This thread is hilarious... I just remembered another one that REALLY gets to me.

I hate it when the word "crescendo" is used to describe a climax or peak. I've heard this pretty frequently as in: "His anger reached a crescendo." I think it has become an accepted use.

Crescendo means "growing" in Italian. It is used in music as an indication to increase volume gradually. It does not mean anything about the moment of greatest volume or climax!

My husband (an architect) hates it when "architect" is used to describe someone in a non-architectural sense. For example: "The architect of the 9-11 terror attacks." Drives him NUTS!