Words or phrases that annoy you

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I hate "gift" instead of "present" but I hate "gift" as a verb even more! What on earth is wrong with using the verb "to give"?

I try so hard not to be a grammar/language nazi, but this is one that has me grinding my teeth every single time.

He 'gifted' it to me. GAVE!!! :mad::mad:

Flyonthewall

tea_lover wrote: »

The word 'tech' to refer to various gadgets. Just stop it.

I use that, never thought anything of it, it's just short for technology (which gadgets are). What's wrong with that?

NBLondon

I didn't realise "train station" was going to cause such fun :-) Otherwise I'd have pointed out that an omnibus departs from a roadway station.


Today's annoyance was one I heard on the radio this morning - "Spurs legendary Gary Mabbutt". No - he was and is a real living person. There may be legends about him or his performances on the pitch but a "legend" is by definition not authenticated. I'll just about accept "living legend" for a successful person who has become the subject of legends but it gets massively overused. See also: National Treasure.


(No disrespect to Mr Mabbutt as a person or as a professional footballer - the fact that I've heard of him suggests he was a player of some note. He was just the example I heard today).

mumps

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I hate "gift" instead of "present" but I hate "gift" as a verb even more! What on earth is wrong with using the verb "to give"?

I heard a comedian (can't think who it was) explaining the difference between a gift and a present. Basically he said things like a scented Christmas candle was a gift and something you can use (can't remember his example but say half a dozen pairs of socks) was a present. His message was no one needs a gift but presents are great. I am using that as a guideline in buying presents.

tea_lover

Flyonthewall wrote: »

I use that, never thought anything of it, it's just short for technology (which gadgets are). What's wrong with that?

The thread is about words or phrases that annoy you. Not about whether other people like them or think they're ok to use.

Flyonthewall

tea_lover wrote: »

The thread is about words or phrases that annoy you. Not about whether other people like them or think they're ok to use.

I know, I get that. Often people have a reason why something annoys them though. I was simply wondering why that annoyed you as it is a perfectable acceptable term in the sense of people are calling it what it is (although a shortened version).

TBagpuss

sunnyflower wrote: »

I couldn't bring myself to by from an on-line seller who "needs it gone". And people who say
" Can I get" instead of "please may I have" really irritate me :eek:

My parents trained us all out of this one. If one of us said "Can I [leave the table / go to friend's house etc.] we would usually get a response such as "That sounds like something that you are physically capable of doing, yes"

My own pet hate is the use of 'refute' to mean 'deny'. If you refute an allegation you provide evidence to disprove it. Simply saying "it isn't true" or "I didn't do it" is a denial.
Similarly the use of 'disinterested' to mean 'uninterested'.
And "very unique".

pollypenny

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I hate "gift" instead of "present" but I hate "gift" as a verb even more! What on earth is wrong with using the verb "to give"?

Oh, God, yes! 'Gift' as a verb appears regularly on the 50+ thread, when advising posters about avoiding care home fees.

I was slated for complaining about it.

BNT

English is a language that keeps on gifting.

The use of 'gift' as a verb is by no means new, but it does sound odd when I hear of it. Perhaps in a legal sense it might be useful to convey a permanent transfer rather than a more generic giving, but on the whole it seems unnecessary.

I have visions of gifted children, wrapped in ribbons and left on someone's porch.

BNT

tea_lover wrote: »

The thread is about words or phrases that annoy you. Not about whether other people like them or think they're ok to use.

There's a term for that: word aversion.

"a feeling of intense, irrational distaste for the sound or sight of a particular word or phrase, not because its use is regarded as etymologically or logically or grammatically wrong, nor because it’s felt to be over-used or redundant or trendy or non-standard, but simply because the word itself somehow feels unpleasant or even disgusting."