Current Phrases You Can't Stand - Page 5

BetterRed · 01-30-2020, 03:57 PM

Headline: "Seven people were mown down in Main Street when a car ploughed through a red light"

If I could, I'd strangle people who write/read such lines. Cars can't plough and people aren't hay.

BetterRed · 01-30-2020, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Oh, don't get me started on the public-employee-in-front-of-a-camera-speak switch that get thrown.

It's an Anglosphere prolix pandemic

DiapDealer · 01-30-2020, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

No.

"Near Miss" means being near someone referred to as "Miss".

But a "near miss" (which I think you meant) is not a hit. "Nearly a miss" would be a hit.

A "near miss" is a miss that is near. The adjective modifies the noun, it doesn't change its meaning.

A "near hit" would be a hit that was almost exactly at the intended point on the target.

I disagree. I believe "near miss" might want to mean a "miss that was near" (what a miss might be near to, I have no idea), but it fails miserably in conveying that. "Nearly collided," fits the bill much better in my opinion.

Besides, there was no stipulation that I be grammatically correct in my reasons for phrase-hating

DiapDealer · 01-30-2020, 04:32 PM

Sportscasters who insist on saying, "he left his feet." And you know there's a bunch of you.

hobnail · 01-30-2020, 07:20 PM

It's fun to go through their archives and remember overused words and phrases from the previous years:

https://www.lssu.edu/banished-words-...-list-archive/

The home page is also good fun.

FizzyWater · 01-30-2020, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjaybe

I also dislike "It is what it is." Usually said while trying to duck responsibility to ameliorate a situation.

I tend to see this is a way to commiserate over something that can't be changed. More acceptable in public than saying "well that just sucks!"

Or even a way to try to get someone to stop griping about something that can't be changed.

FizzyWater · 01-30-2020, 08:08 PM

One I hear alot is "he did his best". Generally, the context is in something having not gone well (maybe a little, maybe a lot).

I don't know anyone who does their best all the time. We do what we do. (That phrase might annoy people as much as "it is what it is"). It can't be changed. If we were stupid (or lazy or rude or whatever), we can only hope we'll learn from it.

GA Russell · 01-30-2020, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4691mls

When political candidates drop out of a race, why do they say they are "suspending" their campaign, rather than ending it? It's not like anybody who "suspends" ever actually reactivates his/her campaign.

I remember Ross Perot reactivating his campaign. It didn't go well, though.

pdurrant · 01-31-2020, 04:18 AM

nom nom nom. Need I say more?

DiapDealer · 01-31-2020, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I tend to see this is a way to commiserate over something that can't be changed. More acceptable in public than saying "well that just sucks!"

So how about, "That's just how it is" or "somethings can't be changed"? Or just about anything original which convey's commiseration (though I typically see it used way more RE shirking something, myself) better than that other silly sound-bite just being regurgitated ad nauseum. Use your words!

wodin · 01-31-2020, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

No.

"Near Miss" means being near someone referred to as "Miss".

But a "near miss" (which I think you meant) is not a hit. "Nearly a miss" would be a hit.

A "near miss" is a miss that is near. The adjective modifies the noun, it doesn't change its meaning.

A "near hit" would be a hit that was almost exactly at the intended point on the target.

Or it could be a transsexual woman who hasn't yet physically transitioned.

Pablo · 01-31-2020, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

"Near Miss"

Isn't that a Hit? "Near hit" would make much more sense to me.

In my job, a "Near miss" is a situation that was very close to becoming an accident.

ShellShock · 01-31-2020, 02:43 PM

I can’t abide “to reach out”. It is such a mealy-mouthed and long winded way of saying “to contact”. It implies some subtlety or distinction in the contact that is not warranted. So you did not phone someone, or email them, or just plain spoke them, no you “reached out”. Ugh.

It seems to have become much more common recently too.

arjaybe · 01-31-2020, 06:10 PM

If my actions contributed in any way to those unfortunate circumstances, then I apologize.

GA Russell · 01-31-2020, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjaybe

If my actions contributed in any way to those unfortunate circumstances, then I apologize.

and

I am sorry if anyone was offended.

01-30-2020, 03:57 PM	#61
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,733 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Headline: "Seven people were mown down in Main Street when a car ploughed through a red light" If I could, I'd strangle people who write/read such lines. Cars can't plough and people aren't hay. Last edited by BetterRed; 01-30-2020 at 04:00 PM.

01-30-2020, 08:08 PM	#67
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	One I hear alot is "he did his best". Generally, the context is in something having not gone well (maybe a little, maybe a lot). I don't know anyone who does their best all the time. We do what we do. (That phrase might annoy people as much as "it is what it is"). It can't be changed. If we were stupid (or lazy or rude or whatever), we can only hope we'll learn from it. Last edited by FizzyWater; 01-30-2020 at 08:16 PM.

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01-30-2020, 04:32 PM	#64
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,574 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Sportscasters who insist on saying, "he left his feet." And you know there's a bunch of you.

01-30-2020, 07:20 PM	#65
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,587 Karma: 14328510 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	It's fun to go through their archives and remember overused words and phrases from the previous years: https://www.lssu.edu/banished-words-...-list-archive/ The home page is also good fun.

01-31-2020, 04:18 AM	#69
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,964 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	nom nom nom. Need I say more?

01-31-2020, 02:43 PM	#73
ShellShock Wizard Posts: 1,178 Karma: 2431850 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: IPad Mini 2 Retina	I can’t abide “to reach out”. It is such a mealy-mouthed and long winded way of saying “to contact”. It implies some subtlety or distinction in the contact that is not warranted. So you did not phone someone, or email them, or just plain spoke them, no you “reached out”. Ugh. It seems to have become much more common recently too.

01-31-2020, 06:10 PM	#74
arjaybe Wizard Posts: 1,069 Karma: 12500000 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Okanagan Device: Sony PRS-650, Kobo Clara	If my actions contributed in any way to those unfortunate circumstances, then I apologize.

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