OT: Exceptionally Bad Phrases

[Ash]

Are there certain phrases you hear people say that just irritate the hell out of you?
Phrases so bad, you wish they could be un-invented?

I absolutely despise the phrase, "Step up to the plate."  As in, "You need to step up to the plate and take responsibility."

I think anyone who uses the phrase, "Raise the bar" should have to stand in the corner for an hour.

But worst of all...the phrase that should be abolished forever is, "Think outside the box."  
AARRRGH!!!!

What other bad phrases can you think of?



Post Edited (11-01-05 01:28)

[Fearless Freep]

None, especially not any of those.

Good grief, life is too short to get upset over people using idiomatic catch phrases, especialy when they are used to convey an intention that would otherside take much more explanation

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

Dude,
Why don't you tells us how you REALLY feel.



Ok, My soul was just blackened that little bit by writing this.  those TV quips drive me nuts,
 Here are my not-so phrases...

My company is a big one for slogan that are totally meaningless.   For a cost-cutting plan they instituted Project Bullet Train.  They are always trying to have catchy yet meaningless slogan-y names for stuff.  

Also I HATE i-anything.  It was OK for iPod and iMac... but its just getting stupid nowadays.  

-Ed

[Jim H]

"Good grief, life is too short to get upset over people using idiomatic catch phrases, especialy when they are used to convey an intention that would otherside take much more explanatio"

People (well, myself anyway) don't get that mad.  Some of us just like to feign extreme anger over minor annoyances.  

That said, it irks me a bit when people say "I got bit by a bee" or "That snake stung me".

[dean]

Jim H wrote:


> That said, it irks me a bit when people say "I got bit by a
> bee" or "That snake stung me".

Yeah, those people suck, but then again, depending on the snake 'sting' they might not be around for too much longer, so the problem usually solves itself I guess...

My girlfriend is always getting frustrated at silly things I say, so I guess I'm the annoying one, but something that always makes me laugh is when people come into my work, buy some stuff and I say 'have a good day' or 'see ya later' or what have you, and they look at me and just say 'no thanks I don't need one' assuming that I asked whether they wanted a bag for their goods!  It's just so silly...

That being said, I haven't really come across people saying stuff like 'Think outside of the box' in a serious tone before: anyone would just make too much fun of them for it!

[LilCerberus]

Although I haven't heard it in a while, "WAZZUP!" tends to bug me. My usual reply is "Your Time" (although, most people tell me that my favorite phrase is "What?").

But it really bugs me when one of these WAZZUP! Guy wannabes tries to employ the same verbal technique when pronouncing my name.

'Sup wid 'at?

[Mofo Rising]

Yes, "Wazzup" is very annoying.  But I feel I must interject and say that when you're drunk it is very fun to say.  Of course, I wouldn't try it outside of a group of other very drunk people.

I'm a bit confused about taking the same tact with your name though.  I'm guessing your name is, I don't know, Philip?  Billy Crudup?  Suzup?  (I kid, I kid.)

Anyway, I would say that if you are using any advertising slogan as a punchline, you're probably not that funny.  But once again I must confess to having used that "I've got good news, though, I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance" as a joke.  In my defense, it was in relation to horrifically bad situations, which if I told you what they were you would find out I am much more callous than I let on.

I think the worst phrases are lame comedic punchlines.  A few years ago it was quoting Austin Powers.  Today, I would say that you should safely be able to punch anybody in the face who uses the phrase "Git-R-Done".  How's that for a punchline?

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE lines are fast losing any semblance of acceptable socialization.

I guess it all boils down to an observation I made several years ago: "You know what the great thing about quoting movies and television is?  You never have to think of you're own thoughts!"

[LilCerberus]

Mofo Rising wrote:

> Yes, "Wazzup" is very annoying.  But I feel I must interject
> and say that when you're drunk it is very fun to say.  Of
> course, I wouldn't try it outside of a group of other very
> drunk people.
>
'Lost my taste for it a while back, so maybe that's the problem. Still, these were forklift drivers on the clock. Eh, maybe that's why my old boss was always making ME do everything. (grumble, grumble)

> I'm a bit confused about taking the same tact with your name
> though.  I'm guessing your name is, I don't know, Philip?
> Billy Crudup?  Suzup?  (I kid, I kid.)
>
Well, I usually answer to the single syllable version of my first name, which has an "L" at the end, which for some reason makes it rather easy for someone to spend 25 or 30 seconds identifying me by a single syllable with their tongue hanging out as far as it'll go.

"I tell ya', life aint easy for a boy named Sue" - Johnny Cash

[odinn7]

GAH!!!! There are so many things that bother me but at the moment, the only one I can think of is: Can you hear me now?
There's assclowns that run around here where I work and they say it like as if it's the most witty thing in the world. Well, considering the intelligence level of the people in this building, perhaps it is to them.

[Scottie]

I have emotional trauma anytime I overhear a wild "git-r-done." It just reminds me like a bludgeon what part of the country I live in. Stupid southerners.

Napoleon Dynamite quotes are still viable. A tactfully drawn out "idiot" still hits its mark. However, there was a time between its release and today when everyone was doing it. And no matter the situation, you still got a dirty look. Most overdone was the whole "Vote For Pedro" campaign on EVERYBODY'S crap. Even girls were proudly wearing it on the sides of their purses. While its cool that one movie can pervade and entire generation, it's tiresome to come across it everywhere.
     What's funny abou that movie is that even my professors and my professor's friends find it hilarious. Guys and girls in the 30's and 40's are walking around exclaiming "idiot" or "GOSH." The movie was a phenomenal success any way you look at it.

[trekgeezer]

Like, you know the people who like, use the word like, like, every time they, like, say something. Like, it's really irritating, like, you know?

You know, that phrase you know, is like, you know , really irritating too, you know.

Oh yeah, I'm one of those stupid southerners, and I have noticed that every region in this country has their own unique version of the ignorant redneck.  Usually they're  morons who make blanket statements about entire regions or groups of people.

[Derf]

odinn7 wrote:

> GAH!!!! There are so many things that bother me but at the
> moment, the only one I can think of is: Can you hear me now?
> There's assclowns that run around here where I work and they
> say it like as if it's the most witty thing in the world. Well,
> considering the intelligence level of the people in this
> building, perhaps it is to them.
>

Yeah, well, the geniuses around here have modified "Can you hear me now?" to "Can you smell me now?" There's wackiness aplenty in these parts, let me tell you.

[Scottie]

Trek Geezer wrote:

"Oh yeah, I'm one of those stupid southerners, and I have noticed that every region in this country has their own unique version of the ignorant redneck. Usually they're morons who make blanket statements about entire regions or groups of people."

>
>
>

Ouch. Sorry to offend. I'm just getting tired of coherent statements and expressions being reduced to catch phrase sputterings. Maybe if "git-r-done" had a logical place in dialogue I wouldn't be complaining, but I think even "think outside the box" has been accurately quoted. I've only heard "git-r-done" used for a quick laugh or to show one has an understanding of redneck popular culture. The problem I have with the phrase and its usage is that when it's said, it means nothing. The statement is empty and the people who say it don't mean anything by it. What is "git-r-done" anyways; just another way to say 'let's do it.' It doesn't have the same implications as say, "think outside the box" which means to break the conventions of thought and to attempt an untried method of accomplishing a task. Gitting-r-done doesn't even hit the same level as "keep on trucking" which suggests persistence in life, or "walking the line" which implies being in  a dangerous position. It's utter baseness is revolting as a serious suggestion, because weren't we going to "git-r-done" anyways, whether you made the suggestion or not?

Sorry if I might have offended you, Trek, or anyone else in the south. I simply find the usage of the phrase to be exclusively southern.

[trekgeezer]

No offense really taken, just couldn't resist firing back.

I'm trying to recall where that phrase came from (gt'r done). Sounds like a Foxworthy phrase.

[Squeakmiester 3000]

"Turn that frown upside down!"

Look, it's not like I'm some whiny emo kid. Hell, I don't even get sad (what most people find depressing I just find funny. actually, when I make jokes is often when I hear this, making it even more annoying). Still, that phrase bugs the hell out of me, mostly due to the fact that it rhymes. I HATE rhyming. Yes, all of it. And yes, that does mean I hate almost all poetry. I'm sorry, but poetry is just a stupid form of "art". It's basically someone admitting that they don't have the intelligence to come up with a good story or idea to cover the length of even a short story.

Two bit penny hacks. Need to read a novel and learn what literature is. Rhyming isn't, and never has been clever. Same goes for puns.

Christ, i've probablly offended a bunch of people. Sorry about that. It's just that my dad was a poet, so i heard ALOT of poetry, and am very sick of it.



Post Edited (11-01-05 14:48)