Words that annoy me for no particular reason.

[Blue Hills]

Fixed-that-for-you.

fixed what/how?

 

[matticus]

And it's compatriot: Mate.

I used to only hear it when in Lincolnshire visiting family. Now, it grates when used by people who don't know me. And were they do so, they would quickly realise I had no wish to be associated with them in any meaning, whether standard or slang, of the word.

Blimey, They used to say northern folk were friendly ...

 

[Blue Hills]

apologies if posted before.

"journey"

if it doesn't involve anything that can be shown on a map - paper or digital.

 

[Dayvo]

The worst euphemistic offender on this subject is the American "rest rooms".

Or the use of 'convenience break' particularly on TV coverage of Wimbledon.

No, he/she has gone for a leak/dump, FFS!

😉

 

[RichardB]

I hate it when people verb nouns.

Verbing weirds language.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Telephony

 

[RichardB]

Unique

Again, it has its place, but its place isn't friggin' everywhere.

And, even worse: 'more unique'.

 

[RichardB]

"So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by
and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness"

I'd say that was a pretty rousing start to an epic adventure. But what does a Nobel Laureate for literature know ?

Yebbut, he was Norn Irish. The more usual translation of 'Hwaet!' is Listen! or (more prosaically) Pay Attention!

 

[All uphill]

I had no idea how grumpy I have become until I read this thread!

 

[MichaelW2]

Bear with me.

What kind of bear, black, brown, grizzly, polar?
Are you wearing running shoes ?
Is it armed?
Does the bear need a comfort break? If so, what is your current location? Woods, Not woods.?

 

[RichardB]

Why does "less" get used in place of "fewer", but you never hear anyone ask for fewer sugar in their tea?

Less for quantities, fewer for numbers. So:

Less wine, fewer glasses.
Less sugar, fewer lumps.
Less water, fewer raindrops.

It all depends on whether you can count it or not.

[/pedant]

 

[RichardB]

A phrase, not a word, but (especially on Twitter):

<makes statement> "Let that sink in."

How utterly patronising. It's the newer version of "Do the math!"

 

[All uphill]

Less for quantities, fewer for numbers. So:

Less wine, fewer glasses.
Less sugar, fewer lumps.
Less water, fewer raindrops.

It all depends on whether you can count it or not.

[/pedant]

I knew that

What I don't know is why we commonly make the mistake one way "less cars on the road", but never in the opposite direction " could I have fewer water to drink".

 

[MichaelW2]

If I was American it would be Just Sayin'.
An insult, retraction, accusation of snowflakery and abdication of responsibility all rolled into one.

 

[ianrauk]

Meh