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“It Is What It Is”…and Other Irritating Phrases

Not only overuse of ‘literally,’ but the incorrect use of it. “I literally died,” is ridiculous. If you had, you’d be dead and not talking. Figuratively and literally are opposites.

But the big one is people conflating irony with coincidence. That’s got a special place in my heart. The capper is Alanis Morissette’s song Ironic, where she purports to tell us what irony is, only to give us a whole bunch of examples of coincidence. That last bit is the only ironic thing in that song.
 
Zoot_Rollo said:
"Orientated"
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That’s a British thing; I say that word and everyone who was born in the UK would say it like that (unless they have N. American parents I guess).

It’s funny, because the reverse is true for me: when I hear people say “I’m just trying to orient myself” I think they are about to travel to East Asia.
 
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Selfinflicted said:
Not only overuse of ‘literally,’ but the incorrect use of it. “I literally died,” is ridiculous. If you had, you’d be dead and not talking. Figuratively and literally are opposites.

But the big one is people conflating irony with coincidence. That’s got a special place in my heart. The capper is Alanis Morissette’s song Ironic, where she purports to tell us what irony is, only to give us a whole bunch of examples of coincidence. That last bit is the only ironic thing in that song.
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This. I like the music, production and her singing is great but the lyrics are just stupid. If she’d only read up on the word first — although I think the song was a hit so maybe she doesn’t care she misunderstood what irony is.
 
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FireGS said:
IMO, when you hear someone use this phrase repeatedly, you've found someone who has simply given up.
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Or it's a person who has detached from expectations and who is on the road to enlightenment.

I'm irritated by seeing the word "bespoke" all over the place recently.

Some years ago, some fellow teachers often said, "Hot mess." It was a newly trending phrase at the time, and I could see a disgusting smug look in their eyes, like they were pulling off something grand.

This guy at work--any time I see him and say, "How are you doing?" replies, "Living the dream," sarcastically. It hits me like "Sounds like someone's got a case of the Mondays" from Office Space. I've learned to just do the dude nod when I see him and move along quickly.

Students, when talking about sports opponents, say, "We're versing The Wildcats Friday." Blech.

Here in Michigan, I've heard "boughten" as an adjective to distinguish store-bought goods from home made. "That tastes just like boughten." Ouch.

Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure that I have habits of speech that irritate others, too.
 
Maybe it's irrational, maybe it's just me getting old, but some of the zoomer slang bugs me.

"bet"
"say less"
"ye"
"woof" or "yikes" or "big yikes"
"i'm dead"
"that slaps"
"read for filth"

On a more serious note, I really can't stand when people say "reverse racism."
 
Zedcars said:
“It is what it is”: Over the last few weeks I’ve been hearing this phrase more and more.
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Where have you been :) This idiotic "I've decided to talk and say absolutely nothing" phrase has been around for years now.

And yeah people starting sentences with "So" has been as well and is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

I would add "I know right?" as well.

It's not just the expressions themselves, but how all these mindless sheeple trend whores latch onto them like barnacles on the hull of a ship and mindlessly jump on the moron bandwagon.
 
Michaelt said:
Circle back
Deep dive
Touch base
Unpack
Creators, creatives
Content
Productivity
Influencers
Tastemakers
Out of curiosity
To be honest
At the end of the day
Back in the day
General consensus
A whole 'nother
Times are tough, these trying times etc.
Wifey, The Wife etc.
Fire, as an adjective
Lit
Here for it
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Roughly the first half of that list is corporate catch phrases, which are their own little private Hell and merit their own morbid thread. I'd add "the ask" (for a request or requirement). :vomit:
 
Selfinflicted said:
Not only overuse of ‘literally,’ but the incorrect use of it. “I literally died,” is ridiculous. If you had, you’d be dead and not talking. Figuratively and literally are opposites.
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ah beat me to it :)


But the big one is people conflating irony with coincidence. That’s got a special place in my heart. The capper is Alanis Morissette’s song Ironic, where she purports to tell us what irony is, only to give us a whole bunch of examples of coincidence. That last bit is the only ironic thing in that song.
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Excellent call. It would seem the title of her song is in fact ironic. :) Most people it would seem haven't the vaguest clue what irony is...including Merriam-Webster, which is scary...
 
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