OT: What words or phrases annoy you?

[Kelly Phillips]

No idea. I've lived in a lot of different places so I've heard a lot of things that others may find unusual.

I'm not under 40 but I have no problem with "Can I get...".

[David Brooks]

In what peripatetic occupation have you been engaged?

I expect you understand the term "Long pig".

It's yet another Americanism which has crept into British English.

I don't like it.

[Davey]

The use of the American "Two weeks" instead of the perfectly good English word "Fortnight".

[JNugent]

On many visits to the USA, I have experienced looks of blank lack of understanding in shops and food outlets in response to requests starting with "May I have...?".

It's quicker and easier to say "Can I get...?".

But I would never say it in the UK.

[NY]

When I went over to Boston to stay with my sister and her family who were living there for a few years in the late 90s, her neighbour asked me how long I was staying and I replied "about a fortnight". He gave me a blank look and my sister elaborated "two weeks". I hadn't realised until that the word "fortnight" was almost unknown in the USA. But then even in the UK, you very rarely hear "sennight" (seven-night) meaning week, except as a very archaic term - like "four-and-twenty" instead of twenty-four (except when referring to blackbirds!).

[angelica...]

Why have a special word for two weeks? There's no special word for three weeks.

Cindy Hamilton

[Kelly Phillips]

We're not immune to such things here in the Netherlands.

[Commander Kinsey]

I detest anything that requires me to use a calculator.

[Commander Kinsey]

If women are equal, they should act like it. Start walking around topless in hot weather for a start like men do.

There's a reason it's called "race".

Foot lovers?

[Commander Kinsey]

I've heard it before, so it's a second hand theft.

[Commander Kinsey]

Why do you have a problem with that? They're identical in meaning. The only slight difference is whether you're at the source or destination point. If you're at neither, then use either.

[Commander Kinsey]

"Just a moment", "I'll be 5 minutes", "just a sec". All very annoying because you have no idea how long you have to wait.

My physics lecturer at university once said "just a moment" when we were attempting to inform him the projector was on fire. He would not allow an interruption until he'd finished the very long equation on the board.

[Commander Kinsey]

"What time of day is it?" What other f****ng time is there?

[Commander Kinsey]

What's wrong with that? Previous analysises would have been less accurate due to less information.

[Commander Kinsey]

How big is this lot I'm to buy?

[Commander Kinsey]

More information doesn't beat common sense.

A reliable source is usually a censored one.

[David Brooks]

Just in time! :-P

[Tekkie©]

On Thu, 17 Jun 2021 09:37:25 -0400, Ed Pawlowski posted for all of us to digest...

Datsa nize, now wee gut dat settle.

[Tekkie©]

On Thu, 17 Jun 2021 02:34:55 -0700 (PDT), [e-mail] posted for all of us to digest...

Hey some of them turds are smoking when they come out; especially on a cold day.

[Snit]

On Jun 18, 2021 at 12:25:21 PM MST, ""Commander Kinsey"" wrote [e-mail]:

When there is not a consensus on what is "common sense" it is merely saying it is your view. You can have your view and it need not be tied to strong evidence. Heck, I think we all do have such views. But on bigger issues I think it makes sense to be educated and not just go with you gut (common sense).

Gut feeling or do you have evidence of that? 

I *do* have evidence to back which sources are more or less reliable.