# Words that you can't bear to hear used in certain contexts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486 "2005-11-10T23:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thirty-Nine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@Thirty-Nine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirty-Nine)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/21 "2005-11-11T15:19:34Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > I agree with the solution one. I don’t know if it’s just a recent thing, but it seems everyone’s describing their products as being a “solution” to something or the other. We’re not the first to notice… The UK’s Private Eye has been running a small column called ‘Solutions’ for a while now, where readers can submit mentions of ‘solutions’. Last week we have “Disabled Solutions” and Nescafé offering “Coffee Solutions”. This week there are “Sock Solutions” and “Outsourced Vehicle Movement Solutions”, which apparently refers to car deliveries. But, back to the OP; I can’t think of anything that irritates me except for successful being used as a synonym for rich. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/22 "2005-11-11T17:21:31Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > For some undefensible reason, I hate the word “delicious” and its synonyms when used in non-food-related contexts. I use it in reference to sexually-related issues. Hey…it’s a cross-over category. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/23 "2005-11-11T17:38:45Z")
Decimate :mad: Say no more. BTW **Dominic** \*solution \* is used to define the top level of organisation of some programming environments. So (while it is horrible) it could be legitimate to describe a project or program as part of a (ahem) solution. Don’t blame the progammers, we have this stuff foisted on us. (Foisted is a word, yes?) ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/24 "2005-11-12T01:27:55Z")
“Sexy”. _This graph of soil infiltration rates is pretty sexy, eh Gilbert? What with the Helvetica font on the data labels and the watermark of a ball of humus?_ Yeah, Gil. Makes me want to drop trou and get down and dirty all right. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/25 "2005-11-12T03:26:17Z")
Associate - You need to talk to a Sales Associate. Teached – They teached me in high school to do that. Borrowed - Billy Bob Ray borrowed me a hundred dollars. Special - Billy Bob Ray is a special child. PC – You know it’s not PC to call someone that. Snow + Shower – There will be snow showers tonight. Is it going to rain or snow? Don’t explain the term to me, I hate the term. Just – That is just unfair. Just is being used in a way that it excludes all other possible conditions. In this case the person is saying what happened doesn’t affect them in any other way, when you know it does. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/26 "2005-11-12T03:31:35Z")
Illegal Alien - The problem in Texas is illegal aliens. The space men have landed. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/27 "2005-11-12T04:02:36Z")
The last time we had an “El Niño” weather pattern here, every frigging weather report used the term, whether or not it was relevant to the day’s weather. I came to loathe that manufactured non-disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/28 "2005-11-12T04:46:44Z")
I hate the terms “associate” and “team member,” but only when they’re used in place of the word “employee.” Typically you’ll see this in major chain stores, where the door leading into the back rooms will have a sign saying “Best Buy associates only,” or the manager will announce a special deal and then tell you to see see one of the Target team members for further details. When did “employee” become a vulgar word that needs euphemisms? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/29 "2005-11-12T04:56:36Z")
Gourmet and showcase are nouns, period. ---
**Author:** ![Jillyvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jillyvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jillyvn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/30 "2005-11-12T04:57:00Z")
“rape” used out of context, only because I had a friend who was raped and she sensitized me to the issue… As in: “X Company rapes the environment”, “I was raped” in place of “I was ripped off”… ad naseum ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/31 "2005-11-12T13:56:58Z")
> [@August West](#): > > Speaking of “solution”, according to my wife this is the new “catchy office verb”. Her boss actually used the phrase “We need to solution this issue!” > > I’m sorry. If I was in the same room where that phrase was used, I would be rolling on the floor laughing and crying. The next time the boss says that, she can use the following line. I’ll go in the break room and titerate a solution for you. Do you want cream? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/32 "2005-11-12T14:19:25Z")
Learning context ie: What was the learning context? What learning context will you use? AHHHH If I hear that fucking catch phrase one more time I will give someone’s rectum a new learning context! ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/33 "2005-11-12T18:13:49Z")
“Quality” is not a damned adjective. It’s used all the time to mean “good” or “excellent,” as in “a quality car” or “a quality doctor” and it irks the bejeezus out of me. Quality can be good or bad or anywhere in between; it needs to be qualified. Saying “This is a quality cup of coffee” is as meaningless as saying “This coffee is very temperature.” I knew the battle was lost a few years ago when my roommate, who was studying to be a teacher, had a textbook titled “Quality Learning Initiatives.” If academia is capitulating to stupidity, there’s no hope. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/34 "2005-11-12T18:25:23Z")
> [@Licentious Ectomorph](#): > > Saying “This is a quality cup of coffee” is as meaningless as saying “This coffee is very temperature.” Man, lifting huge steaming cup to mouth: “Mmm, now that’s a quantity cup of coffee!” ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/35 "2005-11-12T19:33:40Z")
A phrase I’ve heard here quite frequently is “revert” to indicate “respond”. As in, “He still hasn’t reverted to my email.” I hate it with a passion. And while not strictly in the nature of the OP, let me just say that the term “hotted” or “hotting” (the competition is really hotting up, or, she has definitely hotted up since her makeover) should be taken out back and shotted. ---
**Author:** ![dflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dflower/32/3270_2.png) [@dflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dflower)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/36 "2005-11-12T20:28:58Z")
Destiny The Colts can change their destiny! or The Colts are now in charge of their destiny. NO! Destiny is inevitable or predetermined or inevitable. It is beyond your or the Colts power to change destiny. It is fate. Sports reporters use this term a lot. Electrocute and electrocution A newspaper article the other day told of a man who was electrocuted while at work and was in stable condition in the hospital. Well one of those is not a fact. Electrocution means to **kill** with electricity. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/37 "2005-11-12T20:43:22Z")
Recommend _me_ a graduate school to attend. :rolleyes: Dude (okay to use if you’re under 20) Here’s a phrase I was tired of in 2002: “It’s all good, man.” Mispronunciation of “coup de grace.” According to two sources, it should be pronounced graz, not grah. Can anyone verify? “Normalize” relations with China. What the hell does that mean? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/38 "2005-11-12T20:58:51Z")
**Impact** , used by everybody who wants to sound as if they’re dealing with big, portentous life-or-death problems. Nothing _impacts_ in your business unless you manufacture bombs or crash safety devices. **Like** , in the context of “I don’t brush my teeth like I should.” The word you want here is _as_. To say you don’t brush your teeth _as_ you do it, it means you do it, but in a dissimilar manner (going up and down instead of in circles, perhaps). If you don’t do it at all, you don’t do it _as_ you should. People who don’t know when to use the subjunctive tense bug the crap out of me. If I wasn’t so nice I’d give them a good kicking like they deserve. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/39 "2005-11-12T21:01:49Z")
Fetish. A fetish is something that you _need_ in order to become aroused. It’s not just anything that you enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486/40 "2005-11-12T21:04:15Z")
It annoys me personally to read and/or hear the terms “architecture” and “engineering” and their variants in certain contexts. Examples: Some scientists or instructor describes the “architecture of a molecule.” Or, some sports team coach/GM is the “architect” of a great team. Or, some quarterback “engineered” a great comeback. Or, some jerk uses one of those terms as part of a message board username… 😃 AC [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-you-cant-bear-to-hear-used-in-certain-contexts/330486.md?page=3)