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'Reaching out '

(65 Posts)
Aveline Wed 27-Aug-25 11:02:54

Since when did the oleaginous 'reaching out' become a substitute for just plain 'contacting' or even just emailing?
I find it nauseating and instantly take against anyone who thanks me for 'reaching out'. Pah. Modern life.

silverlining48 Sat 30-Aug-25 11:24:07

How about ‘cute’ used randomly even for things not normally regarded as particularly cute.
An example heard recently, a cute tree? 🌳 who would call a regular big old tree cute. 🥰 ?

NanKate Sat 30-Aug-25 08:04:29

It’s very/so unique 😩

NanaBabs1 Sat 30-Aug-25 07:53:32

How about ‘it’s so fun’ instead of ‘it’s such fun’ - a handy abbreviation of ‘so much’. It’s everywhere now. 😖

Scribbles Fri 29-Aug-25 17:27:32

I will try not to reach out to you, Aveline, but if I do make contact and ask your advice, please, please don't "signpost" me to a solution!

bibibetti Fri 29-Aug-25 17:13:32

How about :I am good thanks ; when you offer something

HelterSkelter1 Fri 29-Aug-25 07:03:47

I don't mind "bathroom"although I have a long list of things I don't like.
Asking for directions to the Ladies often results in a quizzical look. So many are now unisex. Even asking for the toilets has resulted in a blank stare. I shall ask for the bathroom next time I need to ask and see what the result is.

valdavi Thu 28-Aug-25 21:01:21

silverlining48

I don’t like the terms grab yourself something, we used to get told it’s rude to grab

Also dislike can I get instead of can I have or I would like.
I always want to say yes it’s in the kitchen on a shelf by the door…or something similar.

These are Americanisms which we keep picking up.
Well I don’t actually, but the youngsters do. I have found myself correcting my gc but it has little effect.

At least we don’t say bathrooms… not yet anyway.

Both my sons ask for the "bathroom" when in cafe / restaurant etc. It embarrasses me.

Musicgirl Thu 28-Aug-25 17:28:16

I'm afraid I have come across some younger people talking about bathrooms and gotten is becoming regrettably common on MN. American words are fine in the USA as long as they stay there - sorry, American G'netters. As for reaching out - what is wrong with the old-fashioned phrase getting in touch? I also dislike the turning of verbs into nouns. As for Enjoy, you guys when addressing a group of mature ladies....

ClicketyClick Thu 28-Aug-25 17:22:29

Drives me nuts when DH introduces me as his other half. Err no, I don't remember being born a Siamese twin.

Allsorts Thu 28-Aug-25 17:20:21

Have not had anyone reaching out but someone did touch base during their busy schedule.

Applegran Thu 28-Aug-25 17:17:42

I do see that lots of people do not like these new phases - but personally I just think language has always changed and will change again. The phrases you don't like may well disappear as time goes by - but I realise that they will still annoy you till that happens! I wish you well (and hope you are ok with this phrase!) smile

WithNobsOnIt Thu 28-Aug-25 17:13:48

I also do not like reaching out especially when my Trainee Solicitor used it. I thought that using the word contact, would have been a lot more professional.

Reminds me of that cheesy awful song.
Reach out and touch somebody's hand. Make this world a better place. Yuk!

Even the BBC now use these words, phrases and expressions on a daily basis!

We have always adopted so called Americanisms in this country. And language and expressions change daily. But now with the Internet and mobile phones. It seem to do it
at a rate of knots.

You can't legislate for the words people use and the way they use them. l

But l think language is very telling about people's attention span. lack of vocabulary, ;imagination and general lack of comprehension and the ability to be precise and discerning.

This is not a class thing by the way.

Sorry for the punctuation but l have
.stiffness and shaking in my hands due to arthritis.

My pet hates are

Pretty
Awesome
So
Yeah
Epic
The best version of my self
At the top of the show
Heads up.

Going now, but l hope someone posts a thread on pronunciation and and the massive loss of consonants which is now common place and widespread in England.
⚰️🔮⏳👾📙

Paperbackwriter Thu 28-Aug-25 17:06:21

Someone else might already have said this but my feeling is that unless you are a member of the Four Tops, the term 'reach out' is not to be used.

mokryna Thu 28-Aug-25 17:00:53

When youngest DD, who lives in the UK, complained to me that her DSi, who has lived most of her life in France, hadn’t ‘reached out’ to her, I replied that I didn’t see any reason for her to do so as she had no problems. It was of course the wrong thing to say, I had to point out the difference between what we used to say, ‘hadn’t been in contact’ and her ‘reaching out’.

whywhywhy Thu 28-Aug-25 16:37:42

I hate the phrase “I don’t blame you”

missdeke Thu 28-Aug-25 16:20:39

Alison333

Oreo

BlueBelle

And husbands who say WE are pregnant…. No you are not pregnant you made the partner pregnant but YOU yourself are NOT pregnant

Do some men really say this? How idiotic.

Unfortunately, yes. One of my sons informed me that 'we' were pregnant about 9 years ago. I was astonished, but we were at some special occasion and I managed to control myself....!!

I saw a couple of gay lads on the tv this morning, they are going through the surrogate route to have a child. All fine until one of them said 'we were pregnant' and how did that happen I wondered.

Alison333 Thu 28-Aug-25 16:16:47

Oreo

BlueBelle

And husbands who say WE are pregnant…. No you are not pregnant you made the partner pregnant but YOU yourself are NOT pregnant

Do some men really say this? How idiotic.

Unfortunately, yes. One of my sons informed me that 'we' were pregnant about 9 years ago. I was astonished, but we were at some special occasion and I managed to control myself....!!

Berd Thu 28-Aug-25 15:50:05

I find people keep saying ‘bear with’ when they want me to wait. What’s wrong with ‘bear with me’ - can’t they cope with more than two words at a time?

Nightsky2 Thu 28-Aug-25 15:07:57

eddiecat78

Absolutely hate it especially when we are thanked for reaching out and told they will be in touch shortly (and then don't).
Also hate "thankyou for sharing that"

Hiya, thank you for reaching out and sharing that with me. I’ll get back to you soon. Have a nice day. 😀

vegansrock Thu 28-Aug-25 15:03:15

And no one can just think about something they have to “process” it.

Taunton Thu 28-Aug-25 14:56:50

I detest it too!

knspol Thu 28-Aug-25 14:52:46

merlotgran

For the avoidance of doubt.

Love this!

missdeke Thu 28-Aug-25 14:49:31

'Paying back' is my bugbear, especially if they don't say why they are paying back. And hearing children say it is mostly ridiculous, what on earth would a child need to 'pay back'.

LisaAN Thu 28-Aug-25 14:46:12

I‘m actually guilty of most of the above grin

shoppinggirl Thu 28-Aug-25 14:41:54

I was watching the Proms on TV when the season first started and heard one of the presenters refer to the orchestra as "the band". The shock made me nearly choke!