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 11900 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Glove me, I'm a gliberal

― calmer chameleon (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 9 January 2026 19:39 (four weeks ago)

lol

and well, as BY FAR the most instinctually sarcastic person in my family and circles, i am one to talk here right? <
but still some positions and venues point to a need for much greater care.

― madame defarge supporters club (Hunt3r), Friday, 9 January 2026 20:25 (four weeks ago)

sometimes sarcasm helps to illustrate the problem with something better than speaking direct does. however, that takes art and deft skill to wield properly - nowadays most people take sarcasm to mean "saying the opposite of what I mean in a really funny voice"

― Morning Dew key (Neanderthal), Friday, 9 January 2026 20:27 (four weeks ago)

oh— i have explicitly told people to whom i’ve been directly sarcastic that my arch sarcasm is intended to shame them, having reached a suspicion or certainty that sincere presentation of facts cannot move them. it is often a clear shaming mechanism.

― madame defarge supporters club (Hunt3r), Friday, 9 January 2026 20:43 (four weeks ago)

well it can be fun to use in that way, most definitely.

― Morning Dew key (Neanderthal), Friday, 9 January 2026 20:49 (four weeks ago)

What do you get from shaming someone?

― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Friday, 9 January 2026 21:00 (four weeks ago)

you hope they will reach understanding or they will tell you are an ass

― madame defarge supporters club (Hunt3r), Friday, 9 January 2026 21:11 (four weeks ago)

if you are trying to shame someone who should not be ashamed you need to reach your own better understanding.

it is helpful to be told. it’s been done to me on ilx and was useful.

― madame defarge supporters club (Hunt3r), Friday, 9 January 2026 21:15 (four weeks ago)

Sarcasm. Wow, so original.

― calmer chameleon (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 9 January 2026 21:19 (four weeks ago)

just read some of the lux aeterna post and we may be heading there

― ICE = Tonton Macoute (Boring, Maryland), Friday, 9 January 2026 21:20 (four weeks ago)

lux aeterna “thread”

― ICE = Tonton Macoute (Boring, Maryland), Friday, 9 January 2026 21:21 (four weeks ago)

that sounds bad is it bad i shut up

― madame defarge supporters club (Hunt3r), Friday, 9 January 2026 21:30 (four weeks ago)

Palazzo are like wide starting from the hips, whereas flares only get wide from the knees down … though I am going off of American terms.

― sarahell, Monday, 12 January 2026 15:40 (three weeks ago)

"middle of nowhere"

maybe it's kinda weird that i'm miffed by this phrase that i've heard all my life and has been beaten to death but come on, places are interesting, be a little less basic.

― map, Monday, 12 January 2026 22:10 (three weeks ago)

easy for you to say where things are, MAP

― kinder, Monday, 12 January 2026 22:46 (three weeks ago)

lol

― map, Monday, 12 January 2026 22:51 (three weeks ago)

you could have said that a little KINDER

― map, Monday, 12 January 2026 22:51 (three weeks ago)

Can't Dusty win you over?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGW1mwWvgTo

― Wilfried Nuance (Tom D.), Monday, 12 January 2026 23:19 (three weeks ago)

two weeks pass...

North star

― ledge, Friday, 30 January 2026 14:26 (one week ago)

bespoke

― Paul Ponzi, Friday, 30 January 2026 22:33 (one week ago)

"one true North"

― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Friday, 30 January 2026 22:43 (one week ago)

In orbit otm … I think we inhabit the same jargonverse

― sarahell, Friday, 30 January 2026 22:56 (one week ago)

I was in a meeting recently where that kept coming up, and it reminded me of Game of Thrones “king in the north” and then I went back and forth thinking about Kit’s wooden acting and whether they explained the breeding practices of giants, and that was as productive as the meeting was had I been more attentive.

― sarahell, Friday, 30 January 2026 22:59 (one week ago)

bespoke

This was picked up at my work this past year to denote custom tech solutions, which is bad for a number of reasons, not least of which is the fact that I'm fairly certain a large number of people who have had to adopt it do not know what it means.

― whimsical skeedaddler (Moodles), Friday, 30 January 2026 23:08 (one week ago)

The person who keeps saying it to me could not use a compass to find north if it was painted on.

― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Saturday, 31 January 2026 00:38 (one week ago)

I've grown averse to "we're underreacting", not because I find it to be untrue. But lately every time I've seen it used, that was the totality of the message - so it often comes across as "why isn't anybody doing anything?", right after we've seen evidence of how many people are risking their own lives to do something.

It would have more power used as a preample for a call to action or suggestions for how to engage, or sharing the positive gains from fighting back as a means of encouraging more, but everyone i know who says it just leaves it at that.

― Bertolt Blecch (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 3 February 2026 20:53 (five days ago)

"we're underreacting" - with no metrics how does one know

― Minty Gum (Latham Green), Tuesday, 3 February 2026 20:54 (five days ago)

why isn't anybody doing anything

Right if there is _any_ possible silver lining to Minneapolis, it may include a diminution in talking points such as:

- why aren't Americans in the streets protesting

- Americans are too lazy/comfortable; they won't put their lives on the line for their principles

- people are insufficiently outraged

― calmer chameleon (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 3 February 2026 23:20 (five days ago)

Watching Minneapolis has changed my understanding of what community still can do in today’s world.

― madame defarge supporters club (Hunt3r), Wednesday, 4 February 2026 00:06 (four days ago)

Otm

― Bertolt Blecch (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 4 February 2026 03:06 (four days ago)

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