7 (More) Annoying Words That Should Die A Horrible Death
Today’s post continues a loose series of unintelligible nonsense in which I dig into some annoying words and/or phrases that simply grate my nerves.
For a refresher, check out my first post on annoying words.
You may love these words and phrases and use them often. If so, I’ll apologize in advance. I might offend you. But I hope you’ll keep reading my blog. Because I like books, and you like books, so let’s like books together.
Besides, words are so silly. Who needs them anyway? So, at the very least, we should ban the following 7 words and phrases:
8) Rad
Example: “The graphics on the new Call of Duty game are so rad.”
Here’s how I know “rad” is an outdated word, not dissimilar to “stoked”: I watched a movie called Rad when I was around 9 years old. In 1986. About BMX bikers. The main character’s name was Cru—which sounds like someone from The Real World on MTV. So, in sum, you can use the word “rad” if you’re a professional BMX biker named Cru, or if you’re on The Real World. Otherwise, leave it.
9) Beast Mode
Example: “Lebron James is total beast mode tonight.”
Yeah, and you know who’s not in beast mode tonight? You. For using the term “beast mode.” Look, I get it. I play video games, too. Someone in “beast mode” is in the zone. They’re unstoppable. They will run you over in Halo while making an assortment of “Yo’ Mama” jokes. But the problem with saying “beast mode” too often is that, at some point in life, you’re going to need a date.
10) That’s How I Roll.
Example: “I was banging seven-gram rocks and finishing them, because that’s how I roll.” –Actual quote from Charlie Sheen
I used to say “that’s how I roll.” It’s funny. It’s like, hey, I’m a middle-aged nerdy, English major and we both know I don’t “roll.” I don’t walk around with a posse. I don’t have a pimped-up car with expensive rims. I don’t drive with one arm on the wheel while leaning to the right—except when I’m cruising through downtown Nashville of course. I certainly don’t “bang seven-gram rocks,” like Charlie Sheen.
But when I say “That’s how I roll,” it’s ironic. So I say “Yeah, just put the kid down to bed. Wife’s asleep. It’s 8:30 and I’m on the porch reading Infinite Jest and sipping Cabernet. That’s how I roll.” Then you laugh. Ha ha. But that was maybe 5 years ago. And now “that’s how we roll” is a marketing slogan for Hulu and some random sandwich restaurant that I can’t remember the name of (true story). It’s basically the flannel shirt from the mid-90s.
11) Literally
Example: “Dad’s head literally exploded when Sara said she wrecked his car.”
Here’s the thing about “literally.” It’s not interchangeable with “figuratively” or “metaphorically.” So unless dad’s head actually exploded into 1,000 small brainy bits of goo all over the wall and Sara’s face, not unlike the dude who messed with the dynamite in Lost, then dad’s head didn’t “literally explode.” Even as a somewhat self-aware dorky English major, I don’t feel like I’m asking too much here. Don’t use literally unless you mean literally.
12) Deets/Totes/Whatevs/Delish
Example: “Give me the deets on that organic kale chip recipe! They are totes delish!”
This is just my opinion, and I don’t mean to sound too harsh, but I believe there may be a warm spot in hell for people who shorten words like this. For the uninformed: totes=totally; whatevs=whatever; delish=delicious. Besides choosing to sound like a complete tool, what is your rational for shortening totally to “totes?” Is that extra .00000034 seconds of verbal exercise too much for you? Are you a court reporter who speaks in shorthand?
13) Bro
Example: “Bro, the Nickelback album is sweet.”
I don’t know who invented “bro” as a replacement for the much more acceptable “dude,” but I think it might have been someone in a boy band. I just picture The Backstreet Boys on a tour bus, throwing a verbal barrage of “bros” around. “Bro this” and “bro that.” How does a man look at himself in the mirror at night, knowing that, over the course of the day, he addressed one his fellow men as “bro?”
14) Think outside the box.
Example: “You can’t come up with a new format for the TPS reports? Think outside the box!”
Now we’re venturing into corporate-speak. The irony of “think outside the box” is that it’s become such an oft-used cliché that someone needs to think outside the box to come up with a new phrase that means the same thing. I like Andy Stanley’s response when someone says to think outside the box—“what box?” Creativity doesn’t have boundaries. If you’re thinking “outside” the box, then you’re simply putting yourself in a new limited space. It’s different, but it’s still limited. Why am I getting all serious with this one?
I’ll stop now, before I get carried away.
Apparently, I have a lot of words and phrases that annoy me. Maybe I’m just an old fogey who is easily perturbed.
Or am I partially correct? Do you find any of these words and phrases grating?
(Note: No post on Monday. If you’re in the U.S., have a great Memorial Day weekend!)
(Image: TerryJohnston/Flickr)
Bro, that’s a rad post!
I am introduced to some new words through this post ..Oh I definitely agree with “literally” .:)
Uhhhhh, I’m gonna need you to come in on Saaaaturdayyyyy, if you cant think outside the box and get those TPS reports completed……. JUST SAYIN’
Have you seen my stapler?
I literally agree with you. I tend to be a literal person so I know how this should be used. People who use it in any other fashion are not telling the truth.
People who use the phrase “think outside the box” can’t find a way out of it themselves. Again, as a somewhat literal person, I usually have to be told where the box is, as well as who made it. As for abreviations – it always happened imho. A wee bit of a mixed reply there, but it leans more towords you than against.
Thought provoking, thank you.
Yhs,
timberbookshelves
12) Deets/Totes/Whatevs/Delish
Oh yes this is good. To use another incredibly irritating word/mistake, “I’m liking” that ” warm spot in hell” you’re imagining.
Bro, I totes agree! This post is rad, and I’m stoke that you had a reference to Office Space in it! Way to think outside the box. LOL
LOVED it!
Love some Office Space!
* literally stoked (OMG, I’m dying…
)
It kind of sounds more like you find an argument with current pop culture than actual words/phrases.
Good list. May I humbly also suggest ‘sammy’. I that sammy looks totes delish. What are you, five?
What does that even mean? Sandwich?
Yes it does. I blame Rachael Ray.
Awesome post. I once heard someone, trying to show sympathy, say, “We are literally holding your hearts in our hands.” Ew.
Nasty.
I agree with all of these. What really sucks about “literally” is that I find myself having to use it more than I used to. For example, people use “lol” or some variant of it (I can’t stand text speak) so frequently now…and I KNOW they aren’t really laughing every time they use it…that when something really does make me laugh out loud, I feel the need to let the person who made me laugh know that I quite literally laughed out loud. So I’m using literally more and more often for that (and other reasons) *because* so many people use it incorrectly. It sucks. Haha!
Literally is a weird one because it’s okay to use it if you use it correctly. Which you do!
I once had a date with a hot girl but she over-used “literally” so much and so wrongly, that I walked off.
Agree, Agree, Agree. Literally!
‘surreal’ often falls into the same misused category as literally.
This post was (15) swag.
No you are absolutely not being a miserable old xxxxx in highlighting these examples of meaningless phrases and expressions. I come up against it every day in the corporate world. They are among the main culprits but those in education, social services and advertising are not squeaky clean either. For the record my list of hated expressions are:
1. Leverage. ‘use’ as a verb apparently doesn’t sound important enough for some people
2. Going forward: as if business leaders ever admit that their company is going backwards
3. Blue Ocean thinking: yes aren’t you clever, you managed to read a whole book. But did you have to show off about it as well. Anyway, oceans are not always blue….
4. Pre-book – bring back the day when all I had to do was reserve a book due to be published, or simply book a ticket for an upcoming play. Now it seems I have to pre-book or pre-reserve so does that mean there is a second stage where I buy also or in pre-booking have I actually bought something?
5. Finally: as in ‘he finally completed the marathon….’ or my favourite ‘ he finally died’. As if there is some state of death that isn’t complete somehow
Those usages of “finally” are correct, though. “Finally” brings in the connotation of “after much time or effort.”
Great post and they’re all largely meaningless. You could also add ‘For myself,personally I..’ or ‘the bottom line is…’ But in the UK, my all time pet peeve is ‘gobsmacked’ – as in ‘I couldn’t believe he jumped off a cliff – I was totally gobsmacked’. I tell no lie, it really is in common use.
My teenage son says “meh”, I mean, like, totally all the time.
Meh.
My high school students made a video making fun of the word “bro.” It was awesome. They talked about bromance, hanging on the brotanic, having a broship, drinking brojuice. Bro is so overused – but I loved the Seinfeld episode about the bro or manseire. Lol!
That post was like, totally sublime, man. No really–I get it. Rad-so uncool, the beast thing I’d howl at if someone said to me, bro that went out when technology became an appendage (far closer than bro)remember also on Seinfeld (so yuck factor now also) Kramer and who’s his name’s father invented the “bro” or manzere? You know the only one I’m guilty of saying recently is “cause that’s how I roll asshole,” I believe I was in therapy letting out the boiling mad anger I accrued during the past two weeks. I love to make fun of the folks other people still worship, so I apply a really stupid cliche to their existence and laugh my butt off.
I’m so glad to be released from the box I wasn’t thinking outside of, like literally, dude.
bro is such an annoying word! ugh! lol.
Hyperbole is the ruin of the young generation. As if to be heard more and get attention and stand out of all the noise that surrounds everything today we have to exaggerate anything we say, for example using “literally” when what we are saying is obviously not literal. Good post by the way!
P.S. My nickname is totally unrelated to the issue or to your posts!
Reblogged this on Inkings and Inklings.
Two peoples divided by a common language. I literally had not heard of 5 of these. Whether it’s because I’m English, or because I don’t think outside the box, I don’t know. But we have plenty of our own, and A.K Andrew is right. ‘Gobsmacked’ is one of them
Spot on with 12th.. All of those are beyond annoying including,people shreiking SMS lingo.Yep shreiking-not cool especially an abbrevation.
Loved your post.
One word that is taking India by storm is “ANYWAYS.” (with a ‘S’)
She fell in the ditch. ANYWAYS, she is fine now.
I missed the last Hirtik movie. ANYWAYS I am not going to miss his next.
She lied. ANYWAYS I forgave her.