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

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"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)

"The plane will be taking off momentarily"

"AARRGGHHH!!! I certainly hope it will be taking off longer than that - we're flying to London!"

― Win A Lie-Down, Mrs. Davies (kate), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:47 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 12504 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I prefer to Martinize things

― Scott Baiowulf (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 22 June 2026 23:46 (two weeks ago)

Are you taking more than an hour? Bc martinizing only takes one hour if memory serves!

― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Tuesday, 23 June 2026 02:21 (one week ago)

I'm being a cranky old man about the current use of the word "plug" to refer to a drug dealer. I mean, it makes sense: connection, hook-up, plug. I get it. To me though, it just feels like the dumbest and ugliest of those words.

― peace, man, Wednesday, 24 June 2026 12:13 (one week ago)

De La Soul definition of plug is more fun

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Wednesday, 24 June 2026 15:27 (one week ago)

They were known to deal dialect drugs tbf

― Cattedrale metropolitana di Santa Maria de Episcopio, Wednesday, 24 June 2026 16:46 (one week ago)

Foodways: decolonize your kitchen by learning about indigenous foodways

I have already complained about the redundancy of “pathways”
I have accepted “colorways”

― sarahell, Wednesday, 24 June 2026 18:40 (one week ago)

that isn't the most annoying part of that sentence to me

― rob, Wednesday, 24 June 2026 18:44 (one week ago)

not a phrase, but I can no longer take gifs of people pointing upward with the word "THIS" on them.

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Saturday, 27 June 2026 00:23 (one week ago)

I just saw "colorways" two days ago and was so confused. I hate it.

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Saturday, 27 June 2026 00:24 (one week ago)

some fuck did “broke contain” like 3x in an interview and now i gotta send drones to wipe him out

where do i hire drones

― just what is it that you think the "ilxor algorithm" directs? (Hunt3r), Saturday, 27 June 2026 01:59 (one week ago)

What does that mean?

― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Saturday, 27 June 2026 04:14 (one week ago)

Urban Dictionary: Broke Containment https://share.google/D4ssJlQXfzmtLRBuT

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Saturday, 27 June 2026 04:32 (one week ago)

this was def only “contain” lol. similar feel to the manner by which “compute” is nounified now.

i overreacted i suppose

― just what is it that you think the "ilxor algorithm" directs? (Hunt3r), Saturday, 27 June 2026 08:16 (one week ago)

just heard 'adult beverage' and it still fucking sucks, don't say it

― Andy the Grasshopper, Monday, 29 June 2026 21:32 (one week ago)

how about “daddy/mommy juice”?

― Illegal Algae (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 29 June 2026 21:53 (one week ago)

I'll reach for a handgun

― Andy the Grasshopper, Monday, 29 June 2026 21:54 (one week ago)

🤯🤯🤯

― einstürzende louboutin (suzy), Monday, 29 June 2026 21:55 (one week ago)

okay maybe not a firearm but I will furrow my brow

― Andy the Grasshopper, Monday, 29 June 2026 22:00 (one week ago)

That's when I reach for my thesaurus

― Cattedrale metropolitana di Santa Maria de Episcopio, Monday, 29 June 2026 22:24 (one week ago)

This a work-specific one but using the verb "ship" to mean deploying changes to an online platform. Ie "Looks good. Ship it." Shuttttt uuuuup.

― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Monday, 29 June 2026 22:26 (one week ago)

Have "take a knee" and "bend the knee" been common set phrases forever (just not familiar to me)? Or have they been on the rise in the last few years?

FWIW I don't think I heard the first until BLM, nor the second until Game of Thrones. Now both seem to be widespread.

― Scott Baiowulf (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 29 June 2026 23:08 (one week ago)

Just saw "break contain" in the wild (on Bluesky)

― jaymc, Monday, 29 June 2026 23:42 (one week ago)

flopping to mean diving

― Wichita Referee's Assistant (darraghmac), Monday, 29 June 2026 23:47 (one week ago)

YMP: There are a few definitions of "take a knee."

But it's been used in sports (especially football) contexts for over 50 years to mean to kneel in a group setting (as for a pep talk) or simply to take a rest: https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=34671

(I remember a guy in my college improv group in the '90s playing a coach character, which he would establish by starting a scene with "Fellas, take a knee.")

― jaymc, Monday, 29 June 2026 23:58 (one week ago)

Bend the knee has been around for a very long time, as a gesture of fealty. Taking a knee is related to American football, usually where the outcome of the game is certain, and neither team is contesting it any more, but some time has to be run off the game clock for the game to end officially. The connotation is "no point in further effort, this is over".

― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Tuesday, 30 June 2026 00:03 (six days ago)

"If you knew anything about <topic>, you'd know...."

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 2 July 2026 16:17 (four days ago)

And its cousin "Tell me you don't know anything about ___ without telling me" etc

― Scott Baiowulf (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 2 July 2026 16:37 (four days ago)

Omg yes

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 2 July 2026 16:43 (four days ago)

absolutely true sentiments. which shall never be spoken imo.

instead you spend 10% of your conscious life trying gently to soak your valuable listeners into this awareness.

― just what is it that you think the "ilxor algorithm" directs? (Hunt3r), Thursday, 2 July 2026 21:53 (four days ago)

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