What conversational gambits/tics REALLY irritate you?

Now that I think about it....not a whole lot.
I try to limit the number of things in life that I let 'bug' me.
---Like, You know?

 

Someone really ought to explain the concept of a secret ballot to those people. Both purposes.

 

"To be honest with you," there aren't all that many.

(And those that do bother me are fun to mock. I don't have a lot of friends.)

Richard

 

One of my favs is "Can I ask you a question?"

 

Yeah, I always look at then deadpan and say..."You just did!" and walk away.

Oh yeah....and I NEVER answer the phone when I'm not certain who is calling. Pollsters, peddlers, and strangers need not try. So I don't have to sweat the "who did you vote for?" thing.

 

One of my favs is any question preceded by "Is it not true..."

I always answer those with a simple yes or no.

While in college I got called for jury duty and the two sides were questioning potential jurors in the jury box.

One of the Attorneys asked me a question prefaced with "Is it not true..." and I replied "Yes". He asked me to elaborate and I replied, "Yes, it is not true" Got me off jury duty.

 

Personally Bra...

I don't have a complaint about what or how some folks say something...




However, I have been admonished for calling folks "friend" in here using one of the afformentioned three letter words...

Just saying... some folks are too thin skinned or thick headed for me to want to continue talking to em. :tape:

 

Ain't it the truth...

 

"Am I right?"

Seriously, is the speaker looking for confirmation that much, or are they just insecure and use it as a crutch? Followed closely by:

"you know what I mean, right?"

Um, no. Why don't you just speak plainly and we will both know what you mean.

No one here, of course, annoys me.

 

"Thank you so much."

(as opposed to "thank you")

"The suspects absconded with..."

(Why not just say the thiefs, robbers, burglars, etc. Started sprinkling in the S-word only when you've caught someone, and have yet to pin the crime on them.)

"On the ground..."

(Often applied to reporters or similar, off somewhere newsworthy. Sounds lame.)

"Moving forward"

(Financially advisors are addicted to that one. Similarly lame.)

"I can tell you..."

(Seriously hate that one: just a world of imperious implication in that BS opening line by various "authority figures". Close variation: "What I can tell you...". Just as stinky...)

"Happy Friday"

(Or Tuesday, Thursday, whatever. Really would like to drop-kick that off the end of the driveway.)

"Males" "Females"

(What men and women became to cops, about a year back.)

"Succumbed to their wounds" "Expired"

("Died" used to work, more cop-speak)

"Our members attended"

(As opposed to "Our officers arrived". Some of these may be Canadianisms.)

(An example of the above: "Our members arrived at the dismemberment."

 

No no, this is before anyone is fingered. Someone did a crime, there's no suspicion there. Nothing libelous or false. If you say the robbers escaped in a blue sedan, where's the falsehood? You haven't said who they were. Ok, belabouring a fine point, LOL.