Words, usages, and phrases that annoy the shit out of you...

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I want to be a destructive.

Flavors: Onions and other flavors (Abbbottt), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 16:55 (thirteen years ago) link

fey
adj \ˈfā\
Definition of FEY
1
a chiefly Scottish : fated to die : doomed b : marked by a foreboding of death or calamity
2
a : able to see into the future : visionary b : marked by an otherworldly air or attitude c : crazy, touched
3
a : excessively refined : precious b : quaintly unconventional : campy

zvookster, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:32 (thirteen years ago) link

yeah I've never seen "fey" used in the first or second contexts there

congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:34 (thirteen years ago) link

Morgana le Fey is probably the only one in any kind of common usage (though people probably think it's her surname.)

Wheal Dream, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:36 (thirteen years ago) link

I don't understand what definition 3 has to do with definition 1 or 2, which are the ones I'm familiar with.

kkvgz, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:39 (thirteen years ago) link

marked by an otherworldly air or attitude -> elven in a contrived manner (see, say Elfine from Cold Comfort Farm) -> Definition 3.

Wheal Dream, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:41 (thirteen years ago) link

also see: Joanna Newsom

sarahel, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:42 (thirteen years ago) link

Yeah, I could see that. But my strong suspicion is that it's not as complicated as that. I'll bet that it evolved from people misusing language. Anyone have an OED account here?

xp

kkvgz, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:43 (thirteen years ago) link

Fée is also 'fairy' in French.

you've got foetus in a jar (suzy), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:44 (thirteen years ago) link

the key word here is "evolved"

sarahel, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:44 (thirteen years ago) link

I don't understand what definition 3 has to do with definition 1 or 2, which are the ones I'm familiar with.

brit vs amer thing maybe? I've never heard of the 1st 2 usages.

hope this helps (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:52 (thirteen years ago) link

Perhaps. It's not even a word that would come up much in conversation really, so it's hard to tell.

kkvgz, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 18:56 (thirteen years ago) link

I've never heard of the 1st 2 usages.

Me neither.

Here's OED:

1. Fated to die, doomed to death; also, at the point of death; dying. In literary use now arch. Still in popular use in Scotland.

2. Leading to or presaging death; deadly, fatal. Obs.

3. Accursed, unfortunate, unlucky. Obs.

4. Feeble, timid; sickly, weak. Obs.

5. Disordered in mind like one about to die; possessing or displaying magical, fairylike, or unearthly qualities. Now freq. used ironically, in sense 'affected, whimsy'.

jaymc, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 19:56 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm mostly aware of it as the 2nd usage from the first def!! But that's primarily from reading fantasy lit for 20 years.

I've got ten bucks. SURPRISE ME. (Laurel), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 20:02 (thirteen years ago) link

Pretty sure this isn't from people "misusing" language. Always thought fey acquired it's "twee" meaning via "Goblin Market" and general Victorian interest in whimsy.

the Ford Escort Cabriolet of middle-aged men (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 20:14 (thirteen years ago) link

'ilxor-looking dudes'

acoleuthic, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 20:21 (thirteen years ago) link

lol

sarahel, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 20:32 (thirteen years ago) link

Found this:

Fey derives from the Old English fæge (“doomed to die”) and carries the related sense “in an unusually excited state (like one about to die).” By an extension, the word came to mean “whimsical, otherworldly, eccentric,” perhaps from confusion with fay (= a fairy or elf). This shift in meaning was noticed as early as 1950. Today the word's original meaning is all but forgotten—e.g.: “An upsurge of book sales in cyberspace could have dramatic effects on the fortunes of the already fey and contradictory world of book publishing.” ( Washington Post, Aug. 4, 1997.)

Lostandfound, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 21:37 (thirteen years ago) link

That explanation is perfect Losrandfound. Thanks.

kkvgz, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 21:55 (thirteen years ago) link

I don't understand what definition 3 has to do with definition 1 or 2, which are the ones I'm familiar with.

― kkvgz, Wednesday, November 10, 2010 2:39 AM (4 hours ago) Bookmark

I feel like there are tons of words in the language for which this is true

dayo, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:42 (thirteen years ago) link

stool...implement for sitting on, or piece of shit?

*runs off to open your terrible ideas thread*

dayo, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 00:22 (thirteen years ago) link

A lot of these are caused by two separate root-words converging in sound and spelling over time.

the Ford Escort Cabriolet of middle-aged men (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 10 November 2010 00:23 (thirteen years ago) link

converge...to come together or shitty hardcore band?

dayo, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 00:24 (thirteen years ago) link

stfu ... shut the fuck up or southern tenant farmers union?

sarahel, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 02:29 (thirteen years ago) link

Fare thee well. Fare thee well. Fare thee well, my fairy fay.
For I'm going to Louisiana for to see my Susiannah,
Singing polly-wolly-doodle all the day.

Aimless, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 05:25 (thirteen years ago) link

I feel like I know way too many people who will always half-smirkingly say "interweb" or "internets" instead of internet, or "uber" instead of super or very, etc.

deej otm (some dude), Wednesday, 10 November 2010 15:34 (thirteen years ago) link

"goodness" e.g. 'visit our website for more goodness'

Harrison Buttwhistle (NickB), Wednesday, 10 November 2010 15:52 (thirteen years ago) link

^^^^^ yes, #1 for me

dayo, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 15:53 (thirteen years ago) link

"_________ goodness"

kind of hate the genericness of this, like "ohh this pastry is filled with creamy goodness" or "oh yeah give me some of that football goodness"

― crüt it out (dyao), Saturday, June 26, 2010 5:59 PM (4 months ago) Bookmark

dayo, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 16:04 (thirteen years ago) link

was about to complain about "genericness," but apparently it's a real word, which kind of blows my mind, i never would've guessed.

it really bugged me recently when someone used "sensical," though, that's definitely not a real word.

deej otm (some dude), Wednesday, 10 November 2010 16:08 (thirteen years ago) link

"chocolatey goodness"

tangelo amour (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 10 November 2010 16:39 (thirteen years ago) link

"Turkey Day"

hope this helps (Granny Dainger), Thursday, 11 November 2010 22:37 (thirteen years ago) link

1. Fated to die, doomed to death; also, at the point of death; dying. In literary use now arch. Still in popular use in Scotland.

"Fey" guys doomed to reproductive failure, will die childless. Look at Morrissey.

otherwise, and twat (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 11 November 2010 22:40 (thirteen years ago) link

i HATE "uber"

irritable bol syndrome (s1ocki), Thursday, 11 November 2010 23:11 (thirteen years ago) link

especially how its always used with "hip" and "cool"

irritable bol syndrome (s1ocki), Thursday, 11 November 2010 23:12 (thirteen years ago) link

"Killing it" meaning doing it well. Just shoot me at this point.

amazing disorder (rip van wanko), Friday, 12 November 2010 02:37 (thirteen years ago) link

also "Really?" sarcastically/nonplussed a la Amy Poehler/Seth Meyers in their bit. ugh.

amazing disorder (rip van wanko), Friday, 12 November 2010 02:48 (thirteen years ago) link

"ponder"

BIG MUFFIN (gbx), Friday, 12 November 2010 02:51 (thirteen years ago) link

Turkey Day uuuuugh

corey, Friday, 12 November 2010 03:21 (thirteen years ago) link

four weeks pass...
one month passes...

"Friend" to mean an inanimate object or activity that one considers beneficial, helpful, or pleasing. Especially annoying when the object/activity is in the plural, as in "Sore joints? Ice packs are your friend."

Tyler/Perry's "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" (jaymc), Friday, 4 February 2011 16:10 (thirteen years ago) link

i HATE "uber"

― irritable bol syndrome (s1ocki), Thursday, 11 November 2010 23:11 (2 months ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

especially how its always used with "hip" and "cool"

― irritable bol syndrome (s1ocki), Thursday, 11 November 2010 23:12 (2 months ago) Bookmark

I read the phrase "painfully hip" in an article the other day, that was actually praising said artist. A real cliche if I ever heard one.

Bernard V. O'Hare (dog latin), Friday, 4 February 2011 16:12 (thirteen years ago) link

said artist is annoying

conrad, Friday, 4 February 2011 19:51 (thirteen years ago) link

three months pass...

"How's that workin' out for ya?"

Sugabans (rip van wanko), Thursday, 19 May 2011 15:13 (thirteen years ago) link

People at my work say "sems" instead of centimetres. savages

broodje kroket (dog latin), Thursday, 19 May 2011 15:36 (thirteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

"overcome by events"

have heard this 4-5 times this week already

Z S, Thursday, 2 June 2011 17:26 (thirteen years ago) link

When politician says about his state (or country) "XYZ is Open For Business". I just read something from the governor's office saying "New Jersey is Open For Business". First of all, it's stupid. Secondly, it's been used a ton, so if you're trying to be original and cute, you are failing miserably. Third, New Jersey is almost certainly not "open for business" unless you work in an unemployment office.

Thraft of Cleveland (Bill Magill), Thursday, 2 June 2011 22:01 (thirteen years ago) link

Acknowledging the public snub, a spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "Universities have always been bastions of free speech and debate.

"However, our student and university finance reforms are fairer than the present system and affordable for the nation."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 21:56 (thirteen years ago) link

BASTION

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 21:56 (thirteen years ago) link

especially loathesome in this context cuz it suggests that universities are a sort of holdout of dissent whereas in this instance they express the will of most of the country

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 21:58 (thirteen years ago) link


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