getting their facts straight and paying attention to detail. “jerkoff” and any other term having to do with…er, doing it alone. Shouldn’t the AIDS epidemic have removed the stigma on this already? “cheap” - Whether referring to not blowing one’s bank account on a ring or using any strategy whatsoever to win in a fighting game, this word is _itself_ cheap. “girl” when referring to anyone who’s old enough to drive. Also all the terms and phrases that have had “girl” stapled on them, like “You go, girl!”. (Right, but she come back _woman_, so why don’t you call her that already.) “-nazi”, as in feminazi, environazi, smokingnazi, etc. This just cheapens the accomplishments of the _actual_ National Socialists. “boy band” (Let’s give them a little credit, all right?) “zeitgeist” “Well, DUH.” “Oh my god, they killed Kenny!” ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/102 "2000-08-07T09:54:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kinsey \* > > Another example of people trying too be too correct is, “I and my sister went shopping.” I have heard this mistake quite a lot lately. > This is because (I think) they think using “I” is more correct than saying, “ME and my sister…” when it should be “My sister and I…” > And of course there is the vexing answer to “Who went shopping?” > “My sister and me” or “My sister and I” ??? > > It’s “My sister and ME.” \*\* I’m going to have to disagree here. I don’t have any references, but I’ve always considered myself pretty good with grammar. I don’t even end sentences with prepositions in conversation. “I and my sister…” doesn’t seem so much wrong as awkward and not exactly standard. Sure, “I” is supposed to come at the end of a series, but “Me and my sister…” is just dead wrong. “Who went shopping?” The full answer to the question would be, “I went shopping.” This can be shortened to “I did.” Thus, when speaking of you and your sister, you should say, “My sister and I.” I would also argue that you should end that with “did,” but I’ll take what I can get. ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/103 "2000-08-07T10:09:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DKW \* > \*\* > > “jerkoff” and any other term having to do with…er, doing it alone. Shouldn’t the AIDS epidemic have removed the stigma on this already? > > \*\* How about people’s tendency to weasel and tiptoe around frankness when talking about things like masturbation. Yes, that’s right, masturbation. “Jerkoff,” being a slang term, is more vulgar and potentially offensive than “masturbator,” yet for some reason, in your comment, you won’t even say the word masturbate, as if it is too dirty. This, as well as other nonsensical cultural taboos, needs to go. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/104 "2000-08-07T13:08:26Z")
Why not let peaceful honest people use whatever phrases they please? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/105 "2000-08-07T13:31:01Z")
> [@](#): > > **Originally posted by Tzel:** > _I’m going to have to disagree here. I don’t have any references, but I’ve always considered myself pretty good with grammar. I don’t even end sentences with prepositions in conversation. > “I and my sister…” doesn’t seem so much wrong as awkward and not exactly standard. Sure, “I” is supposed to come at the end of a series, but “Me and my sister…” is just dead wrong. > “Who went shopping?” > The full answer to the question would be, “I went shopping.” This can be shortened to “I did.” Thus, when speaking of you and your sister, you should say, “My sister and I.” I would also argue that you should end that with “did,” but I’ll take what I can get._ Yeah, you’re right. That’s what I get for posting with a headache. Sometimes it IS correct to say “My sister and me…”, though. Let me think a minute. Ok, someone asks, “Who does this belong to?” (or, “To whom does this belong?”). THEN you would answer, “It belongs to me” or, “It belongs to my sister and me.” You wouldn’t say “It belongs to I.” I still think “I and my sister” is wrong. I heard a local news anchor say it just the other day. She was explaining why she would be gone the following week…“I and my family are going on vacation.” What?!? Of course, this was the same woman who, earlier in the broadcast, reported on a “tragical” accident. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/106 "2000-08-07T13:51:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Why not let peaceful honest people use whatever phrases they please? If you’ll notice I said “voluntarily retire” in the OP. You can be as peaceful and honest as you want as long as you don’t tell me to talk to the hand. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/107 "2000-08-07T14:55:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HelloKitty \* > \*\*Anyone that says “Nu-Kew-Lar” instead of “Nu-Klee-Ar” when discussing nuclear power, etc. should be shot immediately. > \*\* I second this one!!! Nu-cu-lar pinheads… They probably say nu-cu-lus instead of nu-clee-us… ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/108 "2000-08-07T15:23:54Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blessedwolf \* > \*\* > > Also, anyone else notice that the verb “to strew” can be used only with flowers? What else can one strew? \*\* It seems to me that it only sounds right in the past tense. Ex: Newspapers were strewn all over the floor. Litter was strewn across the entire field. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/109 "2000-08-07T18:18:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dolores Claiborne \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by HelloKitty \* > > \*\*Anyone that says “Nu-Kew-Lar” instead of “Nu-Klee-Ar” when discussing nuclear power, etc. should be shot immediately. > > \*\* > > I second this one!!! Nu-cu-lar pinheads… They probably say nu-cu-lus instead of nu-clee-us… \*\* What kills me is, I used to know a 42-y.o. New-kew-lar technician. Incredibly intelligent guy, but that ued to drive me up the wall until I started mocking him. Never underestimate mocking as a catalyst for change. It works! ---
**Author:** ![Sakura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Sakura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sakura)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/110 "2000-08-07T18:57:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shay519 \* > When I ran into my neighbor the other day, I said, this was the first time I had seen him sans children. He had no idea what it meant. Is it me? \*\* No. It’s French. I think all those little shortcuts that teenagers use when writing notes & IMing each other need to be put down as soon as possible. Shortcuts such as: POTATO-HEADED TEENAGER 1: Wuz up? POTATO-HEADED TEENAGER 2: NMH. U? P-H T 1: No. Hold on, brb. P-H T 1: Sorry. Little bro was annoying so I stuck him in the oven. P-H T 2: LOL. P-H T 1: I gtg. My 'rents r here. P-H T 2: Right. C-U l-8r. AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ---
**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, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/111 "2000-08-07T20:31:46Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Sakura \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shay519 \* > When I ran into my neighbor the other day, I said, this was the first time I had seen him sans children. He had no idea what it meant. Is it me? \*\* No. It’s French. I know it’s French, but am I the only person who uses it in everyday conversation? Sometimes when I write, I actually use the word ‘shall’ as in “shall we go to dinner” I actually think these kinds of sentences in my head. This can’t be good ---
**Author:** ![LadyBear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LadyBear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyBear)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/112 "2000-08-07T23:21:03Z")
I think of the corporate catchphrases, the one that most needs to go is “On the same page…” I don’t know why, but it drives me up a wall when someone checks to make sure I know what’s going on and then tells me “Just wanted to make sure we’re all on the same page.” Where’s the book we’re all supposed to be reading? ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/113 "2000-08-08T05:42:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kinsey \* > \*\* Of course, this was the same woman who, earlier in the broadcast, reported on a “tragical” accident. > > \*\* So it’s tragic, but in a magical, wonderous way. Kind of like finding Santa’s charred body in the fireplace you forgot to extinguish on Christmas morning. Now that’s tragical. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/114 "2000-08-08T12:15:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shay519 \* > I know [the word “sans” is] French, but am I the only person who uses it in everyday conversation? Well, no you’re not. I, at least, would assume that everyone knows what the word “sans” means, irrespective of its origins. At the very least, all Americans should be aware of their cultural heritage, as exemplified in [_Sans_abelt slacks.](http://www.sansabelt.com/) And shame on **Sakura** for implying, even in a joking way, that there is an excuse for ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/115 "2000-08-10T07:54:43Z")
Tzel - Oh, absolutely. I’ve always wondered whose nimrod idea it was to stick four-syllable words onto sexual acts (this includes “fornication”, and “adultery” is borderline). Sorry if I miss some things in a post…happened to me too many times to count. Oh, and if you haven’t already, always check out the list of “forbidden terms” Matt Groening produces every year for Life in Hell. Every time I go through these lists, I keep nodding in agreement. How quickly they get old… ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/116 "2000-08-10T21:42:19Z")
Dumb Ox: > [@](#): > > And don’t tell me I can’t end my sentences with a preposition. That is some nonsense up with which I shall not put. (Churchill, I think.) I’d heard Churchill said “A preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentance with”. So which is right? Did he say both? ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/117 "2000-08-10T23:29:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sqweels \* > \*\*Dumb Ox: > > > [@](#): > > > > And don’t tell me I can’t end my sentences with a preposition. That is some nonsense up with which I shall not put. (Churchill, I think.) > > I’d heard Churchill said “A preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentance with”. > > So which is right? Did he say both? \*\* I can’t say definitively that he did say both, but they essentially mean the same. “A preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentence with,” is a joke, since that sentence itself ends with a preposition. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/118 "2000-08-11T14:50:37Z")
A colleague of mine keeps using “reference” as a verb - it’s driving me bananas, especially because I’m now working with her a lot. A typical sentence goes, “The widgets of the present invention are not obvious in view of those referenced in Jones, _et al._.” (I’m a patent agent, in case you’re wondering why anyone would write such a sentence). What’s wrong with “described”? Or even “of”? Or if it’s really a remote connection, “referred to”? I can’t decide whether it bothers me more in spoken or written English. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/119 "2000-08-11T16:00:02Z")
I’m sensing alot of “anger” here. ---
**Author:** ![AETBOND417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@AETBOND417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AETBOND417)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890/120 "2000-08-11T23:39:19Z")
I don’t care how popular Survivor is, we HAVE to get rid of: “THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN :duh DOO:” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-phrases-that-need-to-be-retired/27890.md?page=7)