this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2025
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Every time I hear someone say 'eh' in a questioning tone or to mean 'um actually' I lose my shit. Or even just to play something down.

Like I literally come to hate the person instantly. Its a very strong feeling on a very small sound.

Instant downvotes if I see it on Lemmy too. HATE IT.

How about all y'all?

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[–] Enkrod@feddit.org 10 points 4 days ago

"Boys will be boys."

Fuck you Tom! That's how you react to your brat violating the bodily autonomy of another human beeing!? Hearing you say that means he feels it's normal, he's got permission and that it's good masculine behavior. You're teaching your son to be an asshole instead of a functioning human being. Boys will behave better if we teach them to, so you better pick up the slack and join the rest of us in raising your fucking child!

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 45 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (7 children)

'could care less' instead of "couldn't". I know it's just a regional / generational difference, I don't really care about being a prescriptivist or that my way is more "logical". Phrases and idioms can be stupid and counterintuitive. But that ~~'s~~ said, it bugs the living hell out of me, and I instantly think anyone using it is an ignorant dumbass.

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[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 32 points 6 days ago (3 children)

I literally dislike it whenever anyone uses the word literally when they clearly mean figuratively.

Its just extra syllables to lie to me.

[–] tal@olio.cafe 19 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

There's this process in language where intensifiers


words that amplify the strength of the meaning of the rest of the phrase


tend to become used in areas that they aren't really truly appropriate in and thus "weaken" in meaning.

So, for example, "awesome" once truly meant "awe-inspiring", but it's been used enough in weaker senses the past several decades here in California that it doesn't really mean that any more. It just means "very good" now.

I don't think that the Brits do that with "awesome"


or at least not as much


but they like to use "colossally" in a similar way.

The above Wikipedia link has a list of intensifiers, including "literally", and you can probably recognize a bunch of them that have "weakened".

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[–] Darohan@lemmy.zip 21 points 6 days ago

"Common sense" when it actually means "something you would know if you'd lived my exact life". There are very few things in this world that are actually "common sense", and to be honest the whole concept should just be removed from cultures in which it is present.

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago
[–] kubok@fedia.io 18 points 6 days ago (1 children)

"Give something 110%"

Fuck no! 100% is the max. Even that is often too much to ask. Also, what's in it for me? Your appreciation huh? Well fuck you.

"I have a challenge for you".

No you don't. You have a problem and want to make it mine. Piss off.

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[–] fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works 11 points 5 days ago (3 children)

When talking politics:

"It's plain as day" "Common sense" "I don't know about that" "We all know" "It's just natural" "Normal" "Everybody (verbs) (x)"

Like that kind of stuff irks me in normal conversations but when we are talking about something that is part of common debate, obviously it's fucking not already known "common sense", and dismissing evidence that clearly contradicted it by saying "I don't about that" or similar just sends me.

It's a problem with trolls, strangers, and even loved ones for me. It's just wild

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[–] Bougie_Birdie@piefed.blahaj.zone 23 points 6 days ago (3 children)

So it bothers you when people vocalize their question marks, eh?

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[–] jaycifer@lemmy.world 11 points 5 days ago

“Most people think ___.” No, unless you’re citing a statistic or roughly quantifying how many anecdotes you’ve heard agreeing with you to support that statement (both of which rarely happen), that’s just your opinion wrapped up in language to avoid actually justifying it.

Additionally, even if most people think something, I don’t care what most people think. In my experience what most people think vs what the best thing to think is are often not aligned.

[–] Okokimup@lemmy.world 24 points 6 days ago (2 children)

"It's just common sense." No, it's usually either an inference you made based on incorrect information, or it's information you gleaned from your particular environment that not everyone has experienced.

[–] spittingimage@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago

Terry Pratchett used to describe that as the school of "what my mate down the pub said" thinking.

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[–] NerdyKeith@lemmy.world 8 points 5 days ago (3 children)

"No offence, but ..." followed by an insult.

Or starting off with an insult, then ending it with "Just saying ..."

As if these phrases nullify being a dick. If you're going to be an asshole, own it. Don't make excuses up.

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[–] sheridan@lemmy.world 25 points 6 days ago (3 children)

"It is what it is". This cliche is symptomatic of learned helplessness and only serves to protect the status quo against any sort critical analysis and reform.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 15 points 6 days ago (6 children)

It's sad you feel that way. We can't magically change the weather today, it is what it is. But if we keep pressuring businesses and politicians, we may be able to mitigate it for future generations.

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[–] 60d@lemmy.ca 21 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (9 children)

Any turn of phrase which is stated incorrectly. Eg.

  • case and point
  • doggie dog world
  • at your beckon call
  • they're on tender hooks
  • should tie you over
  • it's a mute point
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[–] 315am@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

“I call it as I see it.”

“I’m just very straightforward and honest.”

No, you’re a prick. That’s what you are.

[–] GrayBackgroundMusic@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago

Yeah, being truthful is generally good but that's independent of being an ass about it.

[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca 20 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (5 children)

I get unreasonably enraged at "am I the only one who". It's so arrogant and dismisses all the people who have been expressing the same opinion. Yes, you're so special and unique, you must be the first person to bring it up.

I've also had it with "literally". There is no need to use that word unless you are saying something that might be interpreted as figurative and you are clarifying that you mean it literally. "We literally live on the same street". Is there a figurative meaning to that? Why do you need to specify you mean it literally?

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[–] Vupware@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 days ago

Instead of “et cetera”, the speaker says something akin to “dut da da”. Drives me crazy!

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 18 points 6 days ago (1 children)

"Turn of phrase."

I much prefer the phrase "parlence of our day."

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[–] Confused_Emus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 5 days ago (2 children)

People who add periods to their acronyms (which is unnecessary to begin with), and then omit the last period.

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 9 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

In writing: "A Masterclass in X" to describe some sort of exemplary behavior. Hate hate hate seeing it.

I'm more forgiving with spoken language, but agree with the use of "literally" to mean "figuratively", it bothers me.

And in niche hairstyling lingo I hate when people use the word "micro-plopping" to describe scrunching or blotting with a cloth, because that technique precedes the word by at least 25 years, it wasn't invented recently and didn't need a new word. Plopping is tying your wet hair up in a cloth in a accordioned arrangement for awhile, and scrunching is just scrunching. What they are describing is better explained by saying they blotted with a cloth and/or scrunched with a cloth.

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[–] bstix@feddit.dk 9 points 5 days ago (4 children)

"Ding ding ding!"

I think it's condescending as fuck.

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[–] 5too@lemmy.world 9 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (3 children)

"Literally" meaning figuratively. I'm fine with most words changing with use; but we need that word! It's how you indicate you're not exaggerating or speaking dramatically! Especially these days, that clarification is important!

I'm also seeing a lot of corporate buzzwords in job descriptions. I get that these are essentially technical terms, but they're not being used for accuracy or clarity here. You just don't like how short your description is.

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[–] aviationeast@lemmy.world 17 points 6 days ago (1 children)

"Let that sink in..."

All I think about is what does the sink want, and why is it outside? Any point they were trying to make is now a joke to me. Better to say "think about that for a minute."

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[–] remon@ani.social 8 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (7 children)

You "hold the fort". It's a military position.

Only a fort molester would "hold down" the fort.

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[–] Toes@ani.social 15 points 6 days ago (5 children)

"Let's agree to disagree"

This solves nothing, it just equates to a polite way of saying I'm done talking to you.

[–] underreacting@literature.cafe 31 points 6 days ago (4 children)

What do you do if you realise you're just arguing in circles and nothing will be solved by continuing discussing that topic?

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[–] spittingimage@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago (6 children)

But there are some of us who don't even care if Star Trek is better than Star Wars.

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[–] Squirliss@piefed.social 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

"What I think she was trying to say is that- 🤓☝️" Stop trying to put words in my mouth or speak on my behalf when I am right here to put my point across to everyone.

That followed by those public event speakers that brush off the first round of goodmornings and then say "SAy iT lOuDeR! wHeRes yOuR eNeRgY! DIdNt yOu aLl eAt bReAkfAst?! 🤪" Idk what it is about hearing this sentence early in the morning that inspires so much hatred in me. You could have the most riveting, inspiring and thought provoking presentation in the world and have done lots of commendable deeds but if that string of words exits mouth before showing all of it, I automatically dislike you and whatever you have to say next.

[–] SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 5 days ago (2 children)

I think what youre trying to say is that you want to communicate your own ideas in the way you wish to and not funneled through another mind.

Also yes anyone in public speaking wanting more of a response is annoying.

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[–] sicarius@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago (3 children)

"It is what it is" when describing a bad situation.
No, that's defeatist as hell, it will be whatever it will be when I've given it everything I can to make it better.

[–] Smoogs@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago

I’ve read that one differently all this time. I thought It is what it is when it’s handed to me a mess. I can’t change what made it a mess. I can only clean it up. Coming to terms with the fact none of us can change the past and finding blame is pointless if i still have to clean it up.

EG: when faced with cleaning up a hoarders house. We might not have caused it but it still needs to be cleaned up. That’s when it is what it is so we don’t keep blaming what is usually the dead person found in it who can’t do anything about it anyways.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

There's a reason you dislike it so, I wager

It's not that deep." – dismisses attempts to expose faulty logic by asserting that logic is not necessary in this particular case.[8]

"Lies of the Devil." – used as a response to any fact that threatens the integrity of an individual or group.[9] "Stop thinking too much." – redirects attention from the topic, idea, or argument at hand to the alleged overuse of thought itself.[10]

"You clearly care way too much about this topic." – implies that one's level of concern or interest in a particular topic or situation is excessive and thus invalidates any further conversation or exploration[2]

"There are worse things in life to worry about." – implies that less significant issues are not worth addressing since they are not as significant as other issues and implies that a person's situation is not significant enough to even warrant discussion or action[11]

"It's all good." – nullifies, without evidence, any possible debate by asserting the issue is already settled.[12][user-generated source?]

"Here we go again." – implies that the redundant, cyclical nature of a given disagreement means it will never be resolved.[13]

"So what? What effect does my action have?" – used to dismiss an individual's involvement in a larger cause on the grounds that one person is too insignificant to ever have a meaningful impact.[2]

"Let's agree to disagree." – used to stop discussion of an issue rather than attempt to resolve it;[14] may, however, instantiate a dialectic.

"It is what it is." – implies that things are unchangeable, therefore there is no point in further discussion.[15]

"Let people enjoy things." – purports that criticisms to consumable media are attempts to prevent consumers from enjoying said media.[

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought-terminating_clich%C3%A9

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[–] Sabata11792@ani.social 7 points 5 days ago

"I have nothing to hide" -Man wearing pants

[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 13 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (6 children)

"Have your cake and eat it too"

Motherfucker, you have it backwards because you're too smoothbrained to understand what a fucking paradox is.

The original, correct version is "to eat your cake and have too".

The idea is that you want to eat a cake, but still have the cake afterwards. This is a paradox because you can't be in posession of a particular cake after you already ate the damn thing.

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 24 points 6 days ago

Booleans work in any order. A and B is the same value as B and A

Unless you're interpreting the phrase as "have your cake and then eat it too"? Which I never did before, but that would make your objections make more sense to me.

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[–] 843563115848@lemmy.zip 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (3 children)

Since you asked, "Touch grass" bothers me.

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