Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Why should people in Washington have all the fun?

District of Coulombia.

[Bryn]

Why should people in Washington have all the fun?

The Tynes on that one are Wearing a bit thin.

[french frank]

"It's a thing."

I haven't quite worked out what it's intended to convey.

[Nick Armstrong]

"It's a thing."

I haven't quite worked out what it's intended to convey.

I think it denotes that whatever is being talked about, is a concept or phenomenon which is currently (often recently) widely acknowledged / familiar / of cultural significance.

[oddoneout]

"It's a thing."

I haven't quite worked out what it's intended to convey.

My son uses it in a somewhat derogatory fashion to imply a fad/opinion currently being touted as significant or being used by people wanting to appear au fait with what's happening in their world.

[Bryn]

My son uses it in a somewhat derogatory fashion to imply a fad/opinion currently being touted as significant or being used by people wanting to appear au fait with what's happening in their world.

What, as in "the latest thing" of oĺd?

[french frank]

What, as in "the latest thing" of oĺd?

It appears so, but possibly conveying a underlying derogatory tone. The thing is, 'The latest thing' can be quite admiring.

[oddoneout]

It appears so, but possibly conveying a underlying derogatory tone. The thing is, 'The latest thing' can be quite admiring.

It does seem to be rather a negative term, spoken in a dismissive way whereas, as you say, 'the latest thing' is more likely to be positive.

[Richard Tarleton]

I think it denotes that whatever is being talked about, is a concept or phenomenon which is currently (often recently) widely acknowledged / familiar / of cultural significance.

I like it ("Is it/that a thing?", that is) - it can be quite funny - popular with newspaper columnists, as is "Who knew?", often ironically, when accompanying some amazing fact.

[french frank]

I like it ("Is it/that a thing?", that is) - it can be quite funny - popular with newspaper columnists, as is "Who knew?", often ironically, when accompanying some amazing fact.

Once any usage becomes 'ironic', I think that spells "avoid". It seems to indicate, "I've moved on a step ahead of this …" which is just as grating, so I would just ignore it.

[kernelbogey]

This may be just the Guardian's journalists - I would be interested if others have found it elsewhere - but it is not clear (e.g. '...whether X will be attending this meeting'), which obviously means 'we don't know', always grates slightly. It seems to imply that we (i.e. the journalist or their paper) should have been able to find it out, but have been frustrated. A weasel word, IMV.

[ahinton]

This may be just the Guardian's journalists - I would be interested if others have found it elsewhere - but it is not clear (e.g. '...whether X will be attending this meeting'), which obviously means 'we don't know', always grates slightly. It seems to imply that we (i.e. the journalist or their paper) should have been able to find it out, but have been frustrated. A weasel word, IMV.

...particularly when taken together with its opposite "I'm clear" that habitually seems almost to emanate from the mouth of TM the PM without her even opening it...

[kernelbogey]

...particularly when taken together with its opposite "I'm clear" that habitually seems almost to emanate from the mouth of TM the PM without her even opening it...

Nicely observed, thank you AH.

I am indeed not clear whether the PM is clear on her policies, particularly....

[french frank]

This may be just the Guardian's journalists - I would be interested if others have found it elsewhere - but it is not clear (e.g. '...whether X will be attending this meeting'), which obviously means 'we don't know', always grates slightly. It seems to imply that we (i.e. the journalist or their paper) should have been able to find it out, but have been frustrated. A weasel word, IMV.

It may be a weasel word in that situation, though I would read it as 'We suspect that (or 'We suspect that … not' depending on context) - though have been unable to confirm.' Depending on what/when/why I quite welcome it as a cautious statement about something I'm interested in. Not so much, 'We don't know' as 'We don't know for sure - but we have reason to suspect'. There is a possibility about which I (i.e. me) was unaware.

[cloughie]

‘It is what it is’ - quite a useful comment, but can be annoying if used too much! A verbal shrug! Actually, on reflection, I quite like it!