Can I put you on hold?
November 17, 2009 9:25 AM Subscribe
Are there phrases that really bother you? Which one do you dislike the most?
This post was deleted for the following reason: Eh, I love a good peeve as much as the next guy, but this is pretty thin post material. -- cortex
tl;dr: "You know what I really hate? When people tell me that I can't get exactly what I want, right now!"
That was a crap excuse for a column, Fish.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:29 AM on November 17, 2009 [3 favorites]
That was a crap excuse for a column, Fish.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:29 AM on November 17, 2009 [3 favorites]
That article becomes twice as annoying when you start hearing it in an Andy Rooney voice.
posted by eyeballkid at 9:30 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by eyeballkid at 9:30 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
"Would you like to listen to my Andy Rooney impression?"
posted by demiurge at 9:31 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by demiurge at 9:31 AM on November 17, 2009
I just came into this thread to say "I hate these kind of threads."
posted by ericb at 9:32 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by ericb at 9:32 AM on November 17, 2009
"All this and Andy Rooney, tonight on 60 minutes"
(*shudders*) Perfectly dreadful phrase
posted by MattMangels at 9:32 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
(*shudders*) Perfectly dreadful phrase
posted by MattMangels at 9:32 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
"Are there phrases that really bother you?" is a phrase that really bothers me, but "Which one do you dislike the most?" is the one I dislike the most.
posted by fuq at 9:33 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by fuq at 9:33 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
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posted by monospace at 9:35 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
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posted by monospace at 9:35 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I hate all phrases that are used incorrectly, such as "walk back the cat" and "begs the question".
Also, flagged as chatfilter.
posted by DU at 9:36 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
Also, flagged as chatfilter.
posted by DU at 9:36 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
"Would the following customer please step down" Why not just say "next"?
I love that there are 21 pages of comments. Joe Beese, that is one of my favorites. Sums it all up without saying a damn thing.
posted by mokeydraws at 9:37 AM on November 17, 2009
I love that there are 21 pages of comments. Joe Beese, that is one of my favorites. Sums it all up without saying a damn thing.
posted by mokeydraws at 9:37 AM on November 17, 2009
"Sir, please drop the Big Gulp and step away from the slushie machine. Now is there a reason you don't seem to be wearing any pants right now?" Really gets my goat but good. It stops me at the threshold of success AND gratification. Most annoying.
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:38 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:38 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
Any collocation of the phrases "Stanley Fish" and "New York Times".
posted by Mocata at 9:40 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Mocata at 9:40 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Chatfilter?
posted by five fresh fish at 9:41 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by five fresh fish at 9:41 AM on November 17, 2009
@XQUZYPHYR: Way to spill your haters all over the thread, ugh!
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:42 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:42 AM on November 17, 2009
"Well, let's just agree to disagree."
By the way, fuck Andy Rooney. The bit in this article about computers reminded me of how Andy Rooney was bitching about how to get to the shutdown menu on his computer he had to click Start. Someone needs to make him a computer which is merely a large box with three buttons: ON, OFF, and COMPUTE.
posted by Dr-Baa at 9:44 AM on November 17, 2009
By the way, fuck Andy Rooney. The bit in this article about computers reminded me of how Andy Rooney was bitching about how to get to the shutdown menu on his computer he had to click Start. Someone needs to make him a computer which is merely a large box with three buttons: ON, OFF, and COMPUTE.
posted by Dr-Baa at 9:44 AM on November 17, 2009
I'm just chillaxin'.
posted by mattbucher at 9:44 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by mattbucher at 9:44 AM on November 17, 2009
My least favorite phrase other than "Actually, you're wrong," (which is usually right):
I HAD NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER.
bullshit.
posted by philip-random at 9:45 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I HAD NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER.
bullshit.
posted by philip-random at 9:45 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh, and any sentence using "devolve" to mean "deteriorate". And any sentence in which the word "elites" - especially in the context of "liberal elites" - is used in a way that makes it clear that the speaker thinks of each member of the alleged elite as "an elite".
posted by Mocata at 9:46 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by Mocata at 9:46 AM on November 17, 2009
"Why was my post deleted?"
posted by futureisunwritten at 9:46 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by futureisunwritten at 9:46 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
I hate all phrases that are used incorrectly, such as "walk back the cat" and "begs the question".
It is stupid, because it really is a misleading phrase (since, if you don't know what it means, the actual words are likely to lead you in the wrong direction), but the misuse of "begging the question" really grates on me.
Personally, the phrase "did we cover anything important in class today?" is my least-favorite student question. It actually hurts swallowing all the snappy rejoinders... which I do, since snark is not (in most cases) pedagogically useful.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:47 AM on November 17, 2009
It is stupid, because it really is a misleading phrase (since, if you don't know what it means, the actual words are likely to lead you in the wrong direction), but the misuse of "begging the question" really grates on me.
Personally, the phrase "did we cover anything important in class today?" is my least-favorite student question. It actually hurts swallowing all the snappy rejoinders... which I do, since snark is not (in most cases) pedagogically useful.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:47 AM on November 17, 2009
There is a Stanley Fish, in. my. pants?
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:47 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:47 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
"I don't want to have sex with you any more"
"let's just be friends"
"yesterday was your last day of employment with us"
posted by idiopath at 9:48 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
"let's just be friends"
"yesterday was your last day of employment with us"
posted by idiopath at 9:48 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
the speaker thinks of each member of the alleged elite as "an elite".
Compare: There are 100,000 troops stationed in X.
How many is a "troop"?
posted by DU at 9:49 AM on November 17, 2009
Compare: There are 100,000 troops stationed in X.
How many is a "troop"?
posted by DU at 9:49 AM on November 17, 2009
Also, "Sorry, you're just not a good fit for our company."
They're not sorry and...you suck.
posted by futureisunwritten at 9:49 AM on November 17, 2009
They're not sorry and...you suck.
posted by futureisunwritten at 9:49 AM on November 17, 2009
I've always been annoyed by people using 'whilst' instead of 'while.' They mean the exact same thing and using the former just sounds more pretentious (probably the wrong adjective).
posted by flatluigi at 9:50 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by flatluigi at 9:50 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Compare: There are 100,000 troops stationed in X.
How many is a "troop"?
posted by DU
One metric goof.
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:51 AM on November 17, 2009
How many is a "troop"?
posted by DU
One metric goof.
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:51 AM on November 17, 2009
"At this point in time"
Also, I would like to pre-order Dr-Baa's computer. Instead of money I will produce a series of advertisements in which I, wearing a rumpled suit, charm single ladies into handing me a cardboard box filled with their treasured photographs, tax records and NaNoWriMo projects while a hipster pleads fruitlessly.
My Underwood, let me show you it.
posted by Rat Spatula at 9:51 AM on November 17, 2009
Also, I would like to pre-order Dr-Baa's computer. Instead of money I will produce a series of advertisements in which I, wearing a rumpled suit, charm single ladies into handing me a cardboard box filled with their treasured photographs, tax records and NaNoWriMo projects while a hipster pleads fruitlessly.
My Underwood, let me show you it.
posted by Rat Spatula at 9:51 AM on November 17, 2009
"Are we having fun yet?"
Jesus, I hate that one. Makes me want to strangle anyone who says it.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 9:54 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
Jesus, I hate that one. Makes me want to strangle anyone who says it.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 9:54 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
Off subject, not to derail...
When putting someone on hold I was taught is was a courtesy to ask first. The person could say "no," after all. That's when you get to hang up.
It does bother me, however, when I ask to put someone on hold and they simply don't answer. I'm asking so there isn't any confusion, so they know I didn't hang up on them, that I'll be right back. It's nice to get some confirmation.
posted by elwoodwiles at 9:56 AM on November 17, 2009
When putting someone on hold I was taught is was a courtesy to ask first. The person could say "no," after all. That's when you get to hang up.
It does bother me, however, when I ask to put someone on hold and they simply don't answer. I'm asking so there isn't any confusion, so they know I didn't hang up on them, that I'll be right back. It's nice to get some confirmation.
posted by elwoodwiles at 9:56 AM on November 17, 2009
DU: I don't understand! Troop, singular; troops, plural - no problem. But calling someone "an elite" just seems to call out for a noun. It's like calling someone "a middle class" or something.
posted by Mocata at 9:57 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by Mocata at 9:57 AM on November 17, 2009
Misuse of "begs the question."
When n=the number of times any of these words are used together, annoyance=nn:
bro (incl. brosky, brosef, bromance, brogasm, etc.), choice, sa-weet, shocker, brewsky, joshin', spitting game, wing man, my boy, dawg
posted by cmoj at 9:57 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
When n=the number of times any of these words are used together, annoyance=nn:
bro (incl. brosky, brosef, bromance, brogasm, etc.), choice, sa-weet, shocker, brewsky, joshin', spitting game, wing man, my boy, dawg
posted by cmoj at 9:57 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
It does bother me, however, when I ask to put someone on hold and they simply don't answer. I'm asking so there isn't any confusion, so they know I didn't hang up on them, that I'll be right back. It's nice to get some confirmation.
posted by elwoodwiles
Most people ask this as a habit which means "I am putting you on hold" and so people are often not used to responding to this question. You shouldn't be annoyed by it as it often a rhetorical question.
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:58 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by elwoodwiles
Most people ask this as a habit which means "I am putting you on hold" and so people are often not used to responding to this question. You shouldn't be annoyed by it as it often a rhetorical question.
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:58 AM on November 17, 2009
"give me your money"
"I am about to shoot you"
"no you cannot have any food because the aid was stolen/vetoed/burned"
"you are the wrong ethnicity"
"no you cannot have another lawyer"
posted by freebird at 9:59 AM on November 17, 2009
"I am about to shoot you"
"no you cannot have any food because the aid was stolen/vetoed/burned"
"you are the wrong ethnicity"
"no you cannot have another lawyer"
posted by freebird at 9:59 AM on November 17, 2009
"Enjoy your flight." --> "Hope your flight is less miserable than you reasonably expect it to be."
posted by brain_drain at 9:59 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by brain_drain at 9:59 AM on November 17, 2009
I don't have a phrase so much as a gesture: shoulder-poking. I cant quite explain why, but whe somebody repeatedly pokes my shoulder to get my attention when I'm otherwise occupied, I get insta-angry. I go from 0 to murderous rage in less than a second.
posted by LMGM at 10:00 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by LMGM at 10:00 AM on November 17, 2009
All variations of "seriously":
"Seriously!"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously, ..."
It's the new "totally," "like," or "y'know," and it's no more meaningful than those phrases. They all roughly mean: "I'm saying what I'm saying."
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:00 AM on November 17, 2009
"Seriously!"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously, ..."
It's the new "totally," "like," or "y'know," and it's no more meaningful than those phrases. They all roughly mean: "I'm saying what I'm saying."
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:00 AM on November 17, 2009
"hurry back" The clerks at a local chain of convenience stores say this. I don't hurry anywhere, and don't tell me what to do. Completely totally rude.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 10:00 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 10:00 AM on November 17, 2009
Since no one has brought it up yet...
"Unfriend".
Unless it has an "ly" immediately after it, I plan to personally bitch-slap anyone who uses it in my presence.
posted by pla at 10:00 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
"Unfriend".
Unless it has an "ly" immediately after it, I plan to personally bitch-slap anyone who uses it in my presence.
posted by pla at 10:00 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
"one of the single most"
posted by decagon at 10:01 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by decagon at 10:01 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
When n=the number of times any of these words are used together, annoyance=nn:
bro (incl. brosky, brosef, bromance, brogasm, etc.)
posted by cmoj
Bro, just the other day I invited some bros over for a brofest with my brosefs brosky, seriously we were watching this bromance Bro-keback Mountain, I nearly had a brogasm when they well... had a brogasm. The brorgy was expensive for a non-broliteriat like yours broly, so now I'm flat bro-ke. Bro, can you spare a dime?
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:02 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
bro (incl. brosky, brosef, bromance, brogasm, etc.)
posted by cmoj
Bro, just the other day I invited some bros over for a brofest with my brosefs brosky, seriously we were watching this bromance Bro-keback Mountain, I nearly had a brogasm when they well... had a brogasm. The brorgy was expensive for a non-broliteriat like yours broly, so now I'm flat bro-ke. Bro, can you spare a dime?
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:02 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I've always been annoyed by people using 'whilst' instead of 'while.' They mean the exact same thing and using the former just sounds more pretentious (probably the wrong adjective).
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think "whilst" is actually commmon-usage in the UK. So it may not be "pretentiousness" you're seeing, you could just be seeing "lives in Newcastle."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:02 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think "whilst" is actually commmon-usage in the UK. So it may not be "pretentiousness" you're seeing, you could just be seeing "lives in Newcastle."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:02 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I saw a great new one on UK TV last week. A group of people are talking when one of them gets a call. As she takes it she waves to the others and says "bear with!".
posted by mdoar at 10:02 AM on November 17, 2009
posted by mdoar at 10:02 AM on November 17, 2009
If one more person "takes it to the next level."
... I don't know what I'll do, but I won't be pleased.
posted by cccorlew at 10:03 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
... I don't know what I'll do, but I won't be pleased.
posted by cccorlew at 10:03 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I don't like it when the airline lands and I'm immediately welcomed to the new city. The flight attendant just got there too.
posted by craven_morhead at 10:04 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by craven_morhead at 10:04 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
XQUZYPHYR : I swear to god, that's like the lame "why don't they just make the whole plane out of the black box?" joke of my generation.
I disagree. With the black box, it takes a lot less effort to keep a small data log safe than an entire thin-shelled hollow tube hurling toward the ground at a few hundred miles per hour. So not a realistic suggestion.
With the giant eagles, however... Frodo flies in, tosses the ring in the crack (spoiler alert), flies back out. No fuss, no muss, no ring taking over his mind, no homoerotic hobbit lovin' scenes necessary.
posted by pla at 10:07 AM on November 17, 2009
I disagree. With the black box, it takes a lot less effort to keep a small data log safe than an entire thin-shelled hollow tube hurling toward the ground at a few hundred miles per hour. So not a realistic suggestion.
With the giant eagles, however... Frodo flies in, tosses the ring in the crack (spoiler alert), flies back out. No fuss, no muss, no ring taking over his mind, no homoerotic hobbit lovin' scenes necessary.
posted by pla at 10:07 AM on November 17, 2009
Why didn't Sauron make the One Ring out of the black box?
Just sayin'.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:09 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Just sayin'.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:09 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
See post #1. My last boss (since terminated by her boss) used to say "It is what it is" every time she didn't want to hear feedback from us teachers.
posted by kozad at 10:09 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by kozad at 10:09 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
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posted by Joe Beese at 9:26 AM on November 17, 2009 [2 favorites]