Words / phrases that annoy you

Adnams Drinker said:
OMG, a thousand times this - I utterly hate it. Horrid Americanism imported from TV dross like 'Friends' or 'Frasier'. I heard somebody say this in my local chippy recently and I swear my fists clenched. What the hell is wrong with the standard English "Could I have ..."?
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Lighten up, take a chill pill, have a Golden Ale if you’re into Adnams beers, my wife has been saying “can I get?” for longer than I can remember.
Every waiter, waitress, or server has understood her and not said anything, personally I’m inclined to say “I’ll take”, e.g. I’ll take the Cornish sea bass, hold the tomatoes, easy on the bouillabaisse dressing, thanks.
No need to get all bent out of shape.
p.s. It’s obvious what you mean, and you’ve used the word that we all understand, but why not fish and chip shop instead of chippy? Certainly not me, but there’s probably someone who gets worked up over hearing chippy.

dowie said:
"could have"

It's not just a spelling mistake, the person using it actually speaks that way.
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Even when someone says “could have”, unless they concentrate on enunciating it properly, it will sound like could uhv.
It’s mostly noticeable when written wrongly, as you rightly say, it’s not a spelling mistake, they’re using the wrong word.
 
Jean-F said:
Even when someone says “could have”, unless they concentrate on enunciating it properly, it will sound like could uhv.
It’s mostly noticeable when written wrongly, as you rightly say, it’s not a spelling mistake, they’re using the wrong word.
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Yup it is quite subtle when speaking, which is perhaps why some people go through their lives using it. More noticeable perhaps when they say something like:

"could you of done..." instead of "could you have done..."
 
People who say 'obviously' in every second sentence, & what they are saying is not obvious unless you are telepathic, these people should be culled.
 
JessieD said:
People who say 'obviously' in every second sentence, & what they are saying is not obvious unless you are telepathic, these people should be culled.
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While I agree with you Jessie, if we culled everyone who “literally” annoyed us with their inane speech patterns, we’d literally, (again), “obviously” end up with no one to talk to, know what I mean?
As an inner Londoner, I get wound up by the kids Jafaican speech sounds, bayke for bike, layke for like, innit ad infinitum.
 
Jean-F said:
While I agree with you Jessie, if we culled everyone who “literally” annoyed us with their inane speech patterns, we’d literally, (again), “obviously” end up with no one to talk to, know what I mean?
As an inner Londoner, I get wound up by the kids Jafaican speech sounds, bayke for bike, layke for like, innit ad infinitum.
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I'm fine with that, I'd just talk to the cat. :D
Those who misuse 'literally' should also be culled. eg 'I literally died' ....& despite the impediment of death the person still has the power of speech.
 
WYNIR0 said:
' can I get' used in restaurants and coffeshops. Do you really want to get it yourself?
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Quoted for truth. Why can't people speak properly?

Also, why do a significant number of people feel they need to start each sentence with "So"?
 
'Going forward' Whatever happened to 'in the future' or 'next week'?

"close of play" also written as "cop" Like working is a football match or something full of sportsmanship and camaraderie, instead of the teeth-pulling experience is usually drags out to be.

"Can you action the above/below" depending on how lazy the contracts guy is is relaying drawing information. Easier to send an email than to sit down and explain what they want so it gets done right the first time...

"Can you dwg that?" Yeah, 'cause I just jangle the keys and move the mouse a bit to create detailed plans and section drawings with no accurate information sets.

"see note" What note, where? This is usually on a markup sheet at the bottom of a stack of drawings that is intended to be written on all title sheets, but is only mentioned on one. Often the last one you get to.
 
jumpy said:
'Going forward' Whatever happened to 'in the future' or 'next week'?.
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Because it's not the same.

"Going forwards" means from hereon out. "From hereon out" is an archaic phrase; let's try something else... "From this point onwards"; "Starting today".

"In the future" means "at some point in the future" and does not imply continuity between now and whenever this future point is. "Next week" implies a finite period of one week beginning in a few days.

Perhaps you don't like it because it's over-used, but it really does have a quite specific meaning that's not captured by either of your suggestions. Naturally that doesn't mean you aren't hearing it mis-used and reacting to that.
 
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