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Words that make me cringe!
As a writer for 20 years or so, I've always kept an unofficial list in my head of words that make me cringe when I hear them. These are not just outdated words or minor annoyances, I'm talking about words that may ruin my day if I hear them.I'm actually a pretty level-headed guy. It takes a lot to piss me off. But this year, for some reason, I am >><< (wincing) more often when I am watching the news or listening to sports or talk radio. I just keep hearing words that drive me crazy. I'll be first to admit that I am getting older and more apathetic. I alone am responsible for my happiness and reaction to things I can not control.
But instead of blaming myself, why not blame . . . the media! I think do think writers and talking heads are getting lazy and just recycling phrases that someone has made universally acceptable.
THE WORD that motivated me to put together a formal list is the worst threat to face the English language since "whatever" (10 years or so). That word is:
"nosh"
ARRRRGH! Hearing that word in my head is like Freddie Krueger fingers scraping a frozen chalkboard. You have to be hip to nosh and if you are noshing, you are cool. Since many of you on SI are professional communicators, please make your day a nosh-free zone!
Below is my unofficial list of other words and phrases that bug me. These are certainly not exclusive to me, I'm sure many of you share my disdain for some of these words and phrases.
NOSH- to snack between meals
CRUNK- and NFL term for getting pumped up
BLING- ostentatious jewelry
PIQUE- to excite
ERECTILE - just because it is often found next to "dysfunction" during sports broadcasts I watch with my 9 year-old son
CHERUB- No good reason, I've just always been bugged by this word
PANTOMIME- see above
CHIPOTLE - This was my "nosh" of 2005, but it still burns.
FARVE - Just when I begged the sports gods to give me a new story, I discover Manning will be out for surgery
BURSA SACK- I have no problem with a bursa or a sack, but we have 150 bursae in our body to facilitate movement between bones and tendons. Which bursa is infected dammit!
BASTARD- Where has this word gone? You never hear it any more but it was big in the 80s. Could you imagine using this word today? It would be worse than the F-word!
DRAMADY- an example of word bastardization
infotainment- yet another example
WORDSMITH- ironic, isn't it?
DECIMATE- when used instead of annihilate. Decimate means only to reduce by 10 percent
ENTITLED- when used instead of "titled." OK if you're a Brit, however.
Phrases:
"At the end of the day"
"throw (someone) under the bus"
"The (insert sport here) Gods were smiling on me."
brick oven
talking points
perfect storm
sanitary landfill
Please add to this list. What are some words that make you cringe?
13 Comments
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Comment by Nancy Lee on August 4, 2008 at 10:34pm - blog
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Comment by Scott Semester on August 4, 2008 at 10:36pm -
(I always thought "DECIMATE" meant "to reduce to 10% of the original value.")
Good on ya, Mike, for stepping up with your list. Here are my additions:
WORDS
Toppings
Undergrad
Synergy
Network (when used as a verb) (Sorry, SI)
Impactful
Fixin's
Workshop (as a verb)
Chutney
PHRASE
"It's not an either/or...it's a both/and."
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Comment by Steve Stuck on August 4, 2008 at 11:36pm -
"sustainable"
"eco friendly" labels
"economist" titles under every person that shows up on a stock show
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Comment by Pat Coyle on August 5, 2008 at 12:11am - It's late...all I can think of is when ethinic (non-French) restaurants use the word "cuisine" to describe their food...
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Comment by Matthew Theriault on August 5, 2008 at 12:20am -
Great post!
"irregardless"
"thought leader"
and my personal irritant
"My name is ... and I approve this message."
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Comment by Emily Sutherland on August 5, 2008 at 10:17am - Mike, thanks for this opportunity to vent about a word that I heard alot growing up in church. The word that tops my list of most hated words is: "special"! It has so many meanings that it has no meaning at all!
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Comment by Theresia Whitfield on August 5, 2008 at 5:18pm -
Great post, Mike!
Words/Phrases:
irregardless (AMEN, Matthew!)
green (as in, Save the Planet)
end-game
utilize (I once had an editor scream at me, "NEVER, EVER use the word utilize!" Believe me, I was listening!)
global warming
big oil
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Comment by Scott Semester on August 5, 2008 at 9:41pm
- "Excellence in Broadcasting Network"
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Comment by John O'Sullivan on August 5, 2008 at 10:04pm -
Brother Mike...great list!
Growing up in Brooklyn - as in NYC - NOSH is a Yiddish expression that doesn't hurt my ears. However, here are some that really snap my eyelids open:
Word/Phrases:
excellent
HEY ~~ can't you just jump when someone calls you HEY
Now here is one for the ages......how about doing some "AIR QUOTES" when you want to emphasize a point. Nothing like talking to someone who is dominant with those 2 fingers creating those ever popular AIR QUOTES!!
ok.......let the hits keep on coming.
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Comment by Faith Wesstrom on August 7, 2008 at 3:03am - free - is there really anything "free" nowadays?
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