Most Annoying Saying

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by Orleander, Oct 10, 2009.

  1. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

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    Considering my daughter just got grounded for saying 'whatever' to me, I have to agree with these results. But 'back in the day' is a close second for me

    'Whatever' Tops List of Most Annoying Sayings

    Oct. 8, 2009 -- So, you know, it is what it is, but Americans are totally annoyed by the use of "whatever" in conversations.

    The popular slacker term of indifference was found "most annoying in conversation" by 47 percent of Americans surveyed in a Marist College poll released Wednesday.

    "Whatever" easily beat out "you know," which especially grated a quarter of respondents. The other annoying contenders were "anyway" (at 7 percent), "it is what it is" (11 percent) and "at the end of the day" (2 percent).

    "Whatever" -- pronounced "WHAT'-ehv-errr" when exasperated -- is an expression with staying power. Immortalized in song by Nirvana ("oh well, whatever, nevermind") in 1991, popularized by the Valley girls in "Clueless" later that decade, it is still commonly used, often by younger people.

    It can be an all-purpose argument-ender or a signal of apathy. And it can really be annoying. The poll found "whatever" to be consistently disliked by Americans regardless of their race, gender, age, income or where they live.

    "It doesn't surprise me because 'whatever' is in a special class, probably," said Michael Adams, author of "Slang: The People's Poetry" and an associate professor of English at Indiana University. "It's a word that -- and it depends how a speaker uses it -- can suggest dismissiveness."...
     
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  3. RubiksMaster Real eyes realize real lies Registered Senior Member

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    I don't have a problem with "whatever". I say it as much as anyone. I do, however, hate it when people say "you know".
     
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  5. CutsieMarie89 Zen Registered Senior Member

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    If they're talking to me then yes I hate the valley girl "whatever", but the same goes for any sarcastic remark. If they aren't telling it to me then I don't even notice it. Of course I go to school, work, and live near the same type of people who were being made fun of in "Clueless".
    I know saying "like" all of the time used to irritate my teachers growing up, but no matter what I do I can't stop saying it, even now. Like you know?
     
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  7. John99 Banned Banned

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  8. CutsieMarie89 Zen Registered Senior Member

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    I hate when people actually say "OMG" or "LOL" text speak ick.
     
  9. madanthonywayne Morning in America Registered Senior Member

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    I've always hated the phrase "same difference".
     
  10. shorty_37 Go! Canada Go! Registered Senior Member

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    Grounded for saying "whatever"? :bugeye:

    I am trying to think of some of the things my older one and his friends say....:scratchin:

    When they think something is cool, and they say "That bike is SICK."

    They don't say it but I hate the saying "In Your Face" or

    "To Make a Long Story Short" Then the person just rambles on and on.
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2009
  11. Fifteendaysofbliss Registered Member

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    I hate it when people say "that's so gay"/ "your so gay"/ "he's so gay" etc.
     
  12. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

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    LOL, I forgot about that. I heard someone say OMG that the other day and I did something akin to an audio double take.
     
  13. ScaryMonster I’m the whispered word. Valued Senior Member

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    I hate the expressing "Totally Sick", yes it is sickening.:splat:
     
  14. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Whateva, I do what I want. Mm'kay?

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  15. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    Geeze, what would you do to her if she did something really bad! I don't have kids or hang out where they do so I guess I don't get all their jargon. We used to say, "Whatever's right," but that was more the delegation of a decision to someone who cared more about the outcome or who was simply better qualified to make it. "Whatever" doesn't convey the same attitude.
    That sounds like something people of my generation say. What "day" are kids talking about? Or are we living in an era when "eras" are only five years long?

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    Oh that one's awful. It's worse that a good old-fashioned "uh." It's almost impossible to avoid acquiring it. Even accomplished professional speakers like Jon Stewart let it slip in occasionally. Of course it gets worse. Ever hear someone say, "You know (ya-know)..."?
    You should join a group like Toastmasters. They do a good job of helping people break those habits. I don't think their dues are very much and there are groups just about everywhere.
    It says, "something said, especially a proverb or apothegm." The synonyms are: maxim, adage, saw, aphorism. Seems pretty clear to me.

    Yeah, I had to look up "apothegm" too. Even though I like to speak apothegmatically. Fortunately I was already in a dictionary.
    On next week's South Park: "OMG! They've killed Kenny!"
     
  16. philipthegreat Registered Senior Member

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    I second the annoyance with gay used as describing something stupid. I also cannot stand it when someone says "Because I said so."
     
  17. CutsieMarie89 Zen Registered Senior Member

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    You mean ur kids wouldn't get trouble for doing that? I know my mom would have been mad if I said that to her.
     
  18. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    I absolutely hate it when people say "Peace be upon you" especially with a wink

    How d-d-d-are they?

    /bursts into tears at the injustice of it all.
     
  19. one_raven God is a Chinese Whisper Valued Senior Member

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    Good for you.
    Such a dismissive, disrespectful slap in the face should result in punishment.
     
  20. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

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    Yep, little miss attitude got sent to her room and the friend she had over, got sent home. Its not like she threw a fit about the punishment. She knew as soon as it left her mouth she was in trouble. Giving me the hand and the cocking of her head only added to my anger.

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  21. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Giving you the hand? What does that mean? The finger?
     
  22. one_raven God is a Chinese Whisper Valued Senior Member

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  23. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    Jeez you guys are strict. :bugeye:
     

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