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Pedants' corner

Phrases/sayings that drive me mad!

(275 Posts)
Lynne59 Wed 23-Jan-19 12:37:27

What phrases/sayings/words drive you mad? Mine are:

No problem
At the end of the day
Can't get my head around it
Showcasing (eg. she's showcasing her slim figure/dress/new style)

Minniethemoocher Thu 24-Jan-19 14:28:45

At this moment in time

At the get go

willa45 Thu 24-Jan-19 14:47:04

NanKate.......

I have yet to see the word 'sckedule' as a replacement for schedule! In the USA, it may be pronounced differently but most people here know how to spell it correctly.

Beammeupscottie Thu 24-Jan-19 14:47:30

See you later. From shop assistants, hairdressers; anyone in the street. Really?

Nanny27 Thu 24-Jan-19 15:13:36

willa I think Nankate was emphasising the pronunciation not the spelling.

Nanny27 Thu 24-Jan-19 15:14:44

I love this thread!
Can I add “babe” and “ hun”. Excruciating!

grannysyb Thu 24-Jan-19 15:17:49

Going forward, anytime soon and see you later.

Fabulous50s Thu 24-Jan-19 15:28:05

All of the above, but currently "we are Working Hard" really sets my teeth on edge.

pixie601 Thu 24-Jan-19 15:34:32

I was like !!!!! So I goes to him/her Haich instead of aitch
Makes me really annoyed.

Grammaretto Thu 24-Jan-19 15:41:37

I'm beginning to like these!!
I don't object to quite a few.
It's all just fashion innit
Here in Scotland we have our own overused expressions.

I'll be a wee minute. I'll give you a wee phone call.
What was your name again? When you've not said it in the first place.
I'll be 2 seconds when they mean a good 10 minutes.
So..... is the go-to favourite at the moment or is it minute.

Cherrytree59 Thu 24-Jan-19 15:47:39

How Woke are you?
Are you woke

Apparently means social awareness hmm

phantom12 Thu 24-Jan-19 15:54:42

The use of the word 'Robust'
'Can I get' instead of 'I would like' or 'Can I have'.
'I'm fine' when someone is asked if they would like something.
'See you later' when they don't in fact mean that.

rocketstop Thu 24-Jan-19 15:56:42

'On trend' arrgghhh it drives me mad, also hate if I get sent emails saying 'Edit' as in : 'New cardigan edit' Skirts edit' 'Winter home furnishing edit' I am silently screaming even typing them !!!

sharon103 Thu 24-Jan-19 15:59:54

Being called Hun, and people that keep saying like before or after a sentence. Movie instead of film. Cop instead of police. Grrr

4allweknow Thu 24-Jan-19 16:03:53

"I ain't done nuffin" is unbearable to hear.
And, "on a journey". Everyone seems to be on one no matter what they are doing or have done. Some should keep going on their journey and not bother to stop!

Phoebes Thu 24-Jan-19 16:10:24

Hubby, hubby, hubby, hubby! I also told my husband that, if he ever referred to me as "the wife", he would be my ex-husband!

Floradora9 Thu 24-Jan-19 16:13:38

The town is coming to terms with ( how do thery know ? )
Wrap up warm.
No probs .

Retired65 Thu 24-Jan-19 16:14:39

Anything with the word 'guys' in it; such as 'Hi Guys'.

magshard20 Thu 24-Jan-19 16:24:05

When usually younger people say in a shop, can I get, instead of can I have.
My son says it and it drives me mad !!

Tillybelle Thu 24-Jan-19 16:42:24

Lazigirl. I agree with so many of those mentioned but when I read yours I had to agree in print! I hate being ordered to "Enjoy!" my food or anything! It is so rude! I also hate "I'm good." Such ridiculously poor grammar.
My anathema, however, is "asap" spoken as "a-sap". It does not abbreviate "quickly," or "soon", and the people who say it usually do so in order to sound important. Somebody ended a letter to me asking for some information "asap". I was so insulted and revolted I could not bring myself to reply!

JoyBloggs Thu 24-Jan-19 16:45:08

'Grab' a coffee. Grrr...

Speldnan Thu 24-Jan-19 16:59:31

I agree with all of those mentioned but also people who say they are alright when you offer them a drink- I didn’t ask how they were!! And yes grab coffee/ coat / paper .. grr

MissAdventure Thu 24-Jan-19 17:04:52

To die for.

Anyone7 Thu 24-Jan-19 17:11:02

On the telephone when people say ‘bear with me’
It irritates me.

Riverdaffyd Thu 24-Jan-19 17:29:27

Would of, rather than would have.
Fail to see ... only a blind man fails to see!

Tillybelle Thu 24-Jan-19 17:34:11

scrumbleduck. Oh, thank you! I utterly detest the addition of "k" at the end of 'something', 'anything', and 'nothing'. I have actually seen it written as "some think"! With such poor pronunciation, spelling and grammar, it is hardly surprising that logical expression has been lost.
Need I say, I also hate the use of "Was you?" but have been berated for my dislike of it, being told it is a "regional dialect". Too bad, as far as I am concerned. It is not correct grammar.
I have to tell you all, I was at a conference in the early days of the creation of the National Curriculum in 1989. The conference was about English in the Curriculum for the Infants aged 5 to 7. The woman giving the talk was the
author of the report on English in the Infants'School, later referred to by a newspaper as "The Sharon and Tracey Report". From start to finish in her talk she left off the sound of H at the beginning of those words starting with H, she glottal stopped all the Ts in words and used many expressions which one could at best term as colloquialisms. I was so horrified I started to write down all that she said, spelling phonetically words in the way she spoke. My neighbour saw my notes and began to laugh. People wanted to know what was going on and in the break my neighbour explained. I was attacked for not understanding "English at the level of the children". I was a teacher at the time and was studying Psychology. I found the criticism ridiculous. If we say "vis is who you duz when you play crickih'" how will the 5 year old ever learn to spell? How can we ask the young child to learn phonics, sounds such as 'th' if the Teacher and child say 'v'?
I was near to tears for the dumbing down of our education system.