15 Annoying Buzzwords Americans Love To Use
Many of us have one or two catchphrases we use often. But some buzzwords make well-versed English speakers cringe.
How many of these words and phrases are you guilty of saying?
1: Taking Things Literally
Overusing the word “literally” in sentences drives some people up a wall. Why do you need to say, “I was literally ten minutes late,” rather than saying, “I was ten minutes late?” I’d reckon that most people are keen on believing you without the added word.
2: No Cares in the World
If the phrase “I could care less” sounds correct to you, it’s because too many English speakers use it. The correct way to say the phrase is by replacing “could” with “couldn’t.”
3: Mom and Pop
It grinds some people’s gears when people refer to their parents as “the rents.” This can be especially jarring for older folks, as teenagers coined the term in the early 2000s.
4: Not Quite Right
English speakers have a knack for mispronouncing certain words. Case in point? When someone says “supposevly” instead of “supposedly.” Other common offenders are “would of,” “could of,” and “should of.” FYI: The “of” needs to be replaced with “have.”
5: None Taken
Most of us know the feeling when someone says “no offense” before proceeding to say something undeniably offensive. As Charles Caleb Colton wrote, “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.”
6: Turn My Swag on
Perhaps one of the most popular words of the late aughts, “swag,” is worthy of a few eye-twitches. Not only is “swag” overused, but many Americans don’t understand the meaning of it. In case you’re among them, it means fabric with a drooping curvature or stolen goods taken by a thief or looting.
7: Show Must Go On
At the end of the day, it bothers some people when others start their sentences with that exact phrase. You’re better off cutting to the chase and enjoying the rest of your day.
8: Taking Advantage
To some cyber-smart people, the term “internet hacker” is thrown around far too often. Instead, people should use the term “opportunistic attacker.” If you left a bunch of cash on a porch in a populated area overnight, would you expect it to be there the next morning? The same idea applies to opportunistic attackers; they take advantage of “hacking” low-hanging internet fruit.
9: Chronically Failing
Some folks wither up when they hear people say “epic fail.” Why? The “epic” fail is often about a non-life-altering failure, such as burning dinner on the stove.
10: Chin Up
Even when someone’s in a good mood, it can still be aggravating when someone tells them to smile. Some girls may have also had the experience of being told they’re prettier when they smile.
11: Short and Sweet
Valley girls, look away. Saying things like “cray-cray,” “probs,” “totes,” and anything where you’re shortening words by syllables can get annoying fast to some people.
12: Grinding Gears
Most baristas know the pain of hearing someone order an “expresso.” The mispronounced word can even annoy non-coffee drinkers. The correct word is “espresso.” And don’t even try to order a “no-foam cappuccino,” which is another phrase that can drive your barista mad.
13: Ruffling Feathers
Some fans of the adult comedy show “Family Guy” understand just how much of an earworm the phrase “bird is the word” is. According to Harvard, repetitive pieces with certain music notes that are longer are more likely to become earworms.
14: That’s Amore
“Lovers” is a word that annoys some English speakers. If someone has ever caught their partner cheating on them, it’s extra understandable why.
15: Que Sera Sera
“It is what it is” may give you peace or make you cringe, depending on your views on life. Of course, everything is what it is.
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