Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[french frank]

Why is the word 'egregious' so over-used these days?

I can't remember it being in use until recently, then all of a sudden it's everywhere. Not a word I've found of much use, preferring 'bad', shocking'. awful' or similar more effective synonyms to convey my meaning.

I think it's quite recently that it seems to have been used in an exclusively negative way. It originally just meant 'outstandingly' (standing out from the flock), and more often in a positive way. I don't think it's used at all like that now, probably reflecting the frequency with which it's been taken up in the negative sense.

[Bryn]

I think it's quite recently that it seems to have been used in an exclusively negative way. It originally just meant 'outstandingly' (standing out from the flock), and more often in a positive way. I don't think it's used at all like that now, probably reflecting the frequency with which it's been taken up in the negative sense.

A bit like a reciprocal of the journey of "fulsome" then.

[kernelbogey]

Ah, I see that. But what is the use of the word 'alleged' supposed to convey in such a context?

I simply chose it as an example: though it's the sort of word that gets these ironic quote designators.

[oddoneout]

A bit like a reciprocal of the journey of "fulsome" then.

"Sophisticated" has done an about turn, from adulterated or falsified to refined and subtle, something about which my father often muttered - more for effect than any strong feeling I suspect.

[Serial_Apologist]

"Sophisticated" has done an about turn, from adulterated or falsified to refined and subtle, something about which my father often muttered - more for effect than any strong feeling I suspect.

My mum got stuck somewhere around Brahms - never made it as far as Modern, let alone Postmodern!

[Pulcinella]

Why is the word 'egregious' so over-used these days?

I can't remember it being in use until recently, then all of a sudden it's everywhere. Not a word I've found of much use, preferring 'bad', shocking'. awful' or similar more effective synonyms to convey my meaning.

Hotels in Italy refer to their guests as 'Egregious Clients' (or at least have done in emails I've had from them).
It's effectively their equivalent of Dear Sir.

[Bryn]

"Sophisticated" has done an about turn, from adulterated or falsified to refined and subtle, something about which my father often muttered - more for effect than any strong feeling I suspect.

Yes, I recall an edition of The Archers, some decades ago, which made that very point.

[french frank]

Hotels in Italy refer to their guests as 'Egregious Clients' (or at least have done in emails I've had from them).
It's effectively their equivalent of Dear Sir.

OED notes on the etymology: "The negative use in sense 2 has no parallel in Latin or in the Romance languages; it appears to have arisen as an ironic use of sense 1" [the positive use, found in other languages].

[johncorrigan]

Why is the word 'egregious' so over-used these days?

I can't remember it being in use until recently, then all of a sudden it's everywhere. Not a word I've found of much use, preferring 'bad', shocking'. awful' or similar more effective synonyms to convey my meaning.

I'd be interested to see if it is traced back to the 'Bill and Ted' movies of the early nineties, Petrushka. That was the first time I was aware of egregious, and I have heard it a lot since then, so perhaps a generational thing.

[Keraulophone]

The Today Programme (R4) played the end of The Firebird to conclude this morning’s edition…

“…played by the Royal Concert Orchestra conducted by Mariss Johnson.”

Any relation to the PM?

[french frank]

The Today Programme (R4) played the end of The Firebird to conclude this morning’s edition…

“…played by the Royal Concert Orchestra conducted by Mariss Johnson.”

Any relation to the PM?

His sister, I think.

[Serial_Apologist]

The Today Programme (R4) played the end of The Firebird to conclude this morning’s edition…

“…played by the Royal Concert Orchestra conducted by Mariss Johnson.”

Any relation to the PM?

Until ff volunteered the suggestion about it being his sister, I was going to say a well-known brand of potato which plays pipes!

[cloughie]

The Today Programme (R4) played the end of The Firebird to conclude this morning’s edition…

“…played by the Royal Concert Orchestra conducted by Mariss Johnson.”

Any relation to the PM?

What happened to the gebouw?

[french frank]

Until ff volunteered the suggestion about it being his sister, I was going to say a well-known brand of potato which plays pipes!

[Maclintick]

Forgive me if this annoying phrase has been commented on before, but it seems quite prevalent, and almost exclusively an affliction of young males in the retail/delivery sector -- "No worries", usually uttered several times in the course of the most mundane transaction, for no discernible reason. I suppose it's just a harmless pleasantry, but after several irksome repetitions I've been tempted to interject "Should I be worried ?". I keep my trap shut, however, and maintain a rictus of transparently fake bonhomie. "No worries, mate".