According to a study conducted by the Marist Institute For Public Opinion (which sounds like a nice way of making reading gossip blogs sound important), "whatever" is officially the most annoying word in the English language. Which is really good to know, because there are people in my life I'm not annoying nearly enough.
Runners up included "y'know," "anyway" and "it is what it is." Do people really say "it is what it is" a lot? I think the last time I heard that it was muttered by a homeless gentleman, and I wasn't annoyed so much as very sad. But then he said "y'know," and I had the overwhelming urge to punch him in his homeless gut.
While we're making a list, I'd like to add my own personal most hated phrase: "it's a free country." I've only ever heard douchebags say that (albeit, patriotic douchebags), usually right after they do the douchebaggiest thing they've done all evening.
So there you go. If you're striking out on dates, or keep botching job interviews, try counting how many times you say "whatever" in conversation. If it's more than zero, that could easily be the problem. And even if it isn't, fixing that problem is a lot easier than fixing your crippling personality flaws.
My suggestion is to wean yourself off of annoying words by using replacements instead. Next time you're in conversation and feel like saying "it is what it is" (because that happens all the damn time), try saying "butternut squash" instead. Not only will you avoid annoying your listener, you'll likely confuse them, which is an excellent way to assert superiority.
As someone who landed a way hotter woman than he deserves just by talking a lot in delightful and hypnotic patterns, I'm here to tell you, the way you speak matters. To the opposite sex, to potential employers, to the lady behind you in line who has to hear your cell phone conversation. Our shared lexicon may be more Usher than Pygmalion, but that just means there's plenty of room for you to stand out from the crowd.
Go forth, and let this list of annoying words be, like, a starting place, y'know? For, like, a total cultural, um...revolution and junk, or whatever. Anyways, it is what it is.
Oh, also "like." Only say like if you're comparing something to something else. Otherwise, you risk me throwing a latte in your face. And I don't even drink coffee; I will purchase a latte for the express purpose of correcting your behavior via hot liquid to the face.
Runners up included "y'know," "anyway" and "it is what it is." Do people really say "it is what it is" a lot? I think the last time I heard that it was muttered by a homeless gentleman, and I wasn't annoyed so much as very sad. But then he said "y'know," and I had the overwhelming urge to punch him in his homeless gut.
While we're making a list, I'd like to add my own personal most hated phrase: "it's a free country." I've only ever heard douchebags say that (albeit, patriotic douchebags), usually right after they do the douchebaggiest thing they've done all evening.
So there you go. If you're striking out on dates, or keep botching job interviews, try counting how many times you say "whatever" in conversation. If it's more than zero, that could easily be the problem. And even if it isn't, fixing that problem is a lot easier than fixing your crippling personality flaws.
My suggestion is to wean yourself off of annoying words by using replacements instead. Next time you're in conversation and feel like saying "it is what it is" (because that happens all the damn time), try saying "butternut squash" instead. Not only will you avoid annoying your listener, you'll likely confuse them, which is an excellent way to assert superiority.
As someone who landed a way hotter woman than he deserves just by talking a lot in delightful and hypnotic patterns, I'm here to tell you, the way you speak matters. To the opposite sex, to potential employers, to the lady behind you in line who has to hear your cell phone conversation. Our shared lexicon may be more Usher than Pygmalion, but that just means there's plenty of room for you to stand out from the crowd.
Go forth, and let this list of annoying words be, like, a starting place, y'know? For, like, a total cultural, um...revolution and junk, or whatever. Anyways, it is what it is.
Oh, also "like." Only say like if you're comparing something to something else. Otherwise, you risk me throwing a latte in your face. And I don't even drink coffee; I will purchase a latte for the express purpose of correcting your behavior via hot liquid to the face.
although topical, my new favorite is, 'in this economy?!" it's the best excuse to be cheap.
"do you want to super size that for a quarter?"
"in this economy?!"
@saroni - I'm partial to "in this economy"'s kissing cousin -
"don't you know we're in a recession."
I'm not eating that cauliflower, don't you know we're in a recession?
Like the math behind the Naked Man, it ends a conversation 2 out of 3 times.