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Most irritating cliches
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Some years ago, the Plain English campaign ran a survey of the UK's most irritating phrases. Worst of the lot, apparently, was: 'at the end of the day'.
In joint second place in the vote was 'at this moment in time' and saying 'like', like, all the time.
'With all due respect' came fourth.
As well as those, the following lot got (dis)honourable mentions as well. But the survey was done way back in 2004 and language changes pretty fast. What do you think - are these still the most annoying cliches? Or are there now others that are worse?
In joint second place in the vote was 'at this moment in time' and saying 'like', like, all the time.
'With all due respect' came fourth.
As well as those, the following lot got (dis)honourable mentions as well. But the survey was done way back in 2004 and language changes pretty fast. What do you think - are these still the most annoying cliches? Or are there now others that are worse?
- 24-7
- absolutely
- address the issue
- awesome
- ballpark figure
- basically
- basis ('on a weekly basis' in place of 'every week' and so on)
- bear with me
- between a rock and a hard place
- blue sky thinking
- boggles the mind
- bottom line
- crack troops
- diamond geezer
- epicentre (used incorrectly)
- glass half full (or half empty)
- going forward
- I hear what you're saying ...
- in terms of ...
- it's not rocket science
- literally
- move the goalposts
- ongoing
- prioritise
- pushing the envelope
- singing from the same hymn sheet
- the fact of the matter is
- thinking outside the box
- to be honest/to be honest with you/to be perfectly honest
- touch base
- value-added (in general use)
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#2
I actually quite like these ones as there isn't an obvious straightforward replacement:
And what's wrong with "crack troops"?
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(Original post by chazwomaq)
I actually quite like these ones as there isn't an obvious straightforward replacement:
And what's wrong with "crack troops"?
I actually quite like these ones as there isn't an obvious straightforward replacement:
And what's wrong with "crack troops"?
Definitely missing 'get all our ducks in a row' from this list...
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#8
Are we excluding slang/roadman phrases here? Because if not..
"No offence" is another silly one, ironically used just before or after you say something offensive.
- Allow it
- Dying/Creasing
- Peak
- Fam
- Lit
- Bare
"No offence" is another silly one, ironically used just before or after you say something offensive.
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#9
Fammm this list is hella lit. I'm highkey snatched AF for these fire phrases tbh. Like, my weave is orbiting Jupiter because I'm so whipped for this stuff m8.
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#11
(Original post by Fox Corner)
'At the end of the day' is still the worst phrase ever IMO.
'At the end of the day' is still the worst phrase ever IMO.
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#12
The word studying secretly means procrastination, if you say you will study, chances are it never happens.
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#15
This is more for anime but when the protagonist uses the power of bon- I mean willpower (anime fans will know what I'm referring to with the cut off part) to defeat their opponent... even though they were clearly weaker before.
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#16
(Original post by Fox Corner)
'At the end of the day' is still the worst phrase ever IMO.
'At the end of the day' is still the worst phrase ever IMO.
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#20
(Original post by Vikingninja)
This is more for anime but when the protagonist uses the power of bon- I mean willpower (anime fans will know what I'm referring to with the cut off part) to defeat their opponent... even though they were clearly weaker before.
This is more for anime but when the protagonist uses the power of bon- I mean willpower (anime fans will know what I'm referring to with the cut off part) to defeat their opponent... even though they were clearly weaker before.
(Original post by Fox Corner)
'At the end of the day' is still the worst phrase ever IMO.
'At the end of the day' is still the worst phrase ever IMO.
, it warms me up for whats coming next which is usually a concise conclusion of the conversation
(Original post by Dez)
"Utilise" in any context. Just say "use" already, quit wasting syllables.
"Utilise" in any context. Just say "use" already, quit wasting syllables.
(Original post by ALYAMAANI)
Giving 110%...........Impossible
Giving 110%...........Impossible
now thats a cliche ofc
(Original post by chazwomaq)
I literally want to kill people who misuse "literally".
I literally want to kill people who misuse "literally".
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