Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[MrGongGong]

I've adopted his prejudice in his memory!

I was wondering what prejudices I've adopted in the same manner .........

[3rd Viennese School]

People on discussion programmes (Night Waves etc) seem to come out with the same old phrases.

“Let’s extrapolate…”

“Existentialism”

“Post Modernism”

“Paradox”

“Double edged sword”

etcetcetcetc

[ahinton]

People on discussion programmes (Night Waves etc) seem to come out with the same old phrases.

“Let’s extrapolate…”

“Existentialism”

“Post Modernism”

“Paradox”

“Double edged sword”

etcetcetcetc

I don't usually have a particular issue with the first and last two of these five, although I accept that there are probably instances where they tend to get used and/or overused inappropriately; I think that the kinds of use on such programmes as you mention tend more often than not to have their origins in academia, "post-feminism" being another glaring example especially when trotted out in the context of "feminist musicology" (which has always sounded to me almost sufficiently oxymoronic - not to say moronic - as to make it akin to a contradiction in terms).

How's about "paradigm", then? (sadly not as in "Buddy, can you spare a paradigm?")...

[kernelbogey]

The use of the present tense in historical narrative:

Charles is then taken to the place of his execution.
Napoleon realises that his plan to invade Britain has failed. He then decides....
Churchill immediately calls Roosevelt.
Melvyn Bragg decides on a novel presentational style for In Our Time.

Ok I made them all up, but I blame Bragg for this irritating Radio Four linguistic affectation.

[Flosshilde]

"Some - used with numbers to indicate an approximate amount or estimate, and passing into an adverb with the sense of 'about, nearly, approximately'. "

c 888 King Ælfred 'Tha wæron hi sume ten year on tham gewinne' ; c 900 Old English Chronicle 'Thær wurdon ... sume feower cyninges thegnas ofslægene' ; 1567 Maplet ' The floud Ganges hath eles some 30 Foote long' ; 1668 Dryden 'I have some three hundred pistoles by me' ; 1787 Burns 'It's now some nine-an'-twenty year'; 1865 Ruskin 'This collection would probably have been some thousand or twelve hundred pounds.'

[OED]

Actually, I think the latter two examples support my interpretation rather than the OED's. Burns knew how long his father had had the horse, & Ruskin's 'some' applies to the 'thousand'; he then goes on to suggest it might have been more than that (but I've never thought much of Ruskin, anyway).

[Flosshilde]

or even "almost exactly"

which is a bit like the Christmas dilemma

It's either a "Royal David's City" or a "little town" it can't be BOTH

Oh yes it can - St Davids in Pembrokeshire is a city with a population of about, approximately, more or less, roughly 1600. There are villages in England ten times that size.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh yes it can - St Davids in Pembrokeshire is a city with a population of about, approximately, more or less, roughly 1600. There are villages in England ten times that size.

Isn't there also a village/little town in Carmarthenshire called Bethlehem? The Post Office does a roaring trade at this time of year!

[scottycelt]

He/she's a right saddo ... (he/she doesn't share any of the same interests as me)

He/she's really boring ... (he/she reads books, takes a keen interest in current affairs, and goes to classical music concerts).

You'll really like so-and-so, he/she is very much like yourself ... (in that case surely the most genuinely boring and predictable person one is ever likely to encounter ).

[EdgeleyRob]

"I quite like the sound of that Andre Rieu,have you got anything by him in all those cds" (my wife this evening).

This thread was the first thing that came into my head as soon as she said it.

[teamsaint]

"I quite like the sound of that Andre Rieu,have you got anything by him in all those cds" (my wife this evening).

This thread was the first thing that came into my head as soon as she said it.

Not just a subtle Xmas hint then?

Which reminds me, that "Whats on your Xmas pressie requests list" thread needs starting....

[scottycelt]

pressies ...

[teamsaint]

pressies ...

Start the thread Scotty, you know you want to...I have done my limit this week !!

[scottycelt]

Start the thread Scotty, you know you want to...I have done my limit this week !!

Sorry, I'm rather more re-active than pro-active, team ...

[EdgeleyRob]

Not just a subtle Xmas hint then?

Blimey,never thought of that.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Oh yes it can - St Davids in Pembrokeshire is a city with a population of about, approximately, more or less, roughly 1600. There are villages in England ten times that size.

Little Town is in the Newlands Valley, Cumbria, near to Catbells.