What do you think of Oxford's top ten list of most irritating phrases?

In order of irritation, from most irritating to least:

10 – It’s not rocket science
3 – I personally
2 – Fairly unique
8 – Shouldn’t of
4 – At this moment in time
5 – With all due respect
1 – At the end of the day
9 – 24/7
7 – It’s a nightmare
6 – Absolutely

Although I have to admit that it’s not really the phrase, it’s the person that’s saying it. “It’s not rocket science” coming from a good friend instead of such and such a moron is totally different.

I think “It’s a nightmare” would have to cover all the other completely over the top and overused statements used when someone is trying to convince you something really is as bad as they say it is.

“I was dying”
“worst <headache, week, breakup, date> ever!!”
“horrible horrible horrible” (more horribles = worse)

And I’m really surprised “oh my god” and all it’s fine texty variants didn’t make the list…

I am guilty of using some of those phrases and I am not sure that they are so bad. I use “fairly unique” to refer to something that is different in some ways but not others. I use “I personally” to emphasize that this is something that I do or believe, but that I can understand if others feel differently. I am also not sure about the word “absolutely.”

May I add “Absolutely” I hear it so much these days it gives me a migraine.

“Shouldn’t of” really gets me just because it is grammatically incorrect! The phrase is “shouldn’t have.” That’s on par with such mistakes as using “your” instead of “you’re,” “there” instead of “their” and the like. Oh, and when people say something like “you should have came” when it’s “you should have come” gets on my nerves more than anything.

From my personal experience, I think one is missing:
“I think you are overreacting”
That is the phrase that makes ma want to kill the person, and of course, I use it in some situations….

Well, the list leaves off my most hated overused saying:

“We’ve got to think outside the box!”

I’m personally tired of hearing how everything is “unprecidented”. Even though it’s a word rather than a phrase.

I personally think that the personally is important for emphasis. Personally says “This is my opinion. It’s OK if you don’t agree with it.” in a way that just saying I doesn’t quite get across.

My own list of annoying phrases:
– S’all good
– My bad
– True That
– Quoted for truth
– That’s how I roll
– Uh…What*ev*er
– I was trippin’ out
– That is off the hook (chain)

My favorite, however, is:
– It was ginormous!

“Shouldn’t of” and “I use to (do that, go there, think like that, etc)” are two of my biggest pet peeves. I, personally, do use “I, personally” though!

This one annoys me: “You don’t understand…” (Thanks for assuming that the reason I disagree with you is because I don’t understand what I’m talking about. Jerk.)

I knew a person who began correcting people who said “should of” and then began saying “sort have” and “kind have”.
Overreaching?

I’m intrigued by Sarah Palin’s use of the word “there”, as in, and I’m making this up,
“We need to drill offshore so we can reduce our dependency on foreign oil there.” What?

lol, cprev, i really like most of those phrases. hahaha
(i’ve never heard “quoted for truth” before in my life though, and i don’t think anyone likes “whatever”) Yeah hey, why isn’t “whatever” on the oxford list? that’s ten times as annoying (to me anyway) as any of those other phrases…

Hard to picture anyone at Oxford being socially in touch enough to declare for the masses, but ok.

I don’t use any of the ones they listed.

@LaChica: I’ll say something my students (or nephew) agrees with and they will respond, “Quoted for truth.” Similar to saying, “Amen!”

“No offense…”

There’s a difference between hearing “shouldn’t of” and seeing it written. When you hear it you can be hearing “shouldn’t’ve” instead. When you see it typed out as “shouldn’t of” it’s cringe-worthy.

“Absolutely” is only annoying when it’s used incorrectly. Like thew word “literally” is only annoying when it’s used incorrectly.

I’m more bothered by “it’s not rocket surgery”. It was funny when I first heard it. Now it’s almost on par with “pull my finger”. Not quite, but almost.

I’m with daloon on “think outside the box”. That’d have to be at or near the top of any list like this for me to take it seriously.

Add “perfect storm” to the rest.

I hate the phrase “don’t take it personally.” Well how should I take it then? Mechanically? I’m not a machine; I’m a person.

@daloon: YES. I refuse to take anyone who says that seriously.

I know that I use “I personally” and also “Absolutely” more than any of those other terms.
Thinking back, I don’t know how often I hear people using the term “Its not rocket science” though my last boss used it a lot- and usually when he didn’t know how to move forward.

Going along with “outside the box” I also dislike the term “out of pocket” except when used to describe finances. Whenever I hear someone say that they will be out of pocket for the weekend, I have to bite my tongue.

@fireside: I’ve never heard “out of pocket” used that way. What do they mean?

out of pocket
To leave your designated area or be out of range.

With all due respect, I personally think these phrases are fairly unique. At this moment in time, I’d absolutely use most of them very comfortably. We shouldn’t of [sic] criticized these words- it’s the users that are to blame. It’s not rocket science. If you use them 24/7, it’s a nightmare.

nice

well done.

@shadling: No offense, because I mean this in the nicest way possible. I personally feel that your fairly unique style of mockery, at the end of the day, absolutely might not be in your best interest. But, s’all good.

just joshin’! ooh, did I just find another one? :D

Ahaha! Yes, I believe you did. “Joshin’”...ugh…

” ‘sall good” is another for me, but I think that’s just because I know someone who used to use that one a lot.

If ya’ll would just get off the hook and think outside the box, then, with all due respect, at the end of the day, we’ll absolutely end up with a fairly unique solution to the problem. It’s not rocket science!

But at this moment in time, it’s a nighmare! So let’s get it done! that’s a new one, I think

I knew a guy who used the word “understood” a lot. “Understood, understood,” he’d say as you told him your life’s story. After spending a couple of hours with him, I’d say it too. It’s damn catchy.

@daloon: I think “git r dun” is more effective ;)

Maybe we should be writing for “The Office.” Whadya think?

Oh, “git r dun” is one. When did “redneck” become almost an affectionate term? I remember what rednecks were when I was a kid and that’s not what people from the “git r done” crowd seem to be talking about anymore.

daloon, I love The Office. It’d be fun to give that a try, but I don’t know if there’s much room to improve on it.

One of my favorite lines was from Meridith. “In 12 month’s time I want to be 12 months sober. No, 11 months sober.”

But my all time favorite character is Creed. We need more Creed. :^>

that’s what SHE said.

A’ight. My health teacher used this all the time and I wanted to strangle him. It doesn’t take long to say “All right” so just say that!

@ poof – I agree because everyone says it all the time. On very rare occasions, someone has perfect comedic timing and uses it in a good way, but that barely ever happens.

More irritating than their list is their audacity to say (professionally) what is irritating.

I can’t stand it when people say these

“Actually…..”

and

“I think what you/he/she meant or means ......”

how pompous

I am so guilty of using “actually…”

It can be used in a non pompous way, like when you do it augustlan. But there are some who just use it to effect their superior command of a topic or the specifics of a topic.

The type of person who would clarify not because it would help the point but just because.

And the other phrase could just as easily be put “do you possibly mean”, or “is it possible you mean”.

@bri: When my oldest daughter M was 2 or 3 years old, a family friend was showing her their giant fish tank. She pointed out a fish by a rock and said, “See how he changes color to look like the rock?” M put her hands on her hips and replied very seriously, “Well, actually Aunt S, that’s called camaflouge, and they use it to hide from their prey.” Aunt S was floored! Pomposity runs in the family ; )

Hehehe. That was very good pomposity. hehe.

It’s not long enough if it doesn’t include “no problem.” Especially as a response to “thank you.”

Personal ‘favourites’

naturally
Obviously
Mention not
In a nutshell
Boils down to

Rocket science isn’t exactly brain surgery.

“I personally” hate the phrase “Don’t go there”

“Forget it.” Come on, you have tempted me enough. Spill the beans! Another wonderful cliche.

This is going to be a list to contend with, when commenting!

I find it hard to believe that this is the best list Oxford could come up with

They forgot to add:

As a matter of fact, consider this, omg, don’t go there, bro, if you don’t know, I’m not going to tell you, don’t tell me how to feel, if you really loved me, staycation (seriously hate this term), groupon, like and um.