Word to drive you crazy

[MsEVP]

I can`t be the only one who fills with despair every time the word PROUD is thrown out! It is used now so much by all and sundry that it has long since lost any sensible meaning. People are proud of their suntan, proud that they only drank six pints last night, proud that they have no hair in their ears, proud that they are skinnier than Posh, proud that they finished school, proud that they didn`t forget to put the rubbish out on time, proud that they got married, proud that they got divorced, proud that they have 2 kids, proud that they haven`t got any kids, and all and sundry seem to be proud of their relatives for one reason or another. (That`s a point, can you be proud for someone else?)
Many times the word proud that you hear is bordering on arrogance or conceit. And, boy, I really feel proud if I can get through the day without hearing the word PROUD!

[trt]

I hate the word thank you very much '' Indeed '' which is used by every newsreaders when they have spoken to a reporter about a story on the news!

[Ann]

"Lessons will be learned" drives me insane - meaningless words usually said after a tragedy - but they never are!

[ladybirder]

The over use of devastated gets me. You will be devastated if someone you love dies not because your bl00dy false finger nail fell off!

[Ann]

American words in general - drive me mad - Period.!

[Answerprancer]

"So" - as in "that is "so" not good !"
Yuck.

[Answerprancer]

Similarly Ann "heads will roll" always makes me think of someone doing neck excercises rather than being beheaded. V irritating.

[Answerprancer]

"Evidently" used as a punctuation by someone holding court in a gossip circle, especially if pronounced "eviDENTly"

[Answerprancer]

Several Americanisms drive me batty eg. "inquiring minds want to know".

[Ann]

What about "out of one's comfort zone" - GRRRR!!

[Ann]

The "Youf" of today saying "Like" many times in one sentence ........

[Answerprancer]

Oh dear, I think I might have used that a few times !

[craft1948]

Anyone who qualifies "unique"............

[starone]

Yes I hate anyone qualifying 'unique' too craft - it is very annoying. How about 'at the end of the day'?

[littleshirl]

thinking outside the box?

[Quizmonster]

I always have a laugh when I read about people being 'annoyed' by words/phrases or making grrrrrowling noises about them. Language is a tool, so you might as well get pee'd off by a screwdriver!
People use the words that are effective for THEM without reference to anyone else, so your annoyance isn't going to change anything and just eats away at YOU.
The words - indeed, period and absolutely - are all three just emphasisers and those who decry Americanisms presumably avoid ever saying airline, babysitter, employee, bank on, hold down (a job) and stay put...each and every one an example of the multitudes of wonderful words/phrases originally coined in the USA.
Actual mistakes, now, these are a different matter. Writing 'could of' when 'could've' is meant, just because they sound alike, is grotesque. Similarly - and I agree totally with Andy on this - we don't 'battle' against cancer and nor is every man who enlists and is posted to Afghanistan a 'hero'.

Basically, (Oops!) and unless what they are saying is actually wrong, why not just let people express themselves as they see fit? You do.

[maggiebee]

And........ what does "fit for purpose" actually mean??

[emmie]

journey, that does it for me, i am, we are and they are on a journey, whatever miserable little matter has beset them, and x factor, pop idol have much to answer for, for this overused word

[pips1]

I have 2 friends who say 'absolutely' and 'precisely' after every statement. I can put up with this but cannot abide the word (I use the term loosely!) - 'innit'.

[emmie]

pip, innit awful, everytime i hear it i want to box their ears.

[ichkeria]

"I always have a laugh when I read about people being 'annoyed' by words/phrases or making grrrrrowling noises about them. Language is a tool, so you might as well get pee'd off by a screwdriver! "

Screwdrivers can be very irritating things.
And so