Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

"Invite" as a noun - yet another Americanism. What was wrong with "invitation"?

The use of "quote" for "quotation" is similarly annoying but embedded in usage. Some bright spark will no doubt point out that we ask plumbers for their estimate rather than their estimation...

[oddoneout]

The use of "quote" for "quotation" is similarly annoying but embedded in usage. Some bright spark will no doubt point out that we ask plumbers for their estimate rather than their estimation...

Electricians surely?

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Electricians surely?

Nice one!

Two more: 'gift' as a verb, along with 'gifting'; and 'living my best life', which seems to be a faddish way of saying 'being true to myself' but is treated as meaning 'having the time of my life', at least as I've seen it used recently.

[oddoneout]

Nice one!

Two more: 'gift' as a verb, along with 'gifting'; and 'living my best life', which seems to be a faddish way of saying 'being true to myself' but is treated as meaning 'having the time of my life', at least as I've seen it used recently.

I find that phrase irritating, but possible to ignore, when applied to humans, but when used for the likes of rescued/repaired dogs, cats, zoo animals etc I find myself shouting "how do you know?".

[JasonPalmer]

When people say "see you later" when we have no plans to meet at all, why not just say "goodbye".

[Bryn]

When people say "see you later" when we have no plans to meet at all, why not just say "goodbye".

See John Cage's A Year from Monday.

About this book's title (apart from its ambiguity and my interest in non-
measurement) : it was a Saturday; there were six of us having dinner in a
restaurant on the Hudson north of Newburgh; we arranged to meet in Mexico
(I've never been in other parts of Mexico than Lower California); three had been
in Mexico and were delighted at the prospect of returning; one was born there but
hadn't been there for five years; his wife, whom he married in India, like me has
never been there; two others, not present at the dinner, both of whom have been
in Mexico and love it, hopefully will join us; we may be a party of eight); in order
to realize this rendezvous, all of us (knowing how to say Yes) will have to learn
to say No—No, that is, to anything that may come between us and the realization
of our plan.

As explained in the Afterword o the book, the Mexican meetup never took place.

[french frank]

When people say "see you later" when we have no plans to meet at all, why not just say "goodbye".

They may have (non)religious grounds for not saying "God be with you"? Having learned two or three words in Hungarian in order to delight Hungarian friends, I was a little put out to discover that 'Szia', pronounced more or less like "See ya", was used for saying hello and goodbye, which made saying 'Szia' on arrival feel a bit uncomfortable.

[oddoneout]

When people say "see you later" when we have no plans to meet at all, why not just say "goodbye".

"Goodbye" can sound quite dismissive and also final, and is used in that way on occasion. Other languages seem to tend towards the rather softer approach - au revoir, arrivederci, tot siens, auf wiedersehen, all of which allude to seeing someone again, so I think saying "see you" (rather than "see you later" which I agree sounds a bit false) is acceptable as an alternative. I find myself using it for casual encounters in town, where a few words are exchanged in passing and where there is often the likelihood I will see the person again before too long.
On the other hand, "See you"/"see you again" from radio presenters is just a nonsense.

[Sir Velo]

"Train station ". 'Nuff said.

[cloughie]

When people say "see you later" when we have no plans to meet at all, why not just say "goodbye".

Or as Lizzie A says ‘Ta ra’!

[Serial_Apologist]

"Train station ". 'Nuff said.

One of my bêtes noirs as well.

[Serial_Apologist]

Or as Lizzie A says ‘Ta ra’!

I often say "Ciao for now" - leaving open an optimistic hope for the future.

[french frank]

I often say "Ciao for now" - leaving open an optimistic hope for the future.

I wondered where the word 'ciao' came from. It means 'Your slave' apparently!

[kernelbogey]

I wondered where the word 'ciao' came from. It means 'Your slave' apparently!

In Bavaria and Austria, fifty years ago Servus ('Your servant'), was common as a hello or goodbye, especially among the young. I suspect this is now out of fashion.

[french frank]

In Bavaria and Austria, fifty years ago Servus ('Your servant'), was common as a hello or goodbye, especially among the young. I suspect this is now out of fashion.

And in Hungary, now I think of it - but I hadn't connected 'ciao' with it!