Along the same lines as Bob's post, I felt this one needed to stand on it's own.
What about saying's that really irk you????
One of my favorite's... You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Well, what the hell good is "Cake" if you can't eat it!!!!!
Or how about... Same Difference...
WHAT??????????? UUGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Any others????
[ April 15, 2003, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: Troy Haas ]
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
When you are in conversation and someone comments, "This is true." Does that mean everything else you said is a lie?
Posted by Jeffrey Vrstal (Member # 2271) on :
Mis-pronounced words by people that should know better:
SUPPOSABLY
A WHOLE NUTHER
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
If the customer were only smart enough to say keep it "economical" "give me more bang for the buck" or "keep this one close" but no he has to say "I just want something cheap" (BANGO the price just went up 20%) and god help him if he says cheap more than once in the same conversation.
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Think outside the box. (I dunno....that one just bugs me.)
Posted by Terry Whynott (Member # 1622) on :
"Hot enough for ya?" or "Stayin' out of trouble?" (cause I'm such a bad-ass!) Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Feeling boxed in Cheryl? Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
LOL Georgie. Nope....spring has sprung....and I am busting looose! I can't explain why that saying bugs me. Guess it is because any saying telling me how to think gets to me. think outside the box think positive ARGGGGGGGG!
Posted by Pat Phipps (Member # 3617) on :
"irregardless" is a redundancy. The suffix "-less" on the end of the word already makes the word negative. It doesn't need the negative prefix "ir-" added to make it even more negative.
Should have read Bob's post before posting this. Pat
[ April 15, 2003, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: Pat Phipps ]
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
How about "Are you workin' hard?....or hardly workin" followed by a big belly laugh like it's the first time you've ever heard anything so clever!
Suelynn
Posted by Mike Pulskamp (Member # 3475) on :
"It takes all kinds." Well maybe it does, and maybe it doesn't. Have we tried it without some of the kinds, just to see?
How about the "love it or leave it" crew? It always sounds to me like they are the people that need to go someplace where people are only allowed to say or think one way.
"Possession is nine tenths of the law" This misquote of Shakespeare is used as if it comes from some law, not from a script for a play. The quote is "nine POINTS of the law" anyhow! He doesn?t say how many points the law has, could be hundreds.
Almost anything said by a telemarketer. My favorite is "I'm only trying to save you money", Does your boss know?
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
...........When someone says "Don't work too hard"..............? How can you really work too hard an' what's really wrong with workin' hard? It's like sayin', "don't worry about your bills, your deadlines, don't worry about gettin' anything accomplished" Since this saying irks me, I always walk away from people sayin', "work hard!" Posted by Jeffrey Vrstal (Member # 2271) on :
One thing that really bugs me is when I get a phone call here at work, (usually from one of my kids or people other than customers)...
I answer the phone with "Hello, Main Street Signs" and the person on the other end says "What are you doing"
AAAAHHHHHRRRRRGGGG! YOU CALLED ME AT WORK, WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK I AM DOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, someone come up with a snappy answer for me.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
my answer to jeffs phone question..."what are you doin?...i tell them iam playin with my pee-pee!!! those who know me never ask the question again, and those who dont know me ..never call again! our home phone is listed under hennie hopkins(we been livin together for 20 yrs)i pick up the phone, the caller will say "mr. hopkins?"....and my answer is "NO....IAM JUST MESSIN WITH HIS WIFE WHILE HES NOT HOME!" they never call back either!!!! the saying that gets me going is....."MORE OR LESS"....ok pick ONE!!!!!
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
When someone tells me to do something, that I'm obviously in the middle of doing already.
The word "should" kinda rubs me the wrong way. When someone says ... "here's whatcha should've done", or "you should do this". I rather like the word "could" in those instances better. Sounds more like a suggestion, rather than a command.
"You look tired" Does anyone ever feel good after having that said to them? Kinda like just another way of saying, "you look like crap" don'cha think?
Posted by Alan Ackerson (Member # 3224) on :
Jeff,
When they ask "What are you doing"? I like to say "Just luuuvin' you". Then you can add OP's saying for extra effect.
Hey OP that's a good one for telemarketers with the cheating wife thing. Not so sure the wife would like it though.
Also used I'm his brother, we will be attending his funeral tommorow. Works like a champ.
"Whatever" can be irritating.
[ April 15, 2003, 01:52 PM: Message edited by: Alan Ackerson ]
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Ha! I have another one.......
Somebody just called on the phone and asked what I was doing. I told them I was designing a sign. They then said "oh you are?" well duh. didn't I just say that?
Or when one of my kids friends call and I say they aren't home. The comment 90% of the time is "oh they aren't?????' well didn't I just saaaaaaaaay that? funny huh Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :
Along those phone lines:
"Hi, am I interrupting anything?" (well of course you are, I am involved in something every second I'm awake, no?) Or " Hi, do you know who this is??" (well, no, and how about calling me back when you remember who you are) Or "Hi, I can save you money on your phone bills" (thanks but I am not interrested, I don't have a phone)
Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :
Jeffrey:
When they call and say: "Hi, whatya doin'"
I say: "I'm talking to you"
If you say it without a smile in your voice (you did say it irritates you, right?) they will cut right to the chase after that.
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
When I pick up the phone and someone asks "who is it?" My standard answer is "and who are YOU?" I learned to say me name when picking up the phone and when calling someone else. No one does this around here, it really bugs me.
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
The word "irk". WHere the hell does it come from? I hate that word!
Posted by Peter Schuttinga (Member # 2821) on :
How about the British way of pronouncing aluminum 'al-you-mini-um'. Must be the stiff upper lip thing.
My kids have of late learned to reply with 'yeah, whaaaat-everrr..' It's more of an attitude than the actual phrase, but anoying none the less.
Ruff instead of roof..
shrimp on the barbi...
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
When I hand a well thought out sketch to a client and he glances at it and casually tosses it back and says "More High - Tech."
"Well, to tell you the truth..." (oh, oh - here comes the BIG whopper...)
"Use a VERY sharp pencil." I sure will -- twice.
Posted by Stephen Broughton (Member # 2237) on :
Hey Pete its because you Cannuks can not spell "ALUMINIUM" correctly not Aluminum Here's one from an English point of view, the way Americans say Skedule (Schedule) its pronounced with a Shh, Shhedule ya dim wit!! LOL
[ April 16, 2003, 04:08 AM: Message edited by: Stephen Broughton ]
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Please...... incorrectly placed apostrophes bug me. Troy, "Back to Basics" is great, but please skip the apostrophe in "basics". Signwriters, like teachers, are supposed to be better at spelling that the average bloke, aren't we !
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Whoops, I forgot: "Saying's that irk me" doesn't need the apostrophe in "sayings". (No offense)
The other thing I don't like is people frequently using the word "that", instead of "who" (or whom) when talking about other people. (e.g. "The person that I just spoke to...". "That" is for objects and animals, we were always taught, ans "who/whom" for people.
Best wishes (and I often make the same mistakes that I cand stand others doing...!) Ian S-K
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
"Wow!, what a great computer, or what a great program"
...after watching me whip through 2 or three programs designing, scanning, vectorizing, plotting & printing with the efficiency of over 10 years full time experience.
Posted by Troy Haas (Member # 472) on :
John D., Your begining to irk me!!!!!!
Ian, Sorry about that one, it was for "Dramatic" purposes....LOL Posted by David Fisher (Member # 107) on :
Peter Schuttinga , Shrimps are what you eat in the US, Prawns are what you eat here. The only time you cook them on the BBQ is if you have been watching too many tourism adverts, or you contract the condition known as "Hand on Gland" Otherwise you buy them buy the kilo and rip them apart and eat them over plate (optionally - and prefererrably with a beer) Personally speaking, a prawn under 3" might qualify as a shrimp because it would be a pain in the bum to peel
Also: aluminum // noun US aluminium.
aluminium // noun a silver-white metallic element, light in weight, ductile, malleable, and not readily oxidised or tarnished, occurring combined in nature in igneous rocks, shales, clays, and most soils. It is much used in alloys and for lightweight utensils, castings, aeroplane parts, etc. Symbol: Al; relative atomic mass: 26.9815; atomic number: 13; density: 2.70 at 20°C. Also, US, aluminum. [New Latin, from Latin: alum]
David
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Nascar commentators that refer to the race cars as "Hot Rods" annoying enough but they overuse the phrase.
BTW, Darrell Waltrip didn't coin the phrase "boogity boogity" The Mississippi Scoundral, the announcer at Little Rock's I-30 speedway has been using that one for twenty years or more.
Posted by Diane Crowther (Member # 120) on :
Any phrase that contains the word "frank" or "frankly".
By the way, Stephen, does that mean you pronounce school "shhool", and if not, why not? And what about schematic, schiophrenia, and schooner? Why single out "schedule" to be pronounced differently from all the other "sch" words? I've always wondered about that one.
Posted by Chris Elliott (Member # 1262) on :
"Ignorance of the law is no excuse" always irks me because just exactly how am I going to obey a law that I know nothing about??? I've got the general idea down OK but DAMN!! when they've got more laws written than any single person (even any single lawyer) can reasonably comprehend it sure looks like a rigged game to me!!
p.s. if a judge mentions the phrase above when he's talkin' to you.....it's not a real good idea to reply "Ignorant law (or an ignorant lawyer) is no excuse for the travisty of justice you're trying to run by me either!!......(don't ask me how I know this) Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
How about "In my book" Ok, lemme see this book of yours.
apostrophes (sp) bug me too along with the incorrect version of a word being used.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
harASS -- it's pronounced HARass
and if we're going to pick on the Brits, how about Bedlam = Bethlehem
Werstasher = Worcestershire
A friend of mine from Bwahstin Mass, actually Haverhill, which he called Havrel pahked his cah in the yahd next to the otha derity bastids. Funny how he lost his accent in about a week after he came back from leave, but regained it when he went home for a few days. We were stationed in Florida and he said his family couldn't understand him for a few days whenever he went home.
Apostrophe's -- ugh!
Posted by Steve Aycock (Member # 3612) on :
Bugs me when people, seems like most. Make the incorrect statement...
"I could care less."
Shouldn't it be...
"I couldn't care less."
If you could care less, that means you do care some. Wouldn't it be more effective if you didn't care at all ?
Oh, and how about this one. This was a common saying around the shop where I was last employed. In reference to any small mistake, glitch etc... that could only be seen close up.
"Thats just a booger on a billboard."
Laff.
Steve
Posted by DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
I hate "Think outside the box".
How about "While your resting, will you do......
Diane Balch
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
My business partner Dick, has so many verbal quirks I'm thinking of just calling him that. "Hello Mr. Client, I'm Joe, and this is my partner Verbal. Verbal Quirks."
One of his anomalies is absolutely EVERY time he calls me on the phone, he'll ask "Hey, how ya doin?" Of course he doesn't really want to know how I am, hell we just got finished putting in an 8 hour day together...How am I doing? my back hurts, my feet stink and I - what do you want?
Dick's also not known for finishing a train of thought on the phone. Second and even third callbacks are not uncommon. Guess what he asks me when I pick up?
I've learned to ignore it.
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
While we're on the subject, a question for the British readers. I met a woman from England years ago that, pardon, WHO said she was taught to say seldom instead of rarely. Do be so kind as to inform us which is correct. Thank you, Jim D.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
since mike mentioned the boston problem word...WORCHESTER. i was takin my car back to maine from penna in 66 and this was the 1st road trip ive ever driven. being from pa and never left the place before iam driving thru mass. and stop for gas and asked the guy there the easest way to maine. wellll he tells me stay on the mass pike till i see the WOOSTA exit to 495 and take it. o.kkkkkkk. get back on the road and iam drivin and drivin...next thing i know iam in BOSTON!!!!! damn now i pull over and ask another guy where the WOOSTA exit is...he says you missed it back 40 miles ago. told him i never saw a WOOSTA exit....he then show me his map and says look!!! HERE IT IS...told him it dont say WOOSTA its WAR-CHESTER damn it.....he laughed like hell, thought it was so funny...and i got introduced to BOSTON 5 pm rush hour traffic....now thats a whole nother story!!!!!!
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
For Your Convenience = for my profit
I'll give you something to cry about and You just wait 'til your father gets home
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
People who use "your" (i.e. not mine) when they mean "you're" (i.e. you are), and people who use "Real" when they mean "Really" (e.g. "Real clever" or "Real good idea" should be "Really clever, really good idea,etc) Keeps us on our toes, doesn't it?!
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
"I heard that"
Joe Rees, yours reminds me of that beer commercial, the one set in an East Coast tavern, all the locals come in with the greeting "hiya dowin?" it gets passed all around the bar, they get to a guy from Texas I believe, who goes into a long story about his day. Funny as hell.
Posted by Mark Smith (Member # 298) on :
"I'll be honest with you"
(what, you usually aren't?)
This goes with Diane's "frankly" - same thing -
Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
James, regarding your query about the use of rarely/seldom, I think this part of the great Sentence Adverb debate that has been raging among academics since the sixties.
The debate is at its most fierce (pistols at dawn) when arguing the use of the adverb ‘hopefully.’ The traditional view holds that ‘hopefully’ must ONLY be used as a routine adverb meaning ‘in a hopeful manner’ (Needing a drink, he looked hopefully at the barman) and MUST NOT be used to mean ‘it is hoped that’. (Hopefully I’ll get it finished today).
It seems (Fowlers) the use of the word ‘rarely’ is sometimes contested when used unaccompanied. So, it would be perfectly all right to say: “He rarely if ever goes out” or “He rarely or never goes out” but is unacceptable (to some) to be used in the form “He rarely goes out”. Here, “He seldom goes out” would be preferable.
Most people don’t care as long as both parties understand each other.
--------------------------------------------
Like others, I really dislike ‘Think outside the box,’ it’s irritation quotient is right up there with ‘quotient’, ‘I’ll just run this idea up flagpole to see who salutes’ and all the other pseud’s corner, management seminar jargon.
‘Very unique’ – unique is an absolute, you can’t qualify it.
My Mum used to scream “DIFFERENT FROM – SIMILAR TO” at the radio if anyone broadcast the trigger phrase ‘different to.’ I still cringe when I hear it.
Our English teacher used to twist our ears if we used the word ‘got’. I’m getting over it! Isn’t it is amazing, the things about which we get annoyed? Hope you noticed I avoided finishing that sentence with a preposition – another crime for which our ears would suffer.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
Arthur, ain't a preposition what we shouldn't ought to end a sentence with?
How about "Not Really" when they mean "No"
"He gots it" - right up there with don't axe me.
Are for Our. He gots the ball and the game is ares.
Y'alls's (pronounced yallses) plural possessive
Posted by Rosemary (Member # 1926) on :
I use this one every time its necessary.
"St.Marie Graphics. Hey, is your Daddy there? Yes he is. Is this concerning a job? Yeah, honey. Lemme have him. I'm not your honey, and he does exactly what I tell him to do. How can I help you?" (Actually he does:^)
If they hang up, then they don't need us. All the loggers and truckers who know me NEVER call me "honey, sweetie, darlin' or any OTHer stupid, endearing name. Our business clients like architects or generals know better by this time.
But I AM a sweetie, no?
:^)
Posted by Peter Schuttinga (Member # 2821) on :
There are a few folks around here who will phone you up, and once they get beyond the introductory pleasantries, they will start by saying: 'hey listen (pause) ...' I ussually reply with: 'hey,(pause) do I have a choice?'
How about 'No biggie' (as in 'it is no big deal')
Or..
'it's a piece of cake' referring to a simple task. I don't see the correlation between confectionary and work, unless you are a baker.
Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
Mike, ain’t ain’t a word, ain’t ain’t (rural), or ain’t bain’t a word ain’t bain’t (rural rural (as in Lenny casual casual))
British place and County names; there were couple of USAF air bases nearby, one being High Wycombe; we couldn’t believe how many syllables the Americans could squeeze out of those two words! Then they get all shy about the second ~i~ in aluminium and ~ive on the end of alternative.
Keep those stories coming; please, if it isn't too much trouble. (Don't think that assertive training course is working too well) Posted by Rob McCauley (Member # 2735) on :
Two phrases we like to overuse around the shop are:
"I heard that" & "Oooh, dat ain't right"
Just try it sometime. After anyone in your shop says anything, interject either of these two phrases. They fit almost anywhere! We get two or three people going on this while some poor shmo is trying to tell a serious story and before you know it....He's mad and we're all laughing hysterically! Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
"You can't miss it'
I bet.
Comes after either an exceptionally lengthy and convoluted set of instructions or almost nothing. I had a boss one time who told me "Take the freeway down to where the old Shell building used to be. Ya can't miss it."
1) in L.A. it's all freeways. Not just "THE Freeway" I asked "Which one?" and he laughed and muttered "Which one - ha ha"
2) the old Shell Building had been demolished 30 years prior. Where might it have been? - long before freeway days, btw.
3) On my way home I took a wrong turn and inadvertently found the damn correct address - he was right - I couldn't miss it if I'd tried. I hate him.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Southern california is a "melting pot" of multicultural ethnicities....so sayings are many and veried!
The only saying that irks me is:
"Can't ya give me a lower price?"
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
Caller: Who is this?
Me: Who do you want it to be?
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
.......when someone says: "All ya gotta do........" whatever comes after that is probably gonna be much more complex..............on a positive note I believe the "impossible" usually only takes another 10 minutes. Posted by David Fisher (Member # 107) on :
I do a lot of computer work these days. When loading Windows XP there is a line of copy during the installation process that says "you've probably gotten used to ..." I don't know if it's grammatically correct or not, but it it seems all wrong to me every time I see it. To me it should read "you have probably become used to ..." or "you're probably used to ..."
From such trivial things do mighty conflicts arise (unquote - side of the Trivial Pursuit game packaging)
DF
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Most sayings only make me laugh at their insanity or lack of grammmatical correctness, but when someone says "Sorry but" they might as well leave the first word off.Then there is the all to often heard from one's own offspring "I just..." or "I only..."followed by some excuse. Or to capitalize on both "But I just..." JUST? What do you know about justness? The scary part is when I hear myself using these same lame lines! Who hasn't been on board an airplane to hear the stewardess anounce "We'll be in flight momentarily." or "We'll be in the Isle serving drinks momentarily." Is that based on a first come first serve? You'll have to be quick because afterall you only have a moment. How about "free gift" Aren't all gifts supposed to be free? Or even better ""Free" gift" Who hasn't grown tired of the ambiance of "ambiance"and all the other tired, overworked words, especially those of the supposedly more colorful variety? Sincerely, Stephanie (Jim's wife)
Posted by Jeremy Vecoli (Member # 2278) on :
Here are a few words/phrases that are due for retirement:
And I'm all like... Imagineering As if! Proactive Facilitate Newbie ...Not! Synergize 24-7 Multi-Tasking The prefixes NEO, CYBER, EURO, POWER, TECHNO, VIRTUAL, ULTRA You the man! Take it to the next level Paradigm Actualize What..EVER! Done deal Way cool Per se To die for
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
Heres one that really bugs the crap outa me. When people call a tattoo a "tat". I didnt sit in a chair for two hours and get my shoulder drilled with a needle to get a "tat". A "tat" is what "Tweety" saw!
Posted by John Cordova (Member # 220) on :
I hate it when I accidentally cause pain to myself as in smashing a finger, accidentally bumping my toe into a sofa leg, etc., all the time screaming and cussing and someone asks, "Are you OK?" Am I OK??!! I'm screaming like a baboon and there's blood gushing out of my body!! How "OK" do you think I am?! I'm just peachy.
There are two newscasters here in town who say a couple words that just drive me up a wall. One says "wheapons" (with an "h") instead of weapons. The other says, "pro-gress" as in "pronoun" when he says the word progress.
How 'bout, "you misspelled a word on your sign, hee, hee". Yeah, I've never heard that one before, bonehead.
OK, I'm done.
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
I hate it when someone starts a sentence with "Say" Usually an older person, still bugs me though. Some of the others were good too.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Nope....spring has sprung....and I am busting looose! I can't explain why that saying bugs me. Guess it is because any saying telling me how to think gets to me. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)