Oxford University has chosen the 10 most-hated sloppy idiomatic expressions. The Telegraph reports the most hated phrase was "at the end of the day," while "fairly unique" came in a close second.
Oxford researchers explained that the phrase "at the end of the day" was chosen because it could be summed up in one word: "finally," while "fairly unique" is an oxymoron.
In third place was "I personally," which was tautological, while coming in at eighth was "shouldn't of," an illiterate rendering of "shouldn't have."
Writer Jeremy Butterfield said the ninth most-hated phrase "24/7" was repeated too often and became office jargon. He pointed out that people were growing increasingly tired of repetitive anecdotes, jokes and involuntary linguistic tics.
Although they did not make the Top 10, "literally" and "ironically" were also chosen as expressions that irritated people.
The Top 10 were:
1. At the end of the day
2. Fairly unique
3. I personally
4. At this moment in time
5. With all due respect
6. Absolutely
7. It's a nightmare
8. Shouldn't of
9. 24/7 (twenty-four seven)
10. It's not rocket science
There are a couple I can think of that did not make this list. Something that drives me nuts is when people say to give 110% percent. That is of course impossible, and if 110% is good, then isn't 120% better? Why are people only giving 110% if they can give any infinitely higher arbitrary number?
Another one that bugs me is when people say stuff like "PIN number". The "N" in "PIN" already stands for number. People are actually saying "Personal Identification Number Number". "ATM machine" is another one.
Doing a "360" is also ridiculous. If something does turn 360, then it is right back on its original trajectory. This is just peoples' simple ignorance in knowing the difference between 360 and 180 when they mean to say that something turned around.
The worst one for me has got to be when people say "literally." People will say something like, "I got so angry last night, my head was literally going to explode!" No, it was not. You mean it only in a figurative way and you are just an idiot for saying this.
Anyone got any others?
5 comments:
That's from 2009, btw.
All of those are irritating. The word I can't stand the most right now is "solutions," a marketing/business buzzword that, when I find it on a website or on a commercial, I turn right away from it.
But, seems like increasingly people just talk in buzzwords and canned phrases: like listening to a population of professional athletes, business majors, and corrections officers.
"Jan 03, 2009" ... son of a bitch... the Chosun Ilbo really likes to toss old articles back up on their front page and I fall for it every time as being current.
I have to watch out for this. Thanks, Brian!
"Center around" is stupid and nonsensical, unless you're doing that thing God does of being a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere. Then it's ok.
"Fleshing out" ideas is also stupid. I can only think of zombies making plans. Step 1: Groan and slowly stumble toward human noms 2) eat human noms.
On the subject of Personal PIN ID numbers, PIN has an inherent disadvantage to it that encourages the redundancy in saying PIN number is that "pin" is already a word in it's own right. True, the context of the situation should clarify whether or not one is speaking of a sharp metal pointy object, but the redundancy in this case makes it abundantly clear.
I occasionally hesitate when I do say PIN number, but I usually say it on purpose.
ATM machine on the other hand has no excuse, unless one is speaking of a device that incorporates an entire (or more than one) ATM in its function.
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