Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[jean]

In Italy it's Poi? and you search frantically for what you've got to say to put an end to it - which is Basta!

[jean]

I didn't get where I am today by being "sensible"

Then you really shouldn't get upset when you think shop assistants imply that you're not being, should you?

[MrGongGong]

Then you really shouldn't get upset when you think shop assistants imply that you're not being, should you?

I'm not upset
what on earth are you on about ?
No, don't bother

[James Wonnacott]

I had this one on the 'phone yesterday from some salesman:-
"Would it be possible to arrange a meeting with yourself"
My reply:
"Yes, of course, I do it all the time. Goodbye"

[Radio64]

Heard the American "secretary" - ie. with the accent on '-ary' on R4 Today (possibly Evan Davis) this morning ... grate, grate ... it's pronounced 'sècr't'ry' actually mate.

[gurnemanz]

Not a huge annoyance but a similar one for me is the trend to use the US version of "hurricane" where the "cane" gets fully pronounced. I thought that over here "hurrikn" was the accepted pronunciation.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... it's pronounced 'sècr't'ry' actually mate.

That isn't how I pronounce it.

[Beef Oven!]

That isn't how I pronounce it.

Then you should take some meddy-s'n.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

… like in Mary Poppins.

[mercia]

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks!

[gurnemanz]

I had this one on the 'phone yesterday from some salesman:-
"Would it be possible to arrange a meeting with yourself"
My reply:
"Yes, of course, I do it all the time. Goodbye"

The misuse of the -self pronoun does irritate me. It can only ever be the same person or thing as the subject of the sentence. To have a meeting with oneself would indeed be unlikely unless a reflection of an unusual mental state. I suppose people assume it is just a more emphatic version of the normal pronoun - as in "I did it myself".

[Beef Oven!]

The misuse of the -self pronoun does irritate me.

You got off lightly - apparently, it can make you blind.

[Serial_Apologist]

Heard the American "secretary" - ie. with the accent on '-ary' on R4 Today (possibly Evan Davis) this morning ... grate, grate ... it's pronounced 'sècr't'ry' actually mate.

Worse still, "Febuary", from the same gentleman, same programme!

[Serial_Apologist]

The misuse of the -self pronoun does irritate me. It can only ever be the same person or thing as the subject of the sentence. To have a meeting with oneself would indeed be unlikely unless a reflection of an unusual mental state. I suppose people assume it is just a more emphatic version of the normal pronoun - as in "I did it myself".

I ask myself, can that be so?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Worse still, "Febuary", from the same gentleman, same programme!

That is very annoying. Sheer laziness.