STUPID TERMS AND CLICHÉS I HATE
While watching my usual ton of sports this Summer and Fall, I have continually gotten annoyed at just how many cliches, especially modern ones, broadcasters use. And how many mispronunciations and misuses are in the mix, as well.
And it’s not just people in sports—it’s soooo many people on TV along with many in real life, even, unfortunately, some I know personally. So I started making a list, and it has just kept on growing. So, before it turns into a tome, I figured I’d better share what I have already.
Most of them need no extra explanations. And I’d love to hear the ones that chap your hide, too! So please share them in the Comments below.
THE MODERN CLICHÉS
“I didn’t have that on my bingo card.” (When was the last time anyone uttering that line has played bingo???)
“Amazing!” (Most things are not at all amazing—that word basically means “something so rare that it truly amazes us!” It’s definitely not for the number of things people feel the need to use it for.)
“The two best words in sports,” said about every Game 7 in an important seven-game series. And the people who say it declare it as though there can be no dissension about that concept. But I can think of several much better two words in sports, such as “You won!,” “The Champion!,” and “Olympic gold!”)
The winner will be “whoever wants it more.” Trust me, all athletic vie-ers want it the most! (Unless it’s me—I always just wanted to look cute in my competition outfit. And I’m not kidding about that, not even a little bit.) So no one wants it more; they all desire the win the same. (When a Seattle Mariner was being interviewed last week after losing Game 7 to get into the World Series, a teammate’s very painful bloodcurdling scream could be heard in the background. No one wanted it “more” than that guy, yet his team lost!)
“Trigger.” Everything these days seems to “trigger” someone about something! Enough already! They need to start stating what they really mean.
“I have to find ‘my person.’ ” Ugh. Just state what kind of person you’re talking about!!! Is it a boyfriend or girlfriend? Or not even a love interest at all, as “person” can be any kind of human. Maybe a house cleaner, (which is the kind of person I’d love to find!)
“Color me…” impressed, happy, surprised, whatever. I find it annoying, even though I adore colors!
Such-and-such, (usually failure,) “is not an option.” Of course it is! It’s a major one. And if it’s used for an athletic competition, as it often is, there’s usually a fifty-fifty chance of failure!
“I’m not gonna lie.” Why would you? Do you think you have to let us know that? Really?!
“Holding space for…” What does that even mean???
“That’s so random,” when it’s totally not random! Does no one know vocabulary definitions???
“You got this!” First of all, the proper first word of that statement is “You’ve,” but I hate it either way. How do you know what’s going to happen to/for the person to whom you’re speaking???
“Hidden gem.” None of them are hidden and few are gems!!! For example, people on my local Next Door keep saying that a certain neighborhood eatery, Trattoria del Sole, is one. But it’s far from hidden—it’s right out there on major Ventura Boulevard, and attached to a much-used alley! And the food sucks, so far from a gem.
THE TOTALLY INCORRECT
“Irregardless,” when they actually mean “regardless.”
“I could care less,” when they actually mean “I could not care less.”
“I mean…,” (to start sentences.) How did that one even start? The first time I heard it, from former tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, (back when she was playing,) I kept going back, trying to find her previous sentence that I assumed she was explaining what she meant by it. But, of course, there was none. She began her only statement with that idiotic, “I mean…” Grrr.
“Gaslighting.” As I explained in a play review this past June, to “gaslight” someone means to manipulate them into questioning their own reality. All of a sudden, many people have started using the term for a plethora of ways their significant other is mistreating them, none of which are actual “gaslighting.” I had when not-too-bright peeps think they’re being intelligent and/or profound when they are far from either!
THE WORDS PEOPLE OFTEN MISPRONOUNCE
[Note: I hear a lot of dreadful mispronunciations on individuals, but these are a few I’ve heard from multiple people. It just blows my mind that so many can be so wrong! They must have been absent on more than one day!]
“Bought” for “bRought.” This is the most egregious to me. They’re totally different words, people!”Bought” is the past tense of “buy,” while “brought” is the past tense of “bring!” If you’re guilty of this vocab error, and would like to educate yourself, I explain it in depth right here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/karens-lessons-the-difference-between-bought-and-brought.
“EKspecially” for the correct “especially.”
“AsteriX” for the correct “asteriSK.”
“NucULer” for the correct “nuCLear.”
“CUrismatic” for the correct “chARismatic.”
“Estatic” for the correct “eCstatic.”
“SawL” and “drawL” for the correct “saw” and “draw.” Idiot tennis host Chris McKendry does it all the time, and now I’ve noticed a few others doing it, as well. How are people so stupid???
And the one I detest the most:
“MischEevIous” for the correct “mischievous.” Can they not read???!!!
END NOTES
The SNL skit.
On last weekend’s Saturday Night Live, there was a skit of four young boys doing a podcast where they kept repeating the same words that I guess are cool with kids now. They kept saying “lowkey,” “chopped,” “fire,” “pause,” and “goated”—I actually had to look up that last one. So it appears that I’m not the only one who is annoyed by stupid words that everyone says now. Good for SNL!
If you have any others that you hate, (which I know you all do,) please let us know in the Comments below. Even those of you who have told me some of them in person and on the phone, let it all out here so that everyone can see!
