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

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I blame the consolidation of global political power and the diminution of class mobility on people who write in the passive voice.

I also have a horror of people who write prolifically in all caps.

― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"It must say something about ILX that this is the most repeated topic of all time..."

This is true.

But, this is a topic that should be dealt with routinely and harshly... the only way we can correct the language and suppress it's organic growth is by exposing and banning every new usage as it occurs... Isn't that what the French do?

― andy, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Least favorite (mis)usage ever - "ON accident..." it's BY accident you fucking moron!!

Also: 'fridge,' girls who refer to each other as 'girl,' proactive...i'll be back when i think of more....

― roger adultery, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I know, oops, but still it pisses me off.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:54 (twenty-two years ago)

The recurrence of this topic is always accompanied by the recurrence of complaint about its recurrence.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 01:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Space. All this crap about needing space. Fuck off, then.

― Roderick the Visigoth. (Jake Proudlock), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

All girls must now refer to one another as "guy"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

ok?

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Using "Sexy" in a business environment that has nothing to do with sex. As in "this is a very sexy proposal for our company". Well, I guess, if ripping people off is what turns you on.

― BrianB (BrianB), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 05:26 (twenty-two years ago)

'exact same'.

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"bird" instead of "girl" or "woman". AAAAAARGH.

― Melly E (Melly E), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

When people call each other 'babe' and the completely inappropriate use of the word 'literally'. Also can I add at this point, even if it may not be entirely relevant, the unjustifiable grammatical error in Rachael Stevens' song 'Sweet Dreams My LA Ex' : "accuse me of things I never done." And I've listened hard for "I've never done" to try and give her the benefit of the doubt but she doesn't say it.

― barbara wintergreen, Monday, 29 December 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"Begging the question" and "chomping at the bit." The first is almost always used incorrectly, and the second should be "champing," Goddamn it.

― Salmon Pink (Salmon Pink), Monday, 29 December 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

or "bits"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 29 December 2003 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

'any way shape or form'. Most heard in full-media-glare denials of misdeeds. Used by dodgy sportsmen who have been 'coached' by their minders for the occasion. It immediately strips the first dozen layers of credibility from whatever statement is being made.

'poetic justice'. Used by the lazy to describe all 'justice' the speaker approves of, instead of a particular type. The adjective is rendered meaningless.

Agree re 'bird' for woman/girl, and lament its threatened return. Stinks of 'I'm being un-PC, where's my medal?'. Also the C-person uses it, which kinda ends the argument.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 29 December 2003 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

optics

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

also photonic inplace of optic

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

"the....(insert superlative)...in pop."

― barbara wintergreen, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

To return to the top of the thread, I still after 20 odd years gag on 'outreach' as a VERB....

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:46 (twenty-two years ago)

the mightily empty "i could care less" variant on being unable to do the same

― ermes marana, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 01:47 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

People who pronounce the word "presentation" as "PRE-sentation".

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:29 (twenty years ago)

since i was reading some VICIOUS anti- rachael ray sentiment last night and i'm still feelin' the love: "E.V.O.O. EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL"

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:32 (twenty years ago)

"YUM-O"

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:33 (twenty years ago)

cf.

― gear (gear), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:34 (twenty years ago)

Also: 'fridge,'

Wait, huh? Fridge is the thing you put food in, whats wrong with it?

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 18 August 2005 08:01 (twenty years ago)

Saying "it impacted on me" instead of "it had an impact on me"... well that's annoying enough but, just recently, I've heard people say "it impacted me" - which surely would only make sense if the speaker was a molar?

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 09:10 (twenty years ago)

'fridge,'

I'm picturing him saying things such as "Would you like me to remove another beverage from the refrigerator for you, whilst we watch some association football?"

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:29 (twenty years ago)

bougie, instead of bourgeois. heard it four times last week.

― naus (Robert T), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

"Chav"

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

bourgie?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:42 (twenty years ago)

"Yes, sir, I am bougie, I am bougie... etc."

― Win A Lie-Down, Mrs. Davies (kate), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:44 (twenty years ago)

"what the...?"

― jimmy glass (electricsound), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bougie

― naus (Robert T), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

"He's on fire"

As used to describe a footballer running into a streak of good form

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:57 (twenty years ago)

chav, prole, "get one...", but most of all commercials selling relatively expensive goods such as electrcal gubbins, fitted kitchens and the like where people say only "one-nine-nine-nine" instead of "nominally under two thousand quid". do you think not actually saying the proper number is fooling me?!!?!!

― stelf)xxx, Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:01 (twenty years ago)

"Raft"

When used in phrases like "a raft of policies" or "a raft of new measures" - why?!?!??!!?

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:03 (twenty years ago)

which surely would only make sense if the speaker was a molar?

Or a colon.

COINKY-DINK, "guestimate," and any time someone ends an interrogative sentence with "at," as in "Where's my keys at?" or "Where's your head at?"

― pullapartgirl (pullapartgirl), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:22 (twenty years ago)

"let's unpack that (concept/policy/statement/generalisation)"

"hating on"

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:23 (twenty years ago)

Oh! Oh! This one REALLY annoyed me the other day:

"Action" used as a verb. (Especially with regards to some annoying little thing I had already been doing.) "Can you please action this?" Actually, no I can't. Action is a noun. If you would like me to DO it, then just ask. Argh.

Especially when coming from the same irritating marketing bods who last week asked me to "manage the relationship" with one of our suppliers. Fuck. Right. Off.

― Win A Lie-Down, Mrs. Davies (kate), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:25 (twenty years ago)

oh i used to have a PA in the cubicle next to me for a while that said 'diarise' as in 'sure, john is free on tuesday morning, i'll diarise it'. aaaaarrrrggghh

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:26 (twenty years ago)

"Boss"

A term of address directed at Turkish shopkeepers by 13 year old boys and directed by Turkish shopkeepers at everyone else. The most annoying ever.

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:27 (twenty years ago)

I'm not your fucking boss!!!!!!!!!!

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:28 (twenty years ago)

"Madam" when used by shop assistants. This kept happening to me yesterday.

DON'T MADAM ME, YOU LITTLE...!!! OK, according to Watching The English, this means that they have socio-status assessed me as middle class or higher. But it irritates me because it makes me feel old.

― Win A Lie-Down, Mrs. Davies (kate), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:30 (twenty years ago)

i like most of these. i just like variety. i do hate 'action', 'impact on, etc, though.

― N_RQ, Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:30 (twenty years ago)

dude, i call people 'boss'.

― g-kit (g-kit), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:35 (twenty years ago)

I don't want you to think that I obsess over it, but "obsessing over something" as opposed to "being obsessed with/about something"

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:38 (twenty years ago)

People saying 'momentarily' when what they mean is 'in a moment'.

'Whilst'

― estela (estela), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:38 (twenty years ago)

oh yeah i fkn hate 'whilst' and 'amongst'.

― N_RQ, Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:39 (twenty years ago)

i like whilst too! it's kinda romantic, like 'betwixt'.

― g-kit (g-kit), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

'betwexit' is ok, a girl i liked used it instead of between all the time. but whilst can fuck off.

― N_RQ, Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 12617 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

That one annoys me because a lot of people who use it don't get what it means

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:03 (two days ago)

"Show us on the doll where (subject) touched you" is awful and should join that trash bin

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:04 (two days ago)

commas

― Wichita Referee's Assistant (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:05 (two days ago)

whoa that might be for the 'punctuation you despise' thread

― Andy the Grasshopper, Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:07 (two days ago)

no i mean the printed word itself

― Wichita Referee's Assistant (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:10 (two days ago)

Thry got me in a comma

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 July 2026 02:10 (two days ago)

it's serious

― mookieproof, Thursday, 16 July 2026 02:14 (two days ago)

"i'll see your X and raise you Y"
nnng

― massaman gai (front tea for two), Thursday, 16 July 2026 06:33 (two days ago)

Nicolette's second album is called Let No One Live Rent Free in Your Head. Was it a known phrase in 1996?

― you can see me from westbury white horse, Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:41 (two days ago)

definitely not. that has to be the earliest instance of the phrase that I've seen.

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:50 (two days ago)

first attested use is 1988, in Abraham J. Twerski’s "Living Each Day"

"A wise man said, 'Hanging on to resentments is letting someone you don’t like live rent-free inside your head.'"

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:50 (two days ago)

(Ann Landers is said to have used it prior to 1988 but I can't find any actual reference to a specific column or book)

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:53 (two days ago)

I charge people rent for their presence in my head just so they can't say this.

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:54 (two days ago)

it was only a matter of time before we found the landlord itt

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 July 2026 15:01 (two days ago)

Funny you should say that as you're six months overdue, Neanderthal.

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 16 July 2026 15:03 (two days ago)

I thought about you twice last month.

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 16 July 2026 15:04 (two days ago)

fuck. look can I pay some other way, is there an ilxor you'd like bullied free of charge?

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:27 (two days ago)

Maybe get Aimless on the case

― LocalGarda, Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:30 (two days ago)

Often attributed to American advice columnist Eppie Lederer (1918–2002), who used it in her syndicated advice column in 1990.

― Andy the Grasshopper, Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:36 (two days ago)

(for non-Americans, Eppie Lederer = the second person writing as Ann Landers)

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:46 (two days ago)

Maybe get Aimless on the case

Come now, is that any way to talk?

― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:58 (two days ago)

my failed private equity venture was buying everyones' mind spaces and just billing anyone trying to live in any of them. now they're filled with squatters.

― antimaxx factor (Hunt3r), Thursday, 16 July 2026 19:28 (two days ago)

Brain Squatters: a David Cronenberg film

― Cow_Art, Thursday, 16 July 2026 21:33 (two days ago)

lol my 20 y/o just watched videodrome 2 days ago, inam pretty sure the new flesh is living everyones’ mind space. except james woods. no mind? no space.

― antimaxx factor (Hunt3r), Thursday, 16 July 2026 23:03 (two days ago)

Life hack: you can get free rent by becoming a personality trait

https://ioffer-movies.com/dvd-images/2024/06/Hermans-Head-Poster-416x308.jpg

― jmm, Thursday, 16 July 2026 23:56 (two days ago)

Omg what a reference

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Friday, 17 July 2026 15:02 (yesterday)

See also the Inside Out movies. None of those perks paid rent. Nor did the kids in Rent.

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 17 July 2026 15:24 (yesterday)

*jerks

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 17 July 2026 15:24 (yesterday)

Ha I was thinking about that show recently and how it's basically just about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Family_Systems_Model.

x-post - Inside out is definitely based on IFS.

― Benson and the Jets (ENBB), Friday, 17 July 2026 15:34 (yesterday)

Man, as much as I loved Herman’s Head as a kid, I forgot about it as soon as it went off the air.

― Cow_Art, Saturday, 18 July 2026 02:53 (seven hours ago)

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