What exactly is a hot mess? How does it differ from a cold mess or a plain old room temperature mess? If I cooked something that turned out awful I could see how that might be termed “a hot mess” but that’s not how this phrase is normally used.
What makes a pro tip a pro tip, as opposed to just a plain, ordinary tip. Most of the “pro tips” I come across don’t seem to be related to any particular profession nor are they professional in any way. But of course I’m just assuming that “pro” is short for professional. Maybe it’s short for progressive? Profound? Probable? Or maybe just pro, as opposed to con?
I know, right? You have expressed your agreement with something by saying, “I know,” then immediately request agreement with your agreement by asking, “right?” This is something the kids say so it’s pointless to waste much time ridiculing it. Every generation has its own set of nonsense phrases. But if you’re over 18 you really need to quit saying this.
And speaking of stuff the kids say – sweet. Your new video game (for example) is “sweet”. Really? If I take a bite out of it is it going to taste like a cookie or candy? Do they make a chocolate video game?
I assume that “Talk to the hand” is from some movie that I’ve never seen and that it would make more sense to me (possibly even be funny, though I doubt it) if I had seen it. I’ve never had anyone use this on me which is a very good thing because I think I would be tempted to break all the bones in the hand. Fortunately this seems to have become obsolete but I still hear it on TV once in a while.
Git ‘er done. I don’t care who this woman is (‘er = her) that you speak of but I really don’t want to hear about you “doing” her.
Why wouldn’t you want to compare apples and oranges? Sure they’re different but they’re both fruits, not entirely different kinds of things, so if the two things you’re comparing are “like apples and oranges” they must be at least somewhat alike. Which means that comparing Republicans and Democrats really is like comparing apples and oranges.
How exactly are you going to catch some rays? In a jar? Or do you have a ray trap? And what about catch some zzzz’s? How would you go about catching them and where does one find them anyhow? I’ve never seen any zzzz’s just flying about.
I’m sure I’ve missed some good ones. Please ridicule any catchphrases you love to hate. (Not that I hate all of these. Most of them I just find funny or odd.)
August 23rd, 2012 - 10:26 am
I really dislike “git ‘ir done” but I will admit to having said “I know, right?” But I say it mmmmostly ironically. And because I hear it a lot on “Regular Show.” And because some part of me is really still 12.
Most of the catchphrases I really loathe tend to be the ones used in political-speak (like “Walking it back”) but that’s partly because I suspect they’re designed to help obscure what’s REALLY going on. And because they’re used to death for about two weeks, and then disappear totally down the memory hole.
OH! But I know one I hate, that’s still occasionally used: “Drink the Kool-Aid.” I’m sorry. I remember the Jonestown tragedy. I was 10 and it was the first big news story my parents were not able to shield me from. And I remember just how sad it was. So “Drink the Kool-Aid” as a dismissive way of referring to someone who’s totally bought some group’s propaganda….well, it approaches Godwin’s Law territory for me.
August 23rd, 2012 - 11:35 am
I probably use some expressions that shouldn’t be used by anyone over 18 myself. For example I often say “Really?” in that certain tone – you know the one.
The only time “I know, right?” really bugs me is when someone says it for something like the 15th time within less than an hour. Or sometimes when I hear it in a movie or on TV it sort of makes me roll my eyes.
It’s funny, the different reactions to words. I also really hate “git ‘er done” but “Drink the Kool-aid” doesn’t bother me all that much. I don’t think I’ve ever said it myself though.
Of all the phrases on my list, the only ones that I would seriously like to completely erase from the language are “Git ‘er done” and “Talk to the hand”.
August 23rd, 2012 - 5:33 pm
My view is that strictly speaking, a “pro tip” is one being offered by a person who is a recognized professional in the field involved. For example, a cooking tip offered by a well-known restaurant chef. Of course the term’s been watered down and doesn’t always have this meaning today.
August 23rd, 2012 - 7:51 pm
I have been known to tweet “semiprotips” from time to time. They’re maybe half as good. (You know, right?)
August 27th, 2012 - 9:04 am
Well, at the end of the day, it is what it is, isn’t it?
“Basically….”
I was, like, and she was, like….
And the most infuriating song lyric?
Via Mike Oldfield.
“Four a.m. in the morning.”
As opposed to four a.m. in the evening?