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?
‘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
'ssaid, it bugs the living hell out of me, and I instantly think anyone using it is an ignorant dumbass.Absolutely.
Apart from the exact cases the lovely krudler just mentioned I agree with this. The misuse is very annoying.
Quite so. Isn’t there an Internet law that you can never post something pedantic about language without making a typo or other error?
The phrase was used decades ago to be somewhat of a dismissal or threat.
As in I care so little already, do you want me to care even less which will be not at all?
“Dad! You don’t care about my hamster!”
“I could care less…” (bitch again and the next stop for hammy is the freezer)
Like people who complain about “literally” being used hyperbolically, I’m always a tad concerned that someone wasn’t able to discern this to the point of making that inability known publicly.
Gonna bookmark this; it’s a great explanation.
This is the only place (Lemmy) that I’ve informed people and wasn’t met with a series of condescending lectures from kids. Shocked I have no downvotes actually!
If I cared any less I’d have to start thinking about how little I care, and I don’t care enough for that.
I literally dislike it whenever anyone uses the word literally when they clearly mean figuratively.
Its just extra syllables to lie to me.
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”.
Really blows my mind that so much ink is spilled over “literally” while “really” gets a pass for doing the same thing really.
Epic
brilliant!!!
As I said in another comment, it isn’t just using it incorrectly that’s annoying, it’s also using it unnecessarily. People use “literally” for emphasis in sentences where no adverb is needed. It should only be used if you are clarifying that you mean literally when the sentence could otherwise be interpreted as figurative
It’s just become a stylistic habit. People do it in imitation of what they hear everyone else do. This actually makes it even more annoying to me, though I know this is just instinctive human behavior.
“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.
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.
I was thinking of it more in a work context where when I question why some old and very inefficient work flow can’t be optimized in some way, I get that cliche in response.
It means whomever is above them is perceived as rigid. Maybe they are, maybe not. Do a POC in spare time and present it. Maybe something will come of it, maybe not. Either way, it is what it is.
Something I recently read when researching the tetragrammaton in Judaism, the name doesn’t necessarily mean just, “I am that I am,” it also means, “I am becoming that which I am becoming.” And things seldom look exactly in 3D as I picture them in my head or on paper. So it’s an interesting concept.
I don’t recall the site, some Jewish site about the rabbinical reasoning or translation.
pressuring businesses and politicians doesn’t matter much if the people themselves are living their lives in a hypocritical way.
Then don’t live that way.
I don’t. doesn’t mean that like 90% of the people around me aren’t living that way thought.
I’d go so far as to say American culture at least, is inherently hypocritical and to be a’ good american’ you have to live a life of deep hypocracy.
When I realize how difficult it can be to control myself, choosing a fruit over candies or cookies when that sweet tooth hits hard, I realize the folly of controlling my neighbors and focus on myself.
Fully agree, it contributes nothing but impotence. I make a habit of saying “we’re stuck with this unless…”
Sometimes change is impossible, but not nearly as often as this defeated little phrase gets thrown around.
Pretty context dependant. Some things you can’t change and have to deal with, so it is what it is. We got shit tools but the work needs to be done now so it is what it is.
So it bothers you when people vocalize their question marks, eh?
Its much worse at the start of a sentence.
Eh, to each their own.
I see what you did there, eh
“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.
Terry Pratchett used to describe that as the school of “what my mate down the pub said” thinking.
I catch that shit in political debate all the time.
“We need some common sense gun laws!”
The speaker is saying, “Whatever I deem to be common sense is the right way of thinking and anyone disagreeing is an asshole.”
Think I’ve eliminated that phrase from my comments and speech. I’ve sure tried.
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
“They didn’t do their diligence on that one”
“The gig is up”
Both from a podcast I listened to. I’m still not sure if they ever learned.
I could care less.
You put the nail on the head
I know what all of these are supposed to be except the tender hooks one. I’ve said it aloud and it’s driving me crazy because I can NOT figure it out.
Is it a regional one maybe? I’m from the US so maybe it’s one from elsewhere in the world? I bet I’m going to feel like a real dumb dumb when I figure out the answer and it’s hella obvious lmao.
Edit: Googled it and figured out that it’s actually “tenterhooks” and just basically means that someone is uneasy. I’ve never heard that phrase in my life. Kinda dope that I learned a new phrase today!
Yes, tenterhooks are used to stretch and stress fabric.
I imagine tenderhooks, if they existed, would probably be to tenderize meat or something. If they existed.
Ah the classics of [email protected]
This really my wife’s story, but: Person: “That really bottles my mind!” My Wife: “You mean ‘boggles’ my mind?” Person: “No, its Bottle.” Ooookay.
One bit of English that’s always stated incorrectly…
…is the word “incorrectly”.
“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.
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?
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?
I came here only to search for this one. And to add some, but that’s later.
Translates to “I just noticed something and I’m broadcasting that I’m generally inconsiderate without any self awareness” far too often, I agree.
Am I the only person that finds this comment too sensitive? Anyone? Y’all?
No I felt that to.
Homer throttling Bart.gif
“Turn of phrase.”
I much prefer the phrase “parlence of our day.”
I said something my husband didnt understand. I forgot what, but I said it was a common turn of phrase.
He said, Turn of phrase? What is this made up language you speak?
I had to prove to him “turn of phrase” wasn’t something I made up.
“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.
I am going through peoples replies sorta laughing to myself but what you have is the closest thing to something that irritates me. honestly 110 is like all the think out of the box bussiness speak to actualize externalities and such.
“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.”
Often used after saying something that they think is some big profound revelation. No, I was able to understand it all just fine in real time.
“Let’s agree to disagree”
This solves nothing, it just equates to a polite way of saying I’m done talking to you.
What do you do if you realise you’re just arguing in circles and nothing will be solved by continuing discussing that topic?
I usually ask them if they drive a volkswagen. Stops the discussion dead, lol!
Mine is finding a natural pause and kindly “Ah, darn, I have a (thing to do) but it’s been lovely chatting!”
Sometimes there are other things you need to discuss, but it’s time to move on from the pointless argument.
I actually usually just say something like. Look we just disagree. Usually the other person just wants to keep up the disagreement conversation so I through that into a few responses as, I dunno, politeness before I just stop responding.
But there are some of us who don’t even care if Star Trek is better than Star Wars.
Careful now, you’re on Lemmy
Farscape 4 lyfe, bro.
This argument dates back to the '80s, so we’re talking TOS & TNG vs the original trilogy. I would argue they’re not even really the same genre. Star Trek is proper scifi. Star Wars is action/adventure with scifi dressing.
I’m biased because I love Star Trek. But also I like Star Wars. It doesn’t have to be either-or, especially because it’s apples vs oranges.
I have umbridge with star trek as it made me think life would be better as I got older.
De-umbrage yourself - in Star Trek lore the world was a complete mess in 2025. The future Roddenberry envisioned could still happen, we just won’t be alive to see it. Which I agree is a bummer! :(
yeah that was not very clear until well into deep space nine. Granted Q did talk in vague terms with picard about some stuff.
what is the solution? them conceding that you are correct?
Sometimes you have to back the fuck up on an unproductive argument. I don’t like it either, but it’s often an honorable way out for both parties.
Very close friend and neighbor was arguing with me about 01/06, an event that gave me PTSD-lite. It came to the point that we either dropped it or threw hands. Still, I refused to shake his hand on “agree to disagree”.
It admits that neither party is willing to change their opinion so an agreement can’t be reached, let’s move on.
“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.
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
I dont know about that… :p
Geniunly triggered me without context lmao
Haha yeah it was just a joke. :)
“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.
Booleans work in any order.
A and Bis the same value asB and AUnless 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.
I had always wondered what the point was. Now that actually makes sense.
I learned this from the Unabomber
The original is just fine. If you eat your cake you won’t have it anymore. You can’t have both be true at the same time. Switching them over would be clearer but it doesn’t mean the first one is wrong.
The original is just fine.
You missed part of my comment. What you’re referring to as the “original” version is not the original version
Well let’s call it the current version. Point is the same.
