Phrases That Annoy

Equality 7-2521 wrote: That reminds me. The term "Man Cave" is horrible.

Meh. I rather dislike the conditions that allow for it to arise. I've heard of people getting married and then a little tiny section of the house where the man can do what he wants while the rest of the house is pocked with flowers and crap with empty rooms for "family" that never visits.

I have a co-worker who never says "brand new".  Instead he says "brandy new".  So far he's the only person I've ever heard say it.

Course he also says "okely dokely" like he's Ned Flanders.

Hahaha James, OK is a word and it has a meaning, you are ridiculous. I will accept that Ok is technically incorrect, but that's such an incredibly tiny distinction you would have to be insane to care about it in anything but the most rigidly formal setting. 
 

Jim Garten wrote: Another one which gets me is politicians' use of the word 'transparency' to denote policies which are 100% clear for all to see. By its nature, 'transparent' means (to all intents & purposes) invisible - ie if a government policy is transparent, nobody could see it... maybe that's what they truly mean

Would you prefer translucent? That's not as catchy. ;-) I think the implication is that the government is transparent, so you can see the policies as they are working, not that the policy itself is invisible.

It certainly is not due to the fact that it is an American word of origin, that it bothers me, Peter.  I think what annoys me the most is that it's a relatively modern word and is the most spoken word in the English language.  Plus the etymology of Okay is rather shaky.  Nobody is quite sure of the word's origin.  Due to those various etymologies, it is thus not clear exactly what the word means.  Therefore, I shall stick with more "archaic" words, such as "all right", "fine", "good" and "yes".

If I express that I am "Okay", it could mean numerous things.  I could be "fine", I could be "all right", I could be "good" or I could even be "poor", "slightly unwell" and other forms of "average".  It's ambiguous.

If somebody ask me to do something, I could respond with "Okay".  That gives the word yet another meaning of "yes" or "will do".

Peter, I've read your complaints about modern teenager speak.  This is much like a 19th Century equivalent (only not expressed solely by teenagers).  It's akin to an Internet Meme of today in my opinion.

Okay is a word.

O.K. is not a word.

Peter wrote:   Around here, people often think the plural of "you" is "yous." They also think "frigging" is a polite, acceptable version of f***ing -- it's not. (I heard a politician say it on national radio the other day, as in "the frigging economy.") It means EXACTLY the same thing, folks -- look it up!

Dean wrote: Peter wrote:   Around here, people often think the plural of "you" is "yous." They also think "frigging" is a polite, acceptable version of f***ing -- it's not. (I heard a politician say it on national radio the other day, as in "the frigging economy.") It means EXACTLY the same thing, folks -- look it up! Originally Friggers were small pieces of nonsense glass made by glass blowers to demonstrate their skill, that act of making them being Frigging (frigging about, frigging around)   Frigging as an euphemism for f*cking is fairly modern, as a slang term in the old days I believe it only meant (female) masturbation.   I think it's like "Feck" - a word that over the past ten years or so has become "polite" substitute for f*ck - that too will eventually lose its original meaning (feck = worth, value, amount) through lack of use - it only really survives in English now as feckless (worthless)

ExittheLemming wrote: Dean wrote: I think it's like "Feck" - a word that over the past ten years or so has become "polite" substitute for f*ck - that too will eventually lose its original meaning (feck = worth, value, amount) through lack of use - it only really survives in English now as feckless (worthless) Feckless means 'clueless' or 'aimless' or 'irresponsible' methinks (sorry to be pedantic but you are ENGLISH ) and it's derived from Scots feck = effect

Would that be Scottish English, Scottish Gaelic or Lowland Scots?

^ I think all those meaning apply.

I always say fine, thank you.  It's just a vocal greeting.  No need to tell them how bad things are really going in my life.  It's like that whole "seasons greetings" brouhaha.  

TV chefs, you guess the chef:
How good it that?
Tadfjklkljlakfjkld^&**%$&^% you donkey!


Edited by Slartibartfast - November 20 2010 at 15:24