To get rid of an overused word, it can be supplanted with a new meaning. The old meaning will eventually disappear for many. For example, when a teenage boy is less than macho, or at least too sensitive in the eyes of peers, some other teen might accuse him of being "queer." So, if adults started using the word queer to connote those that do not subscribe to their beliefs, at some point the young people may see that word has a changed meaning.
Also, words that have only a positive connotation today, like "thin" can be used for other reasons. Or, "good-looking" can be used for more inanimate objects. In other words, language might be able to make us all less superficial. Or, at least expose the superficiality in many people.
@neologist,
Thanks Neo, on one single day, I saw the word iconic attached to eyeshadow, on the cover of a Talbots catalog and several other items including singers and musicians and my head exploded. I'm so sick if the I word, I could spit.
@glitterbag,
glitterbag wrote:
I'm late to the party, I also scream when I hear some one say "It is what it is".
I'm okay with that one. It's just a kind of verbal shrug.
@ossobuco,
Another which needs to stop is,
I concur .
It is overused to a point of meaninglessness. It often brings to mind the Samuel Johnson quote:
He who praises everybody, praises nobody.
@Sturgis,
Another one is sticking the word 'basically' in as if it truly boils down to the point. Well, basically, your honor, we were like wow, and basically everything was like calm then suddenly this cop like stops us and basically...........you can make up the rest.
@glitterbag,
In short, I think basically is way overused.
There is another word I do not like and that is RESOLVED, when a problem is settled for the first time.
@saab,
Oh and let's not ever say baby daddy or baby momma, like whatever
@glitterbag,
I'm getting overload on 'closure', I need closure, I never got closure, I have to get closure....aggggggghhhhhhhhhh.
@glitterbag,
I just pulled up my zipper.
Every day in every way . .. you're a very bad man, George . . .
@ossobuco,
ossobuco wrote:
In short, I think basically is way overused.
Especially when those In shorts really should be In longs
I tend to overuse the phrase "I'm sorry" It is my way of saying I understand or I feel bad you are hurting or I wish I could say or do something for you.
I hear people overuse the words "uh huh, like, OMG, FML, SMH" I know there are more I just can't think of them.
Cut to the chase...
Most often uttered after half the people who were listening are asleep from boredom.
A long time ago when I was finishing up my four years of landscape architecture classes, we students were privileged to have to take a class in business writing. That was my most hated class ever. By the time I took that class, I had already worked in the land arch field for four years and found the rules this woman gave (forget them now) very annoying, sort of icy cliches being flung about.
Whether I was in a many person firm, in my own small firm, or with a small firm as co owner, over 25 years, none of us wrote like that. Yes, we had lawyers to look at our basic letters and of course our more complicated missives, but you could always tell there was a human behind the typed words. I guess I started out on the "wrong foot". My asian american boss had a lot of asian clients, and they settled the matter with a handshake, followed a little later with your basic one or two page notification re important matters. The handshake was what mattered. Our work performance, yes, and their payments, but there was little to no trouble re that, ever.
@Sturgis,
Some meetings are easy to sleep through.
