:thumbsup:

Now you're thinking outside the box. The paradigm is bourgeois.

-> <=> <-
[Oxford's Top 10 Most Irritating Phrases - TFP Thread]

Improper uses of:

• "in fact"
• "actually"
• "to tell you the truth"
• "to be honest"
• "honestly"
• etc.

What better way to point out the idea that you might be insincere otherwise? ("Actually," I admit I'm guilty of this myself. But I also admit being a lazy thinker.)

When in doubt, just drop it.

This thread reminds me of Orwell's point in 1984 about Newspeak.

Commenting on the above, for some reason, I notice many North Americans take these phrases when presented to them in conversations as the opposite of what they were to meant to convey, as if the person just used the caveat token of speech, just to insult you / belittle your point, and get away with it, scot-free.

This is why I hate sarcasm so, and have learned to barely recognize it any more; if we can't say what we mean, what's the point in saying anything at all?

B_G, while the choice few phrases above seem like they would be alright openers to a sentence, although many get annoyed by the fact they seem to be quite insincere, I'll add that I think the closer of ", no offense." would also fit into your listing.

Good point. This one tends to read as: "I probably offended you---at least I think I probably did----but I really don't want you to be----and if you are, I don't want you to call me on it or otherwise do anything about it."

That said, I think probably should be added to this thread. It's a highly used weasel word. This is another one I'm guilty of.

anyone want the two threads merged?

Anybody know any moderators?

i knew one once...

"I thought you were my friend!"

I hope this phrase exists solely in the lands that beam to use through the television. Regardless, it is a weak phrase, both in terms of television writing and in real-life usage.

If a so-called friend of yours decides to stick a knife in your back, at least have the backbone to turn around and say something other than this passive-aggressive phrase.

The following substitutes will do:

• "No friend of mine would so such a thing."
• "I'm disappointed. You have lost my trust."
• "How dare you betray me!"
• "You are no friend of mine."
• "I do say your idea of friendship leaves something to be desired."
• "Fuck off, and suck a bag of dicks."

However, if you are being severely passo-agresso, and are just saying such a phrase as a part of your day-to-day manipulation of your friends, then perhaps these substitutes will suffice:

• "It's all about me! Don't you want to be my friend?"
• "I don't care if you're only human; make mistakes on your own next time. Don't you want to be my friend?"
• "Just give me what I want. Don't you want to be my friend?"
• "Independence and personal responsibility are for loners. Don't you still want to be my friend?"

Finally, the best solution for avoiding this phrase is to not be a teenage girl.

...or a television writer.

Television? Seriously? But I love tropes and idioms.

I love poutine, but that doesn't mean I'm going to have it for every meal.

"Hey, what's that stuff we used to eat back in the day?"

"It was to die for...."

I was savng this for the silly questions thread, but I guess it makes sense to ask it here, now, in which the word has been uttered, and seen to be relevant; what is a 'trope', exactly?

I can infer how it is used, and what it may relate to (trite sayings, tired scenarios) but I still get lost trying to pin down an exact meaning and context to it (answers.com was no help).

Original basis for question arose after reading this: Is "avoiding tropes" the same thing as telling fresh stories? (involves television)

If someone starts out a sentence "no offense, but..." you know someone's about to be offended.

My list:
seriously
whatever
literally

Jetee, check the "Endless hours..." link above. It's all about TV tropes and idioms and probably includes a better definition and examples than I can fit in a post.

"How come?" makes me want to smash things.

Have you ever heard anyone say "why come?" before? I have, it's a terrible combination of words.

++good

Seriously. Everybody is bitching about slang. I love slang. Slang is what adds flavor to our conversations. And that's doubleplusgood.

Even, Refudiate?

The obvious answer to this is 'because I feel so much more relaxed after I do.'

I've never heard it and hope I never do.

-----

In general:

Let me "axe" you a question.
Calling wheels "rims".
"Thats hot"

For my Army brethren:

"Hooah"
"Most ricky-tic"
"It would beeeeehooooooove you to....."
"Disseminate"
"High speed"
Any cadence that begins with "C-130 rolling down the strip".
"Because the FM says so!"
"whiskey tango foxtrot, over."
"Ate up" See also; "tore up from the floor up"
"Your fourth point of contact"
"Pop smoke"
"In accordance with AR 670-1..."

Heavens to Betsy,
Come hell or high water,
I'm going to paint the town red.
...or, I may end up fiddling while Rome burns;
Dilly-dallying, is my Achilles Heel.

I don't even know what that means. Never heard it.

Nothing like having to reference this one in a counseling. It makes both parties look like a bitch.

Urban Dictionary: ricky tick

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

we used "ricky tic" a lot in 'nam...

still use it once in a while...

Like a 'bug-out' thing?

like, kinda...

like a get the hitch out of your get-along, pronto, like.

Is that like "de-assing the area?"

"That's (insert amount of time) that I'll never get back"

...

Someone thought this was witty once. It's not.
Hint people: You don't get ANY time back, whether it was well spent or not. The phrase is ignorant.

like, yeah...

"Cool beans." Used a lot in California. It makes no sense and I find it beyond idiotic sounding.

If you hit the roof after blowing your top, or gasket,
I will be one of the meek, inheriting the task of picking up the pieces
of chips that fell off your shoulders.

The decision to sink or swim, may depend upon the light at the end of the tunnel,
making a good first impression.

"Ya know what I'm sayin'???"