Words, usages, and phrases that annoy the shit out of you...

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"TURN BACK YOU POXY FULE"

― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

what?

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 22:36 (twenty-two years ago)

That seems like it'd be right up your alley, TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 22:36 (twenty-two years ago)

My friends got into saying "P-word" as a jokingly PC way of saying "pussy" .. i.e. - "so-and-so is a p-word." I tried to explain that it's a real pussy move to be afraid of saying pussy and hypocritical of anyone then to call anyone else a p-word. I think it fell on deaf ears.

― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

my p hurts!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

If my dad wants to agree with something you've said, he says "This is true." It really, really gets me annoyed, for no other reason than overuse as far as I can think.

― caitlin (caitlin), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:21 (twenty-two years ago)

"Have a Cool Yule!" - I haven't actually heard this lately but because of the season I remembered this the other day and darkly mulled over its wankiness.

― Chriddof (Chriddof), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

using "Cool Yule" seems like it should automatically warrant a knife in the face.

― El Santo Claus (Kingfish), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

My father met Cheech Marin while drunk and got his autograph. My father is not the autograph type, but kept it because it is a small bar napkin that says "BE COOL FOOL, CHEECH." A man of few words, that Cheech.

― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I cant stand it when I hear someone say 'impactful' is that even a word? Impact is not a property, its created.

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

It must say something about ILX that this is the most repeated topic of all time:

Four Words: Use Other Words Please
"Use other words please."
Commonly used phrases that inexplicably bug you
Most irritating cliche/phrase/expression
"Taking Things to a Whole `Nother Level!"
words that annoy
Words that should earn the author a slap
PROVERBIAL and other tip offs to poor writing

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm getting really pissed of with american interpretations of 'Liberal', 'Libertarian' and 'Conservative'

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I also get upset about "N-Word" as well. If you're using it in a critical context, people will understand that. If you're not, then you should have the conviction to let people hear it if you want to say it.

― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I hate "touch base" and "metrosexual"

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

OH come on, let's touch bases.

― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, "metrosexual" is possible the lamest noun of the new millenia.

― andy, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Or is it an adjective? I don't know.

― andy, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

If my dad wants to agree with something you've said, he says "This is true." It really, really gets me annoyed, for no other reason than overuse as far as I can think.

-- caitlin (wpsal...) (webmail), December 23rd, 2003. (caitlin)

Oh yes, yes yes. I second that one. And the people who say it, say it over and over.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

But Ed, those words have different interpretations in almost every country in which they are used.

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I blame the consolidation of global political power and the diminution of class mobility on people who write in the passive voice.

I also have a horror of people who write prolifically in all caps.

― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"It must say something about ILX that this is the most repeated topic of all time..."

This is true.

But, this is a topic that should be dealt with routinely and harshly... the only way we can correct the language and suppress it's organic growth is by exposing and banning every new usage as it occurs... Isn't that what the French do?

― andy, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Least favorite (mis)usage ever - "ON accident..." it's BY accident you fucking moron!!

Also: 'fridge,' girls who refer to each other as 'girl,' proactive...i'll be back when i think of more....

― roger adultery, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I know, oops, but still it pisses me off.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:54 (twenty-two years ago)

The recurrence of this topic is always accompanied by the recurrence of complaint about its recurrence.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 01:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Space. All this crap about needing space. Fuck off, then.

― Roderick the Visigoth. (Jake Proudlock), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

All girls must now refer to one another as "guy"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

ok?

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Using "Sexy" in a business environment that has nothing to do with sex. As in "this is a very sexy proposal for our company". Well, I guess, if ripping people off is what turns you on.

― BrianB (BrianB), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 05:26 (twenty-two years ago)

'exact same'.

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"bird" instead of "girl" or "woman". AAAAAARGH.

― Melly E (Melly E), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

When people call each other 'babe' and the completely inappropriate use of the word 'literally'. Also can I add at this point, even if it may not be entirely relevant, the unjustifiable grammatical error in Rachael Stevens' song 'Sweet Dreams My LA Ex' : "accuse me of things I never done." And I've listened hard for "I've never done" to try and give her the benefit of the doubt but she doesn't say it.

― barbara wintergreen, Monday, 29 December 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"Begging the question" and "chomping at the bit." The first is almost always used incorrectly, and the second should be "champing," Goddamn it.

― Salmon Pink (Salmon Pink), Monday, 29 December 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

or "bits"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 29 December 2003 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

'any way shape or form'. Most heard in full-media-glare denials of misdeeds. Used by dodgy sportsmen who have been 'coached' by their minders for the occasion. It immediately strips the first dozen layers of credibility from whatever statement is being made.

'poetic justice'. Used by the lazy to describe all 'justice' the speaker approves of, instead of a particular type. The adjective is rendered meaningless.

Agree re 'bird' for woman/girl, and lament its threatened return. Stinks of 'I'm being un-PC, where's my medal?'. Also the C-person uses it, which kinda ends the argument.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 29 December 2003 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

optics

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

also photonic inplace of optic

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

"the....(insert superlative)...in pop."

― barbara wintergreen, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

To return to the top of the thread, I still after 20 odd years gag on 'outreach' as a VERB....

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:46 (twenty-two years ago)

the mightily empty "i could care less" variant on being unable to do the same

― ermes marana, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 01:47 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

People who pronounce the word "presentation" as "PRE-sentation".

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:29 (twenty years ago)

since i was reading some VICIOUS anti- rachael ray sentiment last night and i'm still feelin' the love: "E.V.O.O. EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL"

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:32 (twenty years ago)

"YUM-O"

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:33 (twenty years ago)

cf.

― gear (gear), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:34 (twenty years ago)

Also: 'fridge,'

Wait, huh? Fridge is the thing you put food in, whats wrong with it?

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 18 August 2005 08:01 (twenty years ago)

Saying "it impacted on me" instead of "it had an impact on me"... well that's annoying enough but, just recently, I've heard people say "it impacted me" - which surely would only make sense if the speaker was a molar?

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 09:10 (twenty years ago)

'fridge,'

I'm picturing him saying things such as "Would you like me to remove another beverage from the refrigerator for you, whilst we watch some association football?"

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:29 (twenty years ago)

bougie, instead of bourgeois. heard it four times last week.

― naus (Robert T), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

"Chav"

― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

bourgie?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:42 (twenty years ago)

"Yes, sir, I am bougie, I am bougie... etc."

― Win A Lie-Down, Mrs. Davies (kate), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:44 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 12612 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

seems to be all over Virginia

― Luigi No...No!!! (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 13 July 2026 23:05 (four days ago)

Our dogs, Sally and Pearl sleep in our bed. So I call them “bed rats.”

Sally is a pit bull mix and her most used nickname is Chonkey Donkey.

Pearl is a boston terrier and is sometimes called Granny Panda, but also Shit Biscuit.

― Cow_Art, Tuesday, 14 July 2026 01:01 (three days ago)

I call my dog "Bobo" at least as often as his given name, Howie

I also sometimes call him "muffinman" for some reason. it just makes sense.

― brimstead, Tuesday, 14 July 2026 04:04 (three days ago)

Chonkin' on Bobo

― stanes on the knees and blood on the jumber (Tom D.), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 06:34 (three days ago)

I have a ridiculous amount of nicknames for Widget:

Widdy
Wibs (a friendship group of whippets are ‘wibbles’)
Minou/Min-min
One-one
Sweetheart/Sweetie
Baba
Widiot

There are others, but life is short!

― einstürzende louboutin (suzy), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 07:05 (three days ago)

Picky bits is another development in the UK's fetishisation of bad industrial food.

― mahb, Tuesday, 14 July 2026 07:15 (three days ago)

We’ve had a cat for five years who failed to acquire a name due to kids’ factionalism. So everyone calls her something different. Me? “Scrungs”.

― assert (matttkkkk), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 07:31 (three days ago)

Best friend has an Australian doodle whose naming proved so difficult that he became Buster by default.

― einstürzende louboutin (suzy), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 07:35 (three days ago)

well my dog is nicknamed “Picky Bits” so i am offended

― out of the cradle endlessly party rocking (the table is the table), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 11:01 (three days ago)

My dog picks his bits, how do you think I feel?

― einstürzende louboutin (suzy), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 11:03 (three days ago)

My cats had their bits removed

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 11:36 (three days ago)

can anyone Britisher tell me why does Mark Clattenburg say 'picky bits' like that

― . (jamiesummerz), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 12:02 (three days ago)

i think i've just about had it with people zhuzhing things up

― Angine de Postecogloutrine (NickB), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 12:48 (three days ago)

"Snuggles"

― pax ramona (Matt #2), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 16:05 (three days ago)

or similar

― pax ramona (Matt #2), Tuesday, 14 July 2026 16:05 (three days ago)

"lives rent free in your head"

enough of this.

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 15 July 2026 14:55 (two days ago)

agreed, it's the sort of taylor swift-coded "revenge on my haters" language that sounds ridiculous when used by adults

― . (jamiesummerz), Wednesday, 15 July 2026 15:34 (two days ago)

That one is very past expiry

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 15 July 2026 15:36 (two days ago)

I seriously wonder what some of the boring net trolls will have on their tombstones.

Here lies ThomasRoe04371136t

He annoyed 47 people

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 15 July 2026 15:39 (two days ago)

for better or worse, "lives rent free in your head" succinctly and graphically describes a worrisome obsession with the words and actions of someone else. it's only bad when it's used to dismiss a legitimate concern, which, of course is the bread and butter of facile internet debaters. to coin a phrase, it's a mixed bag.

― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Wednesday, 15 July 2026 17:08 (two days ago)

That one is very past expiry

you could say it’s two thousand and late

― out of the cradle endlessly party rocking (the table is the table), Wednesday, 15 July 2026 17:09 (two days ago)

Is Guy Picciotto indirectly responsible for the whole "rent in my mind' construct? I read an interview with him recently where he sorta begrudgingly acknowledged this

― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 15 July 2026 22:38 (two days ago)

for better or worse, "lives rent free in your head" succinctly and graphically describes a worrisome obsession with the words and actions of someone else. it's only bad when it's used to dismiss a legitimate concern, which, of course is the bread and butter of facile internet debaters. to coin a phrase, it's a mixed bag.

no it's lazy and bad and people should stop saying it

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 15 July 2026 23:44 (two days ago)

"lives rent free in your head"

Yes this, and I'm also getting tired of "Is (subject/person) in the room with us right now?"

― Andy the Grasshopper, Wednesday, 15 July 2026 23:53 (two days ago)

That one annoys me because a lot of people who use it don't get what it means

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:03 (yesterday)

"Show us on the doll where (subject) touched you" is awful and should join that trash bin

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:04 (yesterday)

commas

― Wichita Referee's Assistant (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:05 (yesterday)

whoa that might be for the 'punctuation you despise' thread

― Andy the Grasshopper, Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:07 (yesterday)

no i mean the printed word itself

― Wichita Referee's Assistant (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:10 (yesterday)

Thry got me in a comma

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 July 2026 02:10 (yesterday)

it's serious

― mookieproof, Thursday, 16 July 2026 02:14 (yesterday)

"i'll see your X and raise you Y"
nnng

― massaman gai (front tea for two), Thursday, 16 July 2026 06:33 (yesterday)

Nicolette's second album is called Let No One Live Rent Free in Your Head. Was it a known phrase in 1996?

― you can see me from westbury white horse, Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:41 (yesterday)

definitely not. that has to be the earliest instance of the phrase that I've seen.

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:50 (yesterday)

first attested use is 1988, in Abraham J. Twerski’s "Living Each Day"

"A wise man said, 'Hanging on to resentments is letting someone you don’t like live rent-free inside your head.'"

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:50 (yesterday)

(Ann Landers is said to have used it prior to 1988 but I can't find any actual reference to a specific column or book)

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:53 (yesterday)

I charge people rent for their presence in my head just so they can't say this.

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 16 July 2026 14:54 (yesterday)

it was only a matter of time before we found the landlord itt

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 July 2026 15:01 (yesterday)

Funny you should say that as you're six months overdue, Neanderthal.

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 16 July 2026 15:03 (yesterday)

I thought about you twice last month.

― marzipandemonium (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 16 July 2026 15:04 (yesterday)

fuck. look can I pay some other way, is there an ilxor you'd like bullied free of charge?

― If your ass is a Bible, 213 will regulate (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:27 (yesterday)

Maybe get Aimless on the case

― LocalGarda, Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:30 (yesterday)

Often attributed to American advice columnist Eppie Lederer (1918–2002), who used it in her syndicated advice column in 1990.

― Andy the Grasshopper, Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:36 (yesterday)

(for non-Americans, Eppie Lederer = the second person writing as Ann Landers)

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:46 (yesterday)

Maybe get Aimless on the case

Come now, is that any way to talk?

― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Thursday, 16 July 2026 16:58 (yesterday)

my failed private equity venture was buying everyones' mind spaces and just billing anyone trying to live in any of them. now they're filled with squatters.

― antimaxx factor (Hunt3r), Thursday, 16 July 2026 19:28 (yesterday)

Brain Squatters: a David Cronenberg film

― Cow_Art, Thursday, 16 July 2026 21:33 (yesterday)

lol my 20 y/o just watched videodrome 2 days ago, inam pretty sure the new flesh is living everyones’ mind space. except james woods. no mind? no space.

― antimaxx factor (Hunt3r), Thursday, 16 July 2026 23:03 (yesterday)

Life hack: you can get free rent by becoming a personality trait

https://ioffer-movies.com/dvd-images/2024/06/Hermans-Head-Poster-416x308.jpg

― jmm, Thursday, 16 July 2026 23:56 (yesterday)

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