I’ve been trying to explain to my husband why I can’t stand the expression “Good stuff!” How do you explain the irritating nature of this stupid rejoinder? “Great stuff” is the same. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. Why do people say this? What did they use to say instead? It is fucking meaningless, and yet I hear it constantly. My husband asked me pointedly if I’d prefer “True ‘dat!” and I have to say, yes, it’s at least more specific and less inane.
“Ya think?” is also killing me. Who started this? Is it from some TV show or something? Did Fonzie say it, or some contemporary version of Fonzie? I presume it means the same as “Duh,” but when I hear it, I want to puncture my eardrums.
In the world of business and politics, I think that both “transparency” and “robust” have reached the tipping point or jumped the shark. Or whatever term is gaining traction. (Get it?!)
Slightly less grating but still an awful trend is the use of “insanely” as a synonym for “very.” I have read about coats that are insanely chic, and dresses that are insanely versatile. I understand “insanely jealous,” because it connotes a deranged quality. Maybe the coats and dresses are nuts. If not, I wish we could have some editorial standards. As if.
you know what your problem is?
Do you know what your problem is?
I know one of them.
OMG, I so hate all those expressions too. I hate “so” as an adverb as well, but I use it. I suck! I SO suck!
Friends with “Good stuff,” and equally irksome, is “Good times.”
And did I mention (that’s pretty awful too, isn’t it? “did I mention”?) that “jump the shark” has totally jumped the shark too?
GOD! UGH!
I love you!
No worries.
Whenever I hear ‘no worries,’ I think “Put another shrimp on the barbie!” Didn’t ‘no worries’ come from Australia, and can’t we send it back there?
Yes, please send “no worries” back down under, with no return address.
It’s all good.
When an interior designer says, “That really pops,” I want to puke. The other day, I was trying to figure out if it was really worth $6800 for a few dressers just so I could be in the presence of the interestingly sexy salesman who was trying to sell them to me. Then he said, “The laquered really pops,” and I decided it wasn’t worth it.
Jesus Christ. He said ‘the laquered’ and left out ‘dresser?’
Add that to the ‘pops’ and you should have complained to his manager. Ugh. I was once looking at a small green Chanel bag and the sales girl informed me: “It’s nice to have a pop of color.” I was carrying my gigantic yellow handbag at the time, like Duh, bitch, don’t tell ME about pop-of-color!
I’ve noticed an annoying trend developing in pundit-speak: the use of the word “look,” as in “Look, this is how it is…” It seems to be employed as a tool of emphasis, as if to give more credence to the coming penetrating insight. I’ve heard it used on news shows, political reviews, etc. Tonight, Robert Reich used it in an interview with Keith Olbermann. It’s sounds like insecurity, a kind of “you better believe me.” It also sounds a little intimidating, and sadly low-rent. “Look” is becoming the new “listen,” as in “listen up, buster!” It’s dull, makes the speaker sound like a dweeb, and I wish it would go away.
Steve, you read my mind! I’ve been complaining about “Look!” for ages but my husband aalways says “Get used to it.” (I don’t like that much, either.)
The ‘Look” that begins every answer by talking heads on the news is not only condescending, it’s vaguely hostile too. Make it stop!!!!!!!