Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[Serial_Apologist]

One of my unfavourite newspaper tropes (oops, another annoying one)
& that unfailingly gets my



....is "playing politics" -- as in, for example, "the Leader of the
Opposition was accused of "playing politics" with Brexit, The NHS,
Our Schools, the Police, or new regulations for the manufacture of
manhole covers...
For Pete's sake, he's a politician. That's What They Do.

Indeed - an utterly meaningless and rhetorical expression.

[oddoneout]

One of my unfavourite newspaper tropes (oops, another annoying one)
& that unfailingly gets my



....is "playing politics" -- as in, for example, "the Leader of the
Opposition was accused of "playing politics" with Brexit, The NHS,
Our Schools, the Police, or new regulations for the manufacture of
manhole covers...
For Pete's sake, he's a politician. That's What They Do.

And are lucky enough to get paid for doing it....

[Stanfordian]

No, no, no, no! Ralph was Grace's great-aunt and Kenneth's half-brother and I believe there might be a couple of tennis players in there somewhere. I do WISH people would check their facts....oh yes, and don't forget the guitar-playing John and the religious one, Rowan.

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle. You now have me wondering if Kenneth, Esther, Andy, Hank or even Robbie are related to Ralph.

[Maclintick]

And are lucky enough to get paid for doing it....

Yes, but all entertainers deserve remuneration. Incidentally, never
has the old adage “Politics is Showbiz
for Ugly People” seemed more apposite than at present...except
possibly in the 1930s...

[cloughie]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle. You now have me wondering if Kenneth, Esther, Andy, Hank or even Robbie are related to Ralph.

JPR?

[vinteuil]

JPR?

... don't think he was pretty enough. Try this :

https://www.google.com/search?q=esther+williams&rlz=1CAIUCU_enGB828&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0qNPsspPgAhXgUBUIHasuCNcQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=610#imgrc=VzbZw5_37uH-4M:

,

[Stanfordian]

JPR?

He was some player!

[french frank]

He was some player!

So was J.J.!

[Bella Kemp]

Didn't I once see Ralph and Robbie duetting on the X Factor? The audience went wild. Grandad and grandson carrying on the great music tradition. Not a dry eye in the house.

[Dave2002]

Not in itself a phrase, but headlines, such as "Why the music we love as teens stays with us for life" which appeared recently on the R3 website. What jars with me is the implicit assumption that something is "true". The way it tries to work is to start with what many might think is a true, but unexplained proposition, then proceed from there. However it may in fact be the case that the assumption is incorrect, and that the starting proposition itself is incorrect.

I myself started a thread some while back in a similar way - though can't locate it quickly now. It was something like "Is there still a need for 3D video recording ..." - though I was perhaps trying to be provocative and stimlate responses, and several people responded that they saw no need. Sometimes to elicit a response it does work, but perhaps the technique should only be used sparingly.

[LMcD]

I don't know how long it's been around or whether it's already been mentioned, but 'grievious' just doesn't sound right to me.

[ardcarp]

..a bit like 'mischievious'.

[french frank]

Not in itself a phrase, but headlines, such as "Why the music we love as teens stays with us for life" which appeared recently on the R3 website. What jars with me is the implicit assumption that something is "true".

I agree. Those who didn't realise it was "true", now know that it is. As we now demonstrate. (i was having lunch out last Saturday and they put a Beatles tape on. An' I was like: For God's sake stop it!!!

[Pulcinella]

I hate the loss of the word to, and its replacement by a dash/hyphen, in expressions such as:
The shop is open from 7-11.
I'm always looking for the 'to', especially where there is a short period (say an academic year).
He was faculty dean from 1989–90 (to 2018–19?).

[kernelbogey]

I hate the loss of the word to, and its replacement by a dash/hyphen, in expressions such as:
The shop is open from 7-11.
I'm always looking for the 'to', especially where there is a short period (say an academic year).
He was faculty dean from 1989–90 (to 2018–19?).

I prefer the usage
The shop is open 7-11; and
He was faculty dean 1989–90.
From and to are otiose, IMHO.