It might be written or spoken, but we can guarantee that you will have a pet-hate list of words or phrases that really get on your nerves. You’ll spot them in an email, on social media, in a text or hear them spoken and your teeth will immediately go on edge.
At this moment in time, we can think of quite a few. Cringe! Basically, there are quite a few that are like, creeping into our everyday language and with a bit of blue-sky thinking, we’ve some up with a list of clichés and irritating jargon that are beyond the pale.
Thanks in advance …
Usually said by someone who has given us a pretty shitty job to do and they can’t be arsed to do it themselves.
So …
Totally acceptable in our brand name, obvously. So annoying when it is used to start every bloody sentence.
I did a thing …
It just makes us cringe when a person uses this phrase to make an announcement.
Cheeky
Labelling something cheeky doesn’t make it less or more OK than it was. A cheeky biscuit or cheeky glass of wine is still a biscuit or glass of wine.
Actually
If you end a sentence with this word you are either 8 years old or have no clue what you are talking about.
Do you see what I’m saying?
No. I can’t. I can hear your voice, but I can’t see it.
Connect the dots
Always makes us think of children joining dots to complete a picture. But we are not children.
At the end of the day …
Have you noticed that this gem is used at any part of the day, not at the end?
Hun
Dreadful. Just dreadful. A misspelled and extremely fake term of endearment. Stop it. Now.
Obvs and Obviously
It wasn’t though, was it. If you had to explain it to someone, then it clearly wasn’t obvious at all.
‘Could of’ and ‘Should of’
No. It’s could’ve and should’ve which are short for ‘could have’ and ‘should have’. Spelling error, right there.
Literally
The word you are most likely looking for is ‘figuratively’. For example, ‘she literally died laughing’ is not true, because she didn’t. The phrase ‘she died laughing, figuratively speaking’ is accurate.
With all due respect …
When you hear this line prepare to be insulted or receive some unwanted advice. If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything.
Hack
You have discovered a new way of doing something. It’s a method, not a hack. More often than not, it’s not even a mind-blowing new invention and is often just a daft teenage ‘influencer’ discovering something that the grown ups have all known for years. Like cleaning hacks, kitchen hacks … yeah, yeah.
Journey
So bloody pretentious. Why is everything a bloody journey?
I’m blessed
This one just makes our skin crawl. Usually used by some smug bastard as a ‘humble-brag’.
The thing is …
The thing is, you don’t know what to say next, so are using this as a filler.
Most unique
If the word unique means ‘unlike anything else’, how can you have something that is more or less unique? It’s just unique.
4 AM in the morning …
Of course it’s in the bloody morning! AM means ‘before noon’. Saying AM or PM is enough, and if it isn’t then learn how to tell the bloody time!
Just sayin’ …
Yes. We heard you say it. Why are you telling us you just said it? Not useful at all.
YOLO
Used when someone is about to do something stupid or selfish. Also annoying because we don’t need yet another bloody abbreviation.
Depreciate in value
The word ‘depreciate’ means ‘to lessen in value’. By using this phrase you are saying ‘ to lessen in value in value’ which is a little bit silly. The same can be said for ‘join together’, ‘final outcome’ and ‘eliminate completely’. Pointless.
Totes
We are all too old to use text speak in everyday language. And ‘totally’ is just as bad.
In my opinion …
You are already sharing something with me so I know it’s your opinion
I tell it like it is …
No. You are rude, insensitive and bullish with no consideration for others before you open your big mouth. It’s nothing to be proud of. Same goes for ‘just being honest’ which is usually followed by a shrug of the shoulders, or ‘no offence’ which was meant to be offensive.
Let me be clear …
Are you trying to confuse me or are you getting cross with me?
Let’s circle back and see if you agreed that some of them were indeed hashtag dreadful. Did you spot any that are used on a regular basis by your friends, family, colleagues or even yourself? Which ones have we missed that annoy you? Add them to the comments. Maybe it’s time to close the loop and banish these words and phrases. Just sayin‘.
SJB
So Just Be 