Pet Peeves!

[Kano]

He literally blew up on the hill -- hee hee, picture that!

for what it's worth, I feel your pain!

Karen in Boise

[mimitabby]

literally: Since I am in the forever process of learning a second language, I also spend some time on a language forum. It was really fun trying to explain to Italians why we say "he literally blew up" when in fact, he didn't blow up at all.

Pet peeves? if we're on the subject of language, it's irregardless.THIS IS NOT A WORD.
a very wise senior engineer here says that often... and he likes to sound smart and important but whenever he says THAT, I just GULP and don't say a word. LITERALLY!

[7rider]

literally: Since I am in the forever process of learning a second language, I also spend some time on a language forum. It was really fun trying to explain to Italians why we say "he literally blew up" when in fact, he didn't blow up at all.

I had a high school teacher (many years ago!) who often complained of the saying "walk the dog" as in "I get up early in the morning to walk the dog." What? Your dog can't walk by itself?? Poor thing. How about "I get up early in the morning to take the dog for a walk"?

Regardless.... I also agree with these - but am frequently guilty of overuse of cliches.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I had a high school teacher (many years ago!) who often complained of the saying "walk the dog" as in "I get up early in the morning to walk the dog." What? Your dog can't walk by itself?? Poor thing. How about "I get up early in the morning to take the dog for a walk"?

She'd have a fit at our house... every morning we "pellet the kitties" when they are hungry!

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hmmmm, the question isn't what are my pet peeves, but rather, how to condense them all into one mere post?!

So a few favorites (ie..., thorns in my side!)

1) using the word 'loose' to mean misplacing something. Hello! lose not loose, we aren't talking about baggy pants here!

2) People who pass, typically men, without ever saying 'on your left', or whatever, it is soooo annoying, especially when they are on their spindly aerobars and a mere inch move on your part would send you both tumbling!

3) People who, when you pass them and say hi good morning, grumble, grunt, and generally bark out something nonsensical. Again, predominantly men as most women will say thank you and hello.

4) Red wine being served at room temperature. Hello!!! That so-called rule was invented in the british isles within drafty castles. Nobody I know keeps their house at 62 degrees! Chill the bloody wine for pete's sake

5) When folks insist that the tv/news media in America is vastly left-wing while they toss softball questions to the people running the country. I mean seriously, who believes that?

6) Talking to someone and when they find out you bike ride, they say 'well i would but it is way toooo dangerous/far/tiring, etc'. Then they stroll off, super-sized burger meal in hand, and jump into their suv.

[latelatebloomer]

I have 2 pet peeves that come to mind.

1)The wave of amnesia that is sweeping society regarding the use of the apostrophe for possesives, NOT plurals. (ie: The club will meet on Sunday's from now on.) I even see it in newspapers and magazines now.

2)This is not a language peeve per se, but I HATE when people spend time on my voice mail guessing where I might be. "Maybe you're working in the garden, maybe you're writing, maybe you're out doing errands or working late at the rehab" Ay yi yi, just leave the message!

[hsmpcycle]

literally: Since I am in the forever process of learning a second language, I also spend some time on a language forum. It was really fun trying to explain to Italians why we say "he literally blew up" when in fact, he didn't blow up at all.

Pet peeves? if we're on the subject of language, it's irregardless.THIS IS NOT A WORD.
a very wise senior engineer here says that often... and he likes to sound smart and important but whenever he says THAT, I just GULP and don't say a word. LITERALLY!

I don't want to be a smart a**, but I had this same conversation with my husband one night (long before reading this forum), which has left me confused.

I worked with a lady who constantly said, "irregardless", which I found very annoying. Being the English expert, my husband said it wasn't a word. The Historian in me, who tends to look things up before making a comment, I found the word in the dictionary. It quotes: "[prob. blend of irrespective and regardless] nonstand: REGARDLESS."

Can someone explain to me why it isn't a word?

[Geonz]

"nonstandard" - means people use it, but it's not "good english."

You'll find swear words in there, too... doesn't mean you should use them.

Irregardless bugs me because it ends up being a double negative, so it should logically mean regardful. Irr consistently means "not," as opposed to "in," which sometimes means "not," but can also mean "in" or the same thing as "en"... which is why "inflammable" isn't really such a double negative. Those things are able to be inflamed. However, flammable would more obviously connect with flames as opposed to athlete's foot

It *is* harder to communicate clearly with people when the consistent, standard patterns of our language have been eroded by disuse. However, it is in too many folks' best interest (as in financial) to be able to sell us ideas and products via verbal appeals to our emotions, and thus, analytical thinking has gone out of fashion. Our current educational system doesn't encourage it, either.

[hsmpcycle]

Geonz,

Thanks for clarifying. I wish my husband explained it that easy.

[Bluetree]

Just remembered a couple...
"I could care less."
and...
"He takes me for granite."

Granite? He thinks you're a rock?

[mimitabby]

Just remembered a couple...

"He takes me for granite."

Granite? He thinks you're a rock?

Do people really say that?!!

It's a good thing I can't correct other people's posts, I would be fixing typos all day.
What was it like before spelling was standardized?

And another one: OTHER people's kids. I confess, I don't really like kids too much, they're noisy, inconsiderate, irrational, uncontrollable.
I used to sit and complain about children with a friend of mine. Then one day; I had kids... (2 boys) and they were nothing like what I remembered from my own childhood. They were.. Noisy, Inconsiderate, messy, irrational, uncontrollable.. and ALL MINE!!!! talk about a rude awakening! Suddenly I understood... all of it... suddenly it was me at the table in the restaurant
red as a beet because MY kid knocked over a table... or told me in a loud clear voice (age 2) that the man on the bench was ugly... or would i please take my kid home because he'd messed his pants (age 6) AGAIN...
then
I narrowed my pet peeves to people with annoying kids who did absolutely nothing to try and control them... rather than just being peeved about the kids.
Now my sons are men, gentlemen, and I can go back to not liking kids in general...

but... I don't expect children to act like adults...

[mimitabby]

I don't want to be a smart a**, but I had this same conversation with my husband one night (long before reading this forum), which has left me confused.

I worked with a lady who constantly said, "irregardless", which I found very annoying. Being the English expert, my husband said it wasn't a word. The Historian in me, who tends to look things up before making a comment, I found the word in the dictionary. It quotes: "[prob. blend of irrespective and regardless] nonstand: REGARDLESS."

Can someone explain to me why it isn't a word?

Well, there goes the language! It has evolved once more; that word is NOW in the dictionary. I stand corrected. But i still don't like it...

[slinkedog]

He literally blew up on the hill -- hee hee, picture that!

Ha! This reminds me of the drummer spontaneously combusting in "This is Spinal Tap."

[mimitabby]

and what really drove me crazy was the theme music from 24 hours, a police drama series that my husband watched for a while. yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

[chickwhorips]

this thread also reminded me of this saying:
Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything, But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.